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Janette Clark

Drama Teacher,
Minneapolis High School

Contact Details

Drama Teacher,
Minneapolis High School
Bronze Member

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1 to 20 of 45 total

RE: Musical review?

Posted By Janette Clark 11-16-2020 12:56
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I would like some suggestions of revues that people have done successfully as well! ------------------------------ Janette Clark Drama Teacher Minneapolis KS ------------------------------

RE: Something like Godspell...

Posted By Janette Clark 11-09-2020 15:39
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Quilters is a musical with a female-heavy cast about pioneer women.  As in Godspell, a series of vignettes moves to a satisfying conclusion.  I live in the Midwest, so I like the educational connections it offers my Kansas students. ------------------------------ Janette Clark Drama Teacher Minneapolis ...

RE: Looking for a film to pair with Othello.

Posted By Janette Clark 11-09-2020 15:35
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I concur with some of the other posts.  I like O.  I have used it when teaching Shakespeare in dual credit classes, and my students were all 17 and older.  It is explicit, but it resonates with high schoolers because it is set in a high school.  The plot elements are meant to mirror Othello, so the class ...

RE: Heartwarming Comedy

Posted By Janette Clark 12-10-2019 16:02
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I second the vote for Leaving Iowa!  It is a director's dream, with an easy set, flexible casting, and a GREAT sound effects track which you can rent with it.  It has many funny parody scenes, but the ending pulls at your heartstrings.  This was on of my favorite shows ever! (I ended up using a cast ...

RE: When Shows Require Diversity but the School is Not Diverse

Posted By Janette Clark 10-14-2019 11:10
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Your thoughtful post made me realize that when I have a talented actor of color, maybe I should look for a part that would showcase him/her.  I agree that my students of color would like to play a person of color in plays in much the same way that my sopranos seek out roles that showcase who THEY are.  ...

RE: When Shows Require Diversity but the School is Not Diverse

Posted By Janette Clark 10-14-2019 11:01
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I teach in a small school in Kansas.  We lack not only diversity but students in general.  I HAVE to use colorblind casting so that I can use the best actresses and singers.  Consequently, I have had black, Hispanic, and Asian players in leading roles because they were the best.  I do tend to avoid ...

RE: Rodgers-Hammerstein-Trouble getting rights

Posted By Janette Clark 09-06-2019 13:35
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I just changed to MTI (Frozen, Jr) from R&H and received the license in less than 30 minutes!  A school down the road ordered rush delivery for Legally Blonde, Jr and received the books 3 days later. I'm not trying to be a commercial for MTI, I am just sharing my positive experience. ----------- ...

RE: Rodgers-Hammerstein-Trouble getting rights

Posted By Janette Clark 09-03-2019 10:06
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I guess my answer is...because the songs are great and I don't have to choreograph modern dance numbers (which I always struggle with).   I know there are some issues of political correctness, but I think students can learn from the WWII setting and maybe appreciate that the cultural issues were daring ...

RE: Rodgers-Hammerstein-Trouble getting rights

Posted By Janette Clark 08-28-2019 16:04
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Oh no!  Now I'm nervous, because I just applied for rights to South Pacific! ------------------------------ Janette Clark Drama Teacher Minneapolis KS ------------------------------

RE: Searching for jukebox musical

Posted By Janette Clark 04-26-2019 11:47
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I recommend Back to the '80s.  I honestly thought I would hate doing it when I chose it because of the thin plot and pop songs, but I needed to showcase several singers, and I needed a PG-rated jukebox musical for my conservative community.  In both cases, it fit the bill.  It was ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL.  ...

RE: The Sound of Music

Posted By Janette Clark 11-01-2018 16:00
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It has been years since I have produced this (1988), and I did so on a small budget.  We painted a backdrop of the Alps and used some referential pieces for the interior scenes.  We made some simple costumes for the children, and were able to find the rest of the costumes rather easily.   I have often ...

RE: One-Act Comedies

Posted By Janette Clark 10-23-2018 15:46
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I also love The Real Inspector Hound.  It is a rather long one-act, if I remember correctly.  Some of the Reduced Shakespeare Company material is very funny and could be used as a one-act, but the high energy slapstick is difficult. ------------------------------ Janette Clark Drama Teacher Minneapolis ...

RE: Need a Play That Is "Cutting Edge"

Posted By Janette Clark 06-19-2018 18:34
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I second Radium Girls.  I really like Columbinus about the Columbine shootings.  It qualifies as easy tech, and it does not in any way glorify school shootings. ------------------------------ Janette Clark Drama Teacher Minneapolis KS ------------------------------

RE: Musical for the fall

Posted By Janette Clark 06-19-2018 18:30
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I produce in a small, conservative community and had no problems with Beauty and the Beast, Bye Bye Birdie, or Cinderella.  If you want something modern, I love Band Geeks, and it's pretty darn non-offensive.  I received a raised eyebrow or two for Footloose and Pajama Game, but they are also really ...

RE: Large Cast Murder Mystery or Mystery Spoof

Posted By Janette Clark 05-15-2018 10:09
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I second Done to Death by Fred Carmichael.  What a fantastic play!  It is a spoof of every genre of murder mystery, and my cast LOVED preparing it and performing it.   Thirteen past Midnight by Billy St. John is tons of fun as well, with melodramatic murders and over-the-top characters. -------- ...

RE: Lead in a musical who can't sing

Posted By Janette Clark 05-15-2018 09:59
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We did Beauty and the Beast in 2014, and it was an amazing experience.  Our best actor played  Gaston, since it really is the more showy role.  The beast, since his costume generally obscures his face, needs to convey much of his frustration, his anger, and his longing through his voice and his body ...

RE: Producing Legally Blonde

Posted By Janette Clark 05-15-2018 09:40
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I have also produced Legally Blonde (in 2012) with a minimal set, because my stage is small and my cast was large.  I think you'll find people can follow the many scene changes easily with a few representational set or prop pieces.   The segues from scene to scene need to happen quickly (in some ...

RE: Scripts dealing with school shootings

Posted By Janette Clark 05-15-2018 09:24
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I have read and seen Columbinus (a college production), and felt the performance was very powerful.  It is more about the events leading up to the Columbine shooting, and it is a great psychological character study of high schoolers.  It might be what you are looking for, because while it gives no ...

RE: Cutting Shakespeare

Posted By Janette Clark 05-04-2018 14:00
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Go for it!!  I once did Pyramus and Thisbe from Midsummer Night's Dream and had a great time!  I haven't cut down a Shakespearean tragedy, but I did cut down Les Miserables, Quilters, and Twelve Angry Jurors for one act competition, and they were great!!  The licensing agencies were quite accommodating ...

RE: Quantitiy vs. Quality: Choosing your next production

Posted By Janette Clark 05-04-2018 13:53
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You write great plays, Mr. Zolidis! :-)  When I was coaching competitive forensics, scenes from your shows were ubiquitous, and my students were successful with several of them.  If there are people in this forum who have not read some of these plays, check them out!  They allow for great large cast ...