I just finished the Junior version of Something Rotten with my middle schoolers. It was awesome! I think the show would still be challenging with high schoolers. The key of most of the music is HARD! It's either really high (to sing it up the octave) or really low (to sing it down). And it runs long for a Broadway Junior show--ours ran 85 minutes. I think the only song they took out was "It's Hard to Be the Bard." The other songs are just edited and shortened. Almost all the Shakespeare and theater puns/jokes are there and our audience really loved it!
I was very nervous about costuming, especially after checking with some local high schools that had done the show and rented costumes. They said it was expensive and the costumes were all adult sized, so way too big for most high school students, let along middle school students. So I didn't rent anything and here are my tips:
-Make most of the ensemble plus the troupe, Nick/Nigel sort of "pirate" looking--white blouse-y shirt, vest, and pants. If you can get tall boots or boot covers, they can just tuck regular pants into the boots. For Bea and female ensemble, a long skirt, white blouse-y shirt and a bodice/corset like this one from Amazon
-Pick a few "rich" characters and devote more costume budget to them (Shakespeare, Lord Clapham, and a few ensemble). Amazon has some good male and female costumes for $50-100 each. My biggest hint if you have small actors is KIDS costumes--WAY cheaper!!
-The eggs and omelettes: you need someone who sews, but it's not hard and not too expensive (especially if you only have about 5 eggs). I bought 1/4" foam and white cotton fabric. I made a design like a beach ball (I did 4 pieces per egg), but a little more elongated. Then I covered the foam with the fabric, and sewed the beach ball pieces together, put velcro down the back and cut arm holes. The costumes really puffed up and got a huge laugh every time the eggs entered. The omelettes were even easier. Just a big piece of yellow felt, rounded at the bottom with a head hole and little pieces of colored fabric sewn on (for omelette ingredients). You could also use yellow rain ponchos.
-Puritan quick change collars for "We See the Light": I made these two-sided collars with white cotton on one side and bright hot-pink sequins on the other. I used magnets to hold the collar together--that way the kids could easily flip them over during the scene. I also recommend having Brother Jeremiah do an on-stage reveal--it gets a huge reaction. I had him in a matching bright pink shirt and sparkly vest, but covered by a black cloak with magnets closing it up--then, some of the Puritans pulled the cloak off him during his solo! Just make sure you quick rig this costume too, because he does a very quick change back to being himself after the fantasy number of "We See the Light."
For the set, we were able to paint a backdrop with Tudor London style buildings and just used that for basically all the scenes. The show transitions really quickly between scenes (sometimes with continuous action and no blackout) so whatever set changes you do, keep it simple and quick.
This show is SO funny and super fun AND has a good message ("to thine own self be true")--I really recommend it.
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Jill Sunderland
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2025 11:51
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Anyone do Something Rotten Jr. with middle schoolers?
I'd love to hear about anyone's experience with this show, whether at the middle or high school level. I tend to shy away from "junior" shows with my advanced high schoolers, so I'm curious to hear if this version of the show still feels challenging.
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Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre, Film, and Communications Instructor
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
Fishersville, VA
Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2025 00:42
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Anyone do Something Rotten Jr. with middle schoolers?
Would love to hear your tips and tricks for this show. From costuming to sets to blocking to ... everything LOL I'd love to know what worked and what didn't, what surprised you. I'm super curious to know the most effective ways to get kids to grasp some of the language and references. I know we can just explain it in our read through and reinforce it but are there more creative ways that might stick better for kids? All wisdom welcome :)
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Carla
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