Open Forum

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Hi Amy.    I can send you my play Plain as Jane.   Large cast and funny

------------------------------
Leon Kaye
Playwright for the Ages
Lhk@koa1.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Good morning, Leon. I am Bill Dawson and I am a speech and theatre teacher, director, and speech coach at Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa. Noting your email, I would love to read Plain as Jane. I am on my journey for a Spring production with a large cast and the times call for fun and light. My email is dawsonw@waterlooschools.org. Thank you, Leon. Bill Dawson

------------------------------
William Dawson
Professional Speech and Theatre Educator, Director
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 14:08
From: Leon Kalayjian
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi Amy.    I can send you my play Plain as Jane.   Large cast and funny

------------------------------
Leon Kaye
Playwright for the Ages
Lhk@koa1.com

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/6/2023 9:54:00 AM
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

With about 50 performers in our fall play the last two years, I did A Simpler Time (Playscripts) and Shakesplosion!!! (YouthPlays). They have really flexible casts, lots of opportunities for students to play different characters in different scenes, and my students who did not want large parts enjoyed having lots of short comedy bits. Since they are both divided into clear sections, it also allowed me to have advanced students try their hand at directing a scene.

------------------------------
Laura Butchy
BASIS Independent McLean
VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Hi Amy, 
Have you ever considered Once in a Lifetime?  

It's on my bucket list but I've been waiting for enough boys.  

Check it out:    https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2916/once-in-a-lifetime

------------------------------
Chuck Yarmey
Advisor/Technical Director
Wyoming Area Drama Club
Thespian Troupe 4795
Exeter PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Consider Stage Door by Kaufman & Ferber

If you do, here are a few thoughts: do NOT move the intermissions. The playwrights placed them very carefully (I messed that up when I did the show 25 years ago).

There are some lovely moments of comedy but the overall mood is dramatic.

Really shows off the women and struggles with art v.commerce in comparing movies and theatre.

Worth reading. The movie adaptation is a classic as well.

Stage Door | Concord Theatricals

Concord Theatricals		remove preview
Stage Door | Concord Theatricals During the Depression, the Footlights Club in New York City provided an affordable respite and community for the bevy of struggling stage actresses who reside there View this on Concord Theatricals >

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_Door_(play)

------------------------------
Nathan Rosen
Atholton High School
theatre teacher/director
Columbia, MD USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2023 08:49
From: Charles Yarmey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi Amy, 
Have you ever considered Once in a Lifetime?  

It's on my bucket list but I've been waiting for enough boys.  

Check it out:    https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2916/once-in-a-lifetime

------------------------------
Chuck Yarmey
Advisor/Technical Director
Wyoming Area Drama Club
Thespian Troupe 4795
Exeter PA

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

You might look at "Bugs" by Don Zolidis. Lots of parts and quite humorous.


Break a leg and may all your theatre seats be filled.


Original Message:
Sent: 1/6/2023 9:54:00 AM
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/9/2023 9:19:00 AM
From: Kelly Thomas
Subject: RE: Play Needed for large cast

You might look at "Bugs" by Don Zolidis. Lots of parts and quite humorous.


Break a leg and may all your theatre seats be filled.


Original Message:
Sent: 1/6/2023 9:54:00 AM
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions!  Keep them coming!

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-09-2023 09:19
From: Kelly Thomas
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

You might look at "Bugs" by Don Zolidis. Lots of parts and quite humorous.


Break a leg and may all your theatre seats be filled.


Original Message:
Sent: 1/6/2023 9:54:00 AM
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Ok, here are a few more suggestions:
Someone already mentioned A Simpler Time (Playscripts). This is a really fun collection of plays all by different playwrights that actually work surprisingly well together into a fun comedic piece. We had a good time with this one, and I think would work well with your situation.

Stardust by Walter Kerr (Dramatic Publishing). This only has a cast of 18, but is one of my favorite comedies I've ever produced. Lots of great roles, and every actor gets a fun bit to do at some point.

Trap by Stephen Gregg (Playscripts). I cannot recommend this play more highly. It is one of the most unique scripts I've ever read and was a SMASHING success for us. The casting is very flexible and your kids will love it, I promise. It is in the documentary/horror genre, which you do not see very often.

------------------------------
Christopher Hamilton
Drama Teacher
Kamiakin High School
WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 1/6/2023 9:54:00 AM
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

I would second Once in a Lifetime.  Large cast - funny - one of the best shows I've done!

------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic High School
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------

I second Stardust by Walter Kerr.  I added a few additional "students," which allowed me to assign understudies--very helpful for a production that rehearses in class.

We also enjoyed The Mouse That Roared, adapted by Christopher Sergel, Dramatic Publishing Company. 

I notice that you didn't list any Shakespeare.  You might look at The Comedy of Errors as many of the characters written for males could be played by females.  The last time I directed it, I cast the Dromios, guards, Pinch, etc., with female actors.  Lots of physical comedy.

------------------------------
CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2023 09:53
From: Amy Bussey
Subject: Play Needed for large cast

Hi everyone!  I have a wonderful problem of having a large number of kids in my Advanced class.  We traditionally produce a full-length play from this class, but I'm having trouble thinking of something suitable with enough parts.  (26 actors--6 of them guys and two of those won't play large roles.) I've open to genre and style.  Anything out there that you've loved and would recommend?  As an idea of what we've done, this year we did Diviners in the fall and Nora's Lost as our one-act.  Our Musical is Footloose.  Last year we did Failure; A Love Story and Clue, as well as Guys and Dolls for our musical and "Cut" for our one-act.  Recent non-musicals have also included These Shining Lives, Almost, Maine, 12 Angry Jurors, Harvey, Fame, It's a Wonderful Life, Rough Magic, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter and the Star Catcher, and All I really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  I should add that I'm in a rural, fairly conservative district and there are some things I'd love to do that just won't fly here.  I'd have a hard time getting She Kills Monsters Approved, for example, both for content and language.  

------------------------------
Amy Neal Bussey
Theatre Director, English and Drama Teacher
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
------------------------------