Open Forum

 View Only
Theatre Education Conference. Your community is here. July 22-24, 2026, New York City. Register Now.
Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

  • 1.  Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-12-2023 23:45

    Hi Everyone,

    I have been listening and reading scripts for a couple of months and I am still struggling to find something that my students and I will be excited about.  We just had an awesome production of Addams Family Young @ Part, and now, what's next?

    The year after next, I will do Sponge Bob, Young @ Part - but this year I am looking for something that meets the following criteria:

    • We are a 5-8 all girls school, but the girls play the male roles.
    • I need a break from the heavy wigs and make-up - the ancestors and Addams looked amazing, but it was ALOT of work.  Humans would be great. :)
    • I double cast my leads/most supporting roles - so something that isn't a "star vehicle" for one or two characters.  It would be great if there was a character song for a few others, too, and not just the main character,
    • I don't have the ability for projections or really complicated tech, so no Mary Poppins or Matilda.

    I appreciate suggestions. 

    -Ginny



    ------------------------------
    Ginny Schreiber
    Forest Ridge School
    Bellevue, WA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-13-2023 05:31
    Edited by Desiree Cameron 07-13-2023 05:31

    I highly recommend the 25th annual Putnam County spelling bee. Super easy set and costumes. And all roles could be played by girls. Also, there are modification suggestions in the script to eliminate any inappropriate references. Our school absolutely adored it.



    ------------------------------
    Dr. Desi Cameron
    www.drdesicameron.com
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-14-2023 10:14

    Some to consider and perhaps put on you summer reading list:

    High School Musical 

    High School Musical 2 

    13 the musical (the stage show is bettter than the Netflix version)

    Emma! a Pop Musical

    Bye Bye Birdie (personally dislike this musical but it fits some of your criteria)

    Pajama Game

    All Shook Up

    love Spelling Bee too - but it can be dicey depending on your community.

    Best wishes - and let us know what you choose :)



    ------------------------------
    Marla Blasko
    Director/Teacher Theatre Arts
    Long Reach High School
    Columbia, Maryland
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-14-2023 11:08
    Looking a Christmas holiday musical with title recognition. Suitable for intergenerational cast.
    Please send suggestions. 
    --



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-26-2023 03:46

    Hi guys

    I highly recommend the heartwarming and timeless classic, "A Christmas Carol." This beloved holiday musical, based on Charles Dickens' iconic novella, offers excellent title recognition and is perfect for an intergenerational cast.



    ------------------------------
    Aliyaa Khan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 08-27-2023 07:58
      |   view attached

    I can offer a new and unique musical holiday revue, "A Christmas Cabaret Concert" with 17 original seasonal songs. Economical to stage, fun family entertainment. 

    I have attached the script and a Soundcloud link to all the songs. https://soundcloud.com/user-215519716/sets/happiness-rains/s-BkevU47numA?si=55dd92239fab4d079aded743507c1fff&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

    I'd be happy to discuss this further.

    Thank you Steve



    ------------------------------
    Steve Pinkerman
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    A Christms Cabaret Concert.pdf   304 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-18-2023 13:58

    Hi Ginny,

    Does it need to be be a big name musical? With the age group of your students, selecting a musical specifically written and designed for student actors (rather than simply adapted for young actors) can be a much better choice. You, your cast, and especially your costume, lighting, and set designers will love the freedom of the audience not having any PRECONCEIVED EXPECTATIONS of what the show is "supposed to look like."

    At Pioneer Drama Service, we work with hundreds of middle schools each year who are thrilled to select one of our 200 original musicals so their students can experience the fun and creativity of actually designing a show and developing its characters for themselves. It's so liberating, rather than having the pressure of needing it to look like a movie, animation, or all the other times their audience has seen the same musical!

    Based on your specifications, I suggest you take a look at The Nifty Fifties (much like Grease, except wholesome!), The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree, or our gorgeous, no-flying-required Peter Pan-A Musical Adventure. Nifty Fifties and The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree also have shorter 60-70- minute versions available (Rock Around the Block and Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates) if that is more what you're looking for. Peter Pan has a running time of 80 minutes. All of these can be found at www.PioneerDrama.com

    Please feel free to give me a call (800-333-7262) and I'm happy to help you more and get you set up to peruse scripts and music tracks.

    Best wishes!



    ------------------------------
    Debra Fendrich
    Publisher
    Pioneer Drama Service
    debra@pioneerdrama.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-18-2023 13:58

    Hi Ginny,

    Does it have to be a big name show? With the age of your students, selecting a show written and designed for success for student actors is such a help! You, your cast, and especially your costume, set, and lighting designers will love doing a show with NO PRECONCEIVED EXPECTATIONS of what it's supposed to look like. Pioneer Drama Service works with thousands of middle schools every year who are thrilled to not have to re-create the look of a movie or animation on their stage. By selecting one of our original musicals (we represent more than 200 musicals!), teachers feel liberated that their students can actually design the look and the feel of the show, not just copy and imitate what it's "supposed to look like."

    Based on the details you provided, I suggest you consider The Nifty Fifties (much like Grease but wholesome!), The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree, or our gorgeous, no-flying-required Peter Pan musical. Both Nifty Fifties and The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree also have 60-70 minute versions available (Rock Around the Block and Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates) if 90-120 minutes is too long for your group. Peter Pan-A Musical Adventure is a very manageable 80 minutes. You can find all of these at www.PioneerDrama.com  

    Feel free to give me a call! I'm happy to help you more and set up a way for you to peruse some or our musical scripts and music tracks.

    Best wishes to you!



    ------------------------------
    Debra Fendrich
    Publisher
    Pioneer Drama Service
    debra@pioneerdrama.com
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-18-2023 13:58
      |   view attached

    "This Lite of Mine" Anti-bullying one act musical. Minimanl sets and costumes.



    ------------------------------
    Ron Matthews
    director
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-25-2023 14:04
    Edited by Sarah Wahlen 07-25-2023 14:05

    Emma! A Pop Musical is a really fun one. Short and relatively easy costuming, sets, etc. Juke box musical so everyone loves the songs. 

    Also, Hi! We're neighbors. :)

    ------------------------------
    Sarah Aanderud Wahlen
    Director of Theatre & Film
    Holy Names Academy
    Seattle, WA
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-29-2023 11:24

    Of those already listed, Captain Bree and High School Musical were both enjoyed by schools I've worked in.  I'd also add Newsies to the list!  We just produced it last year, and it was a huge student/audience/director favorite.  Jack has a lot of singing, but there also also many ensemble numbers, small solos, and stage time for the ensemble.

    Shrek also fun, but doesn't fit your easy costume requirement.  Frozen has strong female roles, plenty of ensemble time, but costumes probably also fall in the not-easy range.

    Sponge Bob is a likely choice for us next year - I'd love to hear from anyone who has done it with middle schoolers!

    Let us know what you choose in the end!



    ------------------------------
    Kristin Hall
    Pronouns: she/her/hers
    Drama Director
    Lincoln MA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-30-2023 11:44
    Hello, we are neighbors as well! ��

    The Leader of The Pack or Beehive are both super cute all-female cast shows! 50's/60's pop, lots of fun. 
    --

    Taryn Darr (she, her, hers)

    Drama Director

    Bishop Blanchet High School | 206-527-3976 

    tdarr@bishopblanchet.org | www.bishopblanchet.org

    Go Bears!





    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 07-31-2023 08:51

    Have you looked at either Wanda's World or the 57th Annual Math-lete SUM-it? They're both available from TRW, and I enjoyed reading both scripts a lot.



    ------------------------------
    Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
    Theatre, Film, and Communications Instructor
    Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
    Fishersville, VA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Help me Pick My MS Musical - I'm Stuck

    Posted 08-08-2023 23:20

    Not only is "Wanda's World" funny and upbeat, but it also has a profound kindness underlying all --because of Eric H. Weinberger, who wrote the musical's book. As his indebted co-author of another of his works, "TEA FOR THREE: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty," I cannot recommend highly enough anything he has a hand in. The humanity of "Wanda's World" runs deep.  Long may he wave!



    ------------------------------
    Elaine Bromka
    N.Y. actress/guest artist
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content