Open Forum

I need opinions.  I have a unique group of students who are fabulous actors and dancers and pretty good singers.  My students tend to be students who take part in theater but aren't theater kids.  Super smart, prep school have been amazing at the musicals we have done.  It's a unique year because of the number of students who graduated last year.  Long story....here are the very different choices for musicals:   students want to do "Hadestown" but I am hesitant because there's no dialogue and I feel the singing has to be done technically from a more classical training perspective.   I like "Once Upon a One More Time" because its unique, lots of roles, energy over the top and a plot that supports young women - opinions?  The other we are looking at is "Pippin".

If you were choosing and your program was built on fabulous ensemble numbers and multiple leads who aren't necessarily technical singers, what would you choose?

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Melinda Carlson
Music/Theater Director
VCHS

Edwards, CO
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I think it also depends a lot on the mindsets of the community you serve. Admittedly it was 10 years ago when we did Mermaid and attitudes have shifted since then, but our white Sebastian used the accent because that's what our patrons expected - same with Ariel's red hair, even though I campaigned against wigging a girl who already had fabulous, though brown, hair. (And I'm 100% aware that these are very different issues and I do not intend to minimize an important cultural conversation; the only 'common baseline' i intended to use was an awareness of what your audience is likely to expect and appreciate.)

In this case, the fact that your principal raised a concern means it's a relevant issue in your community, so I agree with all those (including yourself!) who are leaning away from it in your production. I hope you have a great show!

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Josh Kauffman
Teacher, Thespian Society/Drama Club sponsor
Winfield City Schools
Winfield, AL
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