Open Forum

Hello! I am new to this forum and have tried searching for this but failed to find anything, so forgive me if this has already been asked. I am about to wrap up my first year of directing the high school theater program at my school. I am struggling to decide next year's musical. We did The Addams Family this year, and it was a massive hit with the students and audience. I want to retain interest across all fronts, but also think we need to build up on our technique (counting, reading music, dancing, etc.) before we tackle more of the currently "popular" shows (aka all the shows the students are requesting). We have predominantly female casts, about 40 students involved this Spring, and we are a fairly moderate school district. I am thinking of going back to the classics (Bye Bye Birdie, which I know has dance and such, but I think we could do, Music Man, etc.). Does anyone have any ideas on this front or advice for my position? I can also provide more details as needed. Thank you! 

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Kyli Ramsay
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After 46 years of teaching and directing musicals, plays, revues and etc. I am retiring.   I absolutely love the classics. 

Bye Bye Birdie is a great show for a young cast and a lot of girls. You do need a strong male, a Conrad Birdie and a comedic Father. I love that it has strong acting roles for those who are not your featured singers. I also have done South Pacific, Oklahoma, Music Man (you need a strong male quartet), Hello Dolly, Crazy For You (tap) The Sound of Music.  

Keep up the good work!!

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Angela Howard
Drama/Musical Theate/Showchoir Teacher
Saint James High School
SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 07:54
From: Kyli Ramsay
Subject: High School Shows to Build Technique

Hello! I am new to this forum and have tried searching for this but failed to find anything, so forgive me if this has already been asked. I am about to wrap up my first year of directing the high school theater program at my school. I am struggling to decide next year's musical. We did The Addams Family this year, and it was a massive hit with the students and audience. I want to retain interest across all fronts, but also think we need to build up on our technique (counting, reading music, dancing, etc.) before we tackle more of the currently "popular" shows (aka all the shows the students are requesting). We have predominantly female casts, about 40 students involved this Spring, and we are a fairly moderate school district. I am thinking of going back to the classics (Bye Bye Birdie, which I know has dance and such, but I think we could do, Music Man, etc.). Does anyone have any ideas on this front or advice for my position? I can also provide more details as needed. Thank you! 

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Kyli Ramsay
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Hi Kyli,

It might be safe to say, a big majority of all our students are pushing hard for the contemporary musicals! Kudos for seeing the bigger picture and the merits to tackling the classics. One way we sell this to our students is by holding to a cycle- every 4 years, we will cycle in at least one of the gold standards. This next year is when we'll head back to the golden age of musicals. We've been narrowing it down to  Guys and Dolls or Fiddler on the Roof. In time, I'd love to do Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, Sound of Music, Singin in the Rain, She Loves Me.  My first year in this position, I directed my all time favorite- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. All of these musicals give us an opportunity to reflect on how (and IF?) socio-demographics, gender norms and representation have changed. 

Then there are shows that may feel like classics to our students, and are great training, but not golden era...The year we had some powerhouse singer/actors we did Les Mis...the kids rank this as an all time high; me too! Something Rotten was a love letter to classic Broadway and the kids had a blast.  Into the Woods and Pippin will happen one of these years. 

I hope this helps. I love dreaming up new seasons each year, so if you ever need more sounding boards, feel free to reach out! 

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Tracy Herber
Theatre Director/Performing Arts Chair
The Pembroke Hill School
MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-12-2026 07:54
From: Kyli Ramsay
Subject: High School Shows to Build Technique

Hello! I am new to this forum and have tried searching for this but failed to find anything, so forgive me if this has already been asked. I am about to wrap up my first year of directing the high school theater program at my school. I am struggling to decide next year's musical. We did The Addams Family this year, and it was a massive hit with the students and audience. I want to retain interest across all fronts, but also think we need to build up on our technique (counting, reading music, dancing, etc.) before we tackle more of the currently "popular" shows (aka all the shows the students are requesting). We have predominantly female casts, about 40 students involved this Spring, and we are a fairly moderate school district. I am thinking of going back to the classics (Bye Bye Birdie, which I know has dance and such, but I think we could do, Music Man, etc.). Does anyone have any ideas on this front or advice for my position? I can also provide more details as needed. Thank you! 

------------------------------
Kyli Ramsay
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