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  • 1.  Play Help ...

    Posted 11-20-2023 13:29

    Hi Colleagues: Looking for a play for our high school students that carries some positive weight and/or concludes with an uplifting message of sorts. We produced "The Curious Savage" a few years back and our students still end our show runs with "take an umbrella ... it's raining." I've scoured the websites and play listings but would rather hear from the experts (YOU) on shows you felt left your students were genuinely moved by. Thanks for any/all thoughts; and Happy Thanksgiving!

    Brett  



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    Mr. Brett Hiner
    English Teacher/Drama Director
    Wooster High School
    Wooster, Ohio
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  • 2.  RE: Play Help ...

    Posted 11-21-2023 04:53
    Peter and the Starcatcher creates a magical adventure for the cast. My students loved creating everything about it - characters, sounds, sets, costumes....two moments stuck with us...

    Everything ends....and so the adventure begins

    and 

    It's supposed to hurt...that's how you know it meant something. 

    --
    Kathy Harris
    Arts Education Consultant
    Theatre Director








  • 3.  RE: Play Help ...

    Posted 11-28-2023 08:41

    Hello Brett,

    At the risk of sounding like I'm marketing, I'd like to suggest a musical play I wrote, The Frog Prince, that's available on the Teachers Pay Teachers site. It's available royalty-free.

    It's positive, charming, and good entertainment. However, it's only 50 minutes long. You'd have to pair it with, possibly, a straight play, which might not be a bad idea.

    Good luck, and thank you for all you do.

    Jan Callner



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    Jan Callner
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  • 4.  RE: Play Help ...

    Posted 11-29-2023 06:58
    I would try The Diviners by Jim Leonard. My kids loved that one!
    Sent from my iPad




  • 5.  RE: Play Help ...

    Posted 11-21-2023 08:45

    We loved Still Life With Iris and Dominic Cooke's version of Arabian Nights. Those both have great, uplifting endings.



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    Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
    Theatre, Film, and Communications Instructor
    Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
    Fishersville, VA
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  • 6.  RE: Play Help ...

    Posted 12-01-2023 08:40

    I've done:

    "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" by Brian Clark. Very moving. Don't judge it by the movie which, imho, was a travesty.  Set is just furniture and pools of light. 

    "Up the Down Staircase" by Christopher Sergel is still relevant (does the  high school experience ever really change).  Large cast with several leads and lots of supporting parts.

    Another vote for "The Diviners" which my troupe throughly enjoyed.

    Tho' I haven't directed it saw a production of "A Piece of My Heart" by Shirley Lauro done at the Texas State Thespian Festival. Harrowing. Riveting - never saw a theater full of HS students so dead silent, hanging on every word. Moves to tears. Mature content. 



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    Douglas Fox
    NC
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