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Musicals with few male characters

  • 1.  Musicals with few male characters

    Posted yesterday

    I'm looking for musical options that don't require many guys but still have a few. I have half a dozen strong females, and others who can handle featured roles. Boys are my issue. I have one senior guy who is a decent tenor and a solid performer, but would really struggle to pull off traditional romantic lead. It's just not in his personality and his acting range is limited. But he is the only guy who sings who I am counting on to audition at this point. I have two of freshmen boys I haven't really worked with who may show up. Another boy who doesn't sing. Possibly others will come out of the woodwork, but I can't make a choice that hinges on hypothetical Troy Boltons. 

    So, any thoughts on shows for strong females that can work with 1-3 singing males? 



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    Noel Wotherspoon
    High School Drama Director
    Fairfield High School
    IA
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  • 2.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 10 hours ago

    9 to 5 is a good option, but might be a bit too mature for your freshman.



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    [Jenni] [Jordan]
    [Director of Theater and Dance]
    [11th Grade Coordinator]
    [Day Student Advisor]
    [Miss Hall's School]
    [Pittsfield] [MA]
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 9 hours ago
    If a not so typical fun family holiday show is what you may be looking for? And you have singers you want to feature?

    Then come spend Christmas eve with the Klopeck's reliving the holidays of past and then back to the future of these frantic rapid times of today.

    "A Night Before Christmas: Christmas Cabaret Concert" a full length musical.

    13 solo/duet songs. Cast 7M, 7F - Non-gender Specific: 2 Roles - Ensemble Singers: 6M, 6F with solos.

    Cast size and make-up adjustable to fit your needs.

    Economical to stage. Simple set, just a Christmas tree with lights and living room seating is all that is needed..
    Performance backing tracks available for those who don't have room or don't do musicals.

    Here is the website for free perusal script, to listen
    to complete song list and for licensing info at https://www.asjustonelife.com/





  • 4.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 8 hours ago

    Hey, how about 57th NATIONAL MATHLETE SUM-IT?    5 strong roles for females, 1 male role.   Think "Spelling Bee" but with math.  TRW has it.  There are two versions - large cast (6 leads + many smaller roles) or just 6 cast members.  Great music and a lot of fun.  Good luck!!



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    Larry Little
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  • 5.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 7 hours ago

    I have the same problem.  I was looking at Once Upon a Mattress because the only males absolutely necessary are the prince, the king, and Sir Harry.  The others can be played by either gender.  We decided on Alice by Heart for lots of reasons--ensemble piece 2 males, 5 females, 3 either, and an expandable cast.  Godspell?  Another ensemble piece.  Good luck!



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    Robin Christopher
    Geneva High School
    OH
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  • 6.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 6 hours ago

    Look into Godspell. This has an extremely flexible cast and opportunities to feature a lot of individuals in singing roles and acting roles. You can also combine roles if necessary. The show specifically requires two males and any other roles can be male or female, although it is nice to have a few more males sprinkled in there. The ensemble can be as big or small as you like. And design wise the possibilities are endless. I've done this show twice, once with a more desert vibe and the other time with a very much industrial urban feel. I've also seen it staged as if in the backstage area of a theatre and the actors pulling random props to use in the storytelling portions of the show. The students and audience loved it both times we did it. This is one of my favorites because it is so flexible in casting and design.

    Best of luck!



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    Jillian Lietzau
    Lutheran High School
    CO
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  • 7.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 5 hours ago

    Xanadu, Little Mermaid, Annie, James and the Giant Peach are all ones I've done for the same reason. 



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    Penelope Haskew
    Director of Education
    San Juan Community Theatre/Friday Harbor HS
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  • 8.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 4 hours ago
    I did Zombie Prom years ago with only 3 males and really only 1 was a decent singer.  We made adjustments, including making the zombie basically a non-singer/ more of a speaker and for his big solo, we did a bunch of screaming fan girls that drown out most of his singing solo.

    Also did Thoroughly Modern Millie but you need a good romantic male lead for that.  

    Jennifer L Gysbers
           Ms. G 
    Theatre & Video Production Educator






  • 9.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 4 hours ago

    Little Women the musical? It has four guys but Mr Laurence can talk/sing his song.



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    Sean Blauvelt
    Arroyo Grande High School
    CA
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  • 10.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 4 hours ago

    Hello! For something spirited, funny, educational, and well-reviewed try On Account of Sex: a musical tale of the 19th Amendment. Everyone who sees it loves it, and it's a blast to perform. The show needs as few as 0 males and up to 6. You can read it for free here: Preview: On Account of Sex, by Bryan Colley and Tara Varney (Perusal) | Gitelman & Good Publishers, and you can learn more, read reviews, see pictures, etc. here: On Account of Sex by Bryan Colley, Tara Varney Play | Gitelman & Good Publishers



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    Jason Sebacher
    Founder, Managing Editor
    Gitelman & Good Publishers
    Chicago, IL
    jason@gitelmangoodpublishers.com
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 3 hours ago

    Thanks for the suggestions, everyone, keep them coming!

    The last two musicals we did were Mean Girls and Once Upon a Mattress. I just co-directed Freaky Friday for the community theatre over the summer. A new youth theatre group in town is doing Xanadu Jr this summer as well. So, all those are out.

    Historically the department always does musicals with a chorus/ensemble or has created one if it didn't exist. While I'd be happy to do something smaller cast, I worry about being exclusionary. I'm losing a strong senior class after this year and haven't had much engagement from the freshmen class thus far, but anticipate lots will come out for a musical. I'm worried that part of this is from the new youth group. They were originally going to cut it off at 15, but they've extended to 18. I worry about alienating the younger kids who now have this other option. 



    ------------------------------
    Noel Wotherspoon
    High School Drama Director
    Fairfield High School
    IA
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Musicals with few male characters

    Posted 2 hours ago

    What about Wizard of Oz?  Lots of parts and the Lion and Scarecrow could be either gender.  It was on my short list for the same reason.  Matilda?  The only person that had to have strong vocals was the Escapologist (we doubled him as Wormwood) and it worked out well.  Bruce can also be played with an alto.  We did it two years ago when only two males auditioned.  We picked up another male later who had no acting or vocal experience but was hysterical as Rudolpho.  Annie is also a good choice--three males auditioned for that so we had Warbucks, Rooster, and Roosevelt.  The only one with strong vocals was Rooster.



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    Robin Christopher
    Geneva High School
    OH
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