[beck]

I heard the copyrights came out. My school wants to do it next year, and I wanted to know if we were going to be one of the firsts.

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

Yes, it has.

And it should stay OUT of High Schools.

[Ep-Griz-Reno]

Why do you think it should stay out of high schools?

((I know there are somewhat obvious answers...but my view on it all is that first of all it can be edited, secondly, the content surrounds our society, and thirdly it teaches a lesson...but hey! That's just my personal opinion! =D ))

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

Editing any part of a script is HIGLY illegal.

[MichiFan]

Not that I don't love the show, but there are some things in it that aren't that great for high schoolers. Not that juniors and seniors couldn't handle seeing it (and younger, even) but my little brother is headed into high school next year, and the idea of someone his age and his maturity level performing anything in CHICAGO is a little scary.

First of all the choreography would have to be extreeeemely edited. That would be a huge change in the show and since the 'ography is such an important part, it would lose a lot of its charm and lustre. Just my opinion.

The script thing is up for debate.

And yes, it does teach a lesson. Not to put to fine a point on it, but it teaches that you can cheat on someone and then kill your lover and get away with it - as long as you have the money and a great lawyer.

Maybe not an ideal message to be passing onto the young ones.

Just some thoughts.

[what_the_heck013]

My friend's school did it. It was pretty cool. Here's the website: http://www.friendsofmusicaltheatre.com/index.htm

[Ep-Griz-Reno]

Well...I mean, when I said edited, I meant a lot of TONE-in' down type of editing...i.e., like what she said...less sexual coreography-which is what I feel the PRIMARY factor in its content...also, Roxy's sex scene-that can be CUT instead of edited...((actually, to be quite honest, I'm not sure if it's in the show show))....because besides that, I think it's not all that bad...it's not like THE FULL MONTY...stip style..hahah...anyway...yeah-I guess that's all hahaha =D

[theatrepox]

i think if a high school is gonna go it, u need really good actors and singers to pull it off. the preforming arts high school where i live did it, it wasnt bad.

[PublicFlogging]

Oh my, I know my school could never get away with Chicago. We got in trouble for including "WTF?" (litterally, just saying the letters w-t-f) in a play.

Well, its cool that at least some schools are more lax about such things.

[Holly]

It's being considered as one of my high school's shows next year...it's between that and Singing in the Rain, and it looks like it's probably going to be Singing in the Rain at this point. (I'm dissapointed.)

We've also done Cabaret and A Chorus Line - all three of those have had "Appropriate for high school?" threads...I find that kind of funny. ;P

[MsDivaKate]

More liberal districts will perform Chicago and leave it intact. Some schools do it and edit bits out. Its not legal, but until "school versions" of certain shows are made, its the way things will be done.

Its great music so its ashame that its not more readily accesible for high schoolers. At least kids wouldn't be blowing their voices like in many of the musicals that have recently been released for amateurs.

I think good youth productions of shows like Chicago, Cabaret etc. can exist. In the town that I grew up in there was a theatre company that was started by kids between the ages of 14-20. They did a produdction of Cabaret that was vastly better then the regional adult production that was performed by a local theatre the next year. They left everything intact and nothing was cut nor edited for content.

[MichiFan]

i think i'd hate to see a watered down 'high school version' of chicago.

i hope that the cabaret your theatre company performed was full of people closer to the 20 year old range and not the other end of the scale.

i think if i saw 14 year olds in a cabaret that was uncut and unedited in any way, i'd probably have to leave, or laugh. it would make me uncomfortable knowing their age. we had one 16 year old in our regional production of cabaret, but she was by far the youngest, but she looks much older - and she was the only one who had the looks, chops, and enthusiasm to be helga. (you know, the baby) if any of the other girls had been cast, they would have come off much too old for that role, esp. in our particular production.

i think young people performing these shows are capable of doing a great job, it's just a matter of direction, performance, and humour.
~Cat

[MsDivaKate]

I wasn't in the production, as I was above the age and it wasn't a company I'd been involved with, but I don't think there were many, if any, 14 year olds. Most of the cast was aged 18-20 ( it was youth directed as well). There were a few going to be high school juniors/seniors, so that would have made them 16/17.

It was honestly the only decent production of Cabaret I've seen done by youth and the only decent production of Cabaret I've seen performed in the area. This includes the recent adult performance. I don't often give much credit to youth productions of shows like this, so this was quite up there.

[IwantheGoldenTicket]

i don't see why you shouldn't do chicago. most of the people have seen it anyway either from the movie or broadway. plus, teens these days are exposed to much more and if people don't want to see it they don't have to.

a high school by me did cabaret a couple years back, and 2 years ago my high school did sweet charity. some schools do a chorus line

if people don't want to be in it or see it they don't have to because no one is forcing them. i think Chicago in high schools would be really cool. i'd love to see how a high school would do it.

[BroadwayRedHead]

My school is doing it this upcoming year as our spring musical.

Our director said that she is going to leave it as it is, and not cut any portion out of it. She said that if anybody has any problem with the content in the musical, they don't have to come and see it.

I'm rather excited to be doing too! Since I'm a senior, I'll be going out with a bang. =o)

[beck]

i am sooooo jealous of you. thats exactly what i want. my directors want that too, they have no problem with parents. they couldnt care less. but they're worried about the school board. they have to approve it. and we can't do it behind their backs, or my directors will be fired from their jobs. anyhoo. yes, going out with a bang in your senior year, yet another thing that i wish i could do. but i cant.
well, i might..depends on what musical we do. i'm just so nervous. i dont want to do another musical that focuses on the boys as much this year. we only really have one male lead senior this year, and three female lead seniors. along with one male lead, and one female lead in gr.11 which would be perfect for chicago. ugh. its so frustrating.
and you see, the other senior alto lead is a bit more talented than me, in my eyes. so i'm always afraid that if they pick a show with only one alto lead, she'll be picked over me. its quite troubling.

[MichiFan]

same thing happened to me in high school, and i was in the chorus for EVERYTHING, or i was dance captain bc i was organized, or i was choreographer with no role in the show because no one else would take on that workload.

my advice would be to enjoy it no matter what - and then try again when you go to college. having a lead in a high school show on your resume isn't the end of the world. having the lead in a sondheim show at U of M on it, however, can help you very much when you get to other, bigger auditions.

hope it turns out well,
~Cat