[FreddiesHalfMic]

Are the rights for Chess out for high schools yet? Has anyone seen a high school do this one?

[jkurzynski]

Not sure what you mean by "high school version." I know there is not a "Junior" version available if that's what you mean. The show in the US is owned and distributed by Samuel French which rents to everyone (high schools included). This is the only version available in the US so you can't get the London version. Songs like Merano, Embassy Lament, et al are not included (legally). From a content standpoint, the show is inappropriate either way because of vulgarity and heavy adult themes although, the historical significance of Cold War themes may balance it out. Either way, the production needs to be attempted with a confident and prepared cast and production crew regardless of who is putting in on. The music in this show is all around difficult: difficult to learn, difficult to teach, and difficult to rehearse and perform for both actors and musicians. Everyone involved needs to be somewhat competent.

[FreddiesHalfMic]

True, but my cast just pulled off Beauty and the Beast and two years ago we did 42nd Street, so we're no danger to a challenge Even though unfortunately I am graduating this year *cries*

[neverhart]

My high school did this show in 1992, and I did it a few years later in college as well. I don't think the themes are quite that difficult to handle on a high school level.

Plus, the music is a little hipper and pop-oriented than alot of other shows (cough Sound of Music cough), providing a little more meat for younger attention spans.

[Salome]

as long as your school doesnt mind the large amount of swearing in the show and the sexual overtones. go for it.

but if your school is prone to censoring works avoid it..i have no stomach for censoring material i'd rather see the school not do the show at all than cut what the author has written.

[AudreyTD]

I produced "Chess" at my school this year - you can see photos from the production at www.chessthemusical.tk It was very succesful - enjoyed by all and starred Year 7 (11 years) up to 6th Form and Staff - cast of 105, and ran for 4 nights. Yes, of course it was certainly challenging, but definately doable - and I say that as we are just your standard comprehensive (and a Science college at that - rather than an arts one). We are now showcasing extracts at Her Majesty's Theatre, London in avariety show for young performers. Feel free to get in touch with me if you want more information.

We got the rigths from Samuel French Ltd. I think the only downside is that because it is arguably an "amateur group" show rather than a school one, you pay "amateur group" prices for the royalties. Well worth it though.

We managed it on a tight budget: approx £1500 and we still had films and projections etc. I was lucky to have an incredibly dedicated production team and cast.

We're tackling "Jesus Christ Superstar" next year.

[TheNextTenMinutes]

I would rate the emotional content of this show out of reach for most highschoolers. I would also rate Freddy's part out of most high school tenor's reach. But hey, there's always exceptions.

[what_the_heck013]

I saw a mediocre high school production.

[klutzyk8ie]

My school also did this show. As for Freddy being to high for most teen tenors, we actually had all the male leads (Freddy, Anatoly, Molokov, Walter, Arbitor) played by girls. The girl who played Freddy was amazing and convinced a lot of people that she was a boy, although technically I believe she sang it soprano.

But it's true that the show is a bit dated for high school. A lot of kids in the audience had no clue what was going on. That was partially due to the sound being completely off-balanced; the director told the guitar to go max volume, forcing the whole band to raise the volume and the sound crew couldn't raise the actor's because it would cause complications... well, it was very complicated.

[TheNextTenMinutes]

[Jekkienumber24601]

[milkywhite24601]

I wish my highschool would do this show. It's great!

[metaphor17]

most highschool probably wouldn't do it... it wouldn't draw the normal "family" crowd that fund many highschools' drama programs...

ours might, though. we're considering doing Tommy our senior year.
umm. good luck to us.