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carolecat

Is Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools?

Obviously I would cut the "Erection" song, but what about the gay dad storyline?
Any opinions?
Please,Hello

You can't cut the erection song. It's the only time Chip actually sings. How dare you trie to cut it! Guards take him away!
carolecat

Well you can't leave that in at a high school!
Nettik

Good luck getting legal permission to cut it.
Please,Hello

The song is for Chip. To cut it leaves him with a small solo in pandamonium. But I have to say, we cut Talk To Me from Bye Bye Birdie and nobody made a fuss, except albert,....who quit after we cut it....so we had to put it back.
Luc

carolecat wrote:
Well you can't leave that in at a high school!


You have a point. High school boys never get erections, and none of the girls know what they are.
Please,Hello

Luc wrote:
carolecat wrote:
Well you can't leave that in at a high school!


You have a point. High school boys never get erections, and none of the girls know what they are.


Spelling Bee is not for High School period!
Pounce

Re: Is Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools?

carolecat wrote:
Obviously I would cut the "Erection" song, but what about the gay dad storyline?
Any opinions?

I actually went over this in an older post. I don't know the legalities but you could change "erection" to "affection" or something similar and change "penis" to "genus". I think it would be easy to clean up the song and turn Chip's sexual frustration into a simple attraction to the point of distraction for girls.

You might be stuck with the gay dads but that part of the storyline is pretty tame. I don't see how "Woe is Me" would work without it. I guess it could be changed to a step-mom in place of one of the dads but it would need other changes.
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
Luc wrote:
carolecat wrote:
Well you can't leave that in at a high school!


You have a point. High school boys never get erections, and none of the girls know what they are.


Spelling Bee is not for High School period!

No, I think it is one of the best shows around for High Schools. None of that stuff is alien to high schoolers. And if the owners are willing to bend the material a little bit, it should be suitable for any school. Students can easily identify with the children characters. The students playing the adults however would have the hard part in convincing the audience.
Please,Hello

Re: Is Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools?

Pounce wrote:
carolecat wrote:
Obviously I would cut the "Erection" song, but what about the gay dad storyline?
Any opinions?

I actually went over this in an older post. I don't know the legalities but you could change "erection" to "affection" or something similar and change "penis" to "genus". I think it would be easy to clean up the song and turn Chip's sexual frustration into a simple attraction to the point of distraction for girls.

You might be stuck with the gay dads but that part of the storyline is pretty tame. I don't see how "Woe is Me" would work without it. I guess it could be changed to a step-mom in place of one of the dads but it would need other changes.


Its simply not HS material. Stop trying it won't work.
Pounce

Re: Is Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools?

Please,Hello wrote:
Pounce wrote:
carolecat wrote:
Obviously I would cut the "Erection" song, but what about the gay dad storyline?
Any opinions?

I actually went over this in an older post. I don't know the legalities but you could change "erection" to "affection" or something similar and change "penis" to "genus". I think it would be easy to clean up the song and turn Chip's sexual frustration into a simple attraction to the point of distraction for girls.

You might be stuck with the gay dads but that part of the storyline is pretty tame. I don't see how "Woe is Me" would work without it. I guess it could be changed to a step-mom in place of one of the dads but it would need other changes.


Its simply not HS material. Stop trying it won't work.

There's not that much "wrong" with it and if permissible it can be altered if schools object to some of it. Just looking over youtube shows how much students like the material.
jackissensational

If you want to bend it that much, they should release a student version. I doubt they would, but it's an idea.
Pounce

jackissensational wrote:
If you want to bend it that much, they should release a student version. I doubt they would, but it's an idea.

I don't see why they wouldn't. Obviously you know there are other student versions and I can't think of a better candidate for a student version than Spelling Bee.
Please,Hello

Because spelling bee is not for students. William Finn uses bad language, inaproprate stuff, touchey subjects, and weird spelling sentences for a reason. You can not censor talet. It's a terrible idea.
carolecat

Wow Please, tell us how you really feel.
So in your opinion, high school students should stick to the old moldies like My Fair Lady, Disney and Guys and Dolls?
Like Pounce said, the plot revolves around students and, barring a couple things that might be inappropriate in a parents' eye, everything in it applies to their real lives.
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
Because spelling bee is not for students. William Finn uses bad language, inaproprate stuff, touchey subjects, and weird spelling sentences for a reason. You can not censor talet. It's a terrible idea.

I've been to shows where children were brought up on stage. I forget exactly but I think it was listed as about appropriate for 12 and up. The language wasn't too bad and it can be changed. The inappropriate and touchy stuff can be softened, all without losing the spirit of the show. Even the weird sentences were not terribly objectionable. I suppose the production can decide what sort of sentences to use.

If anything "needs to be changed", it really isn't much and the spirit of the show would still be intact.
Please,Hello

carolecat wrote:
Wow Please, tell us how you really feel.
So in your opinion, high school students should stick to the old moldies like My Fair Lady, Disney and Guys and Dolls?
Like Pounce said, the plot revolves around students and, barring a couple things that might be inappropriate in a parents' eye, everything in it applies to their real lives.


9 to 5! Curtains! Company! Anyone Can Whistle! Theres a ton of new shows that can be done once they are released. Road Show! The Story of My Life! You can't change, you can't cut any songs! Especially chips lament.
Please,Hello

Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
Because spelling bee is not for students. William Finn uses bad language, inaproprate stuff, touchey subjects, and weird spelling sentences for a reason. You can not censor talet. It's a terrible idea.

I've been to shows where children were brought up on stage. I forget exactly but I think it was listed as about appropriate for 12 and up. The language wasn't too bad and it can be changed. The inappropriate and touchy stuff can be softened, all without losing the spirit of the show. Even the weird sentences were not terribly objectionable. I suppose the production can decide what sort of sentences to use.

If anything "needs to be changed", it really isn't much and the spirit of the show would still be intact.


So you say we should cut chips lament?
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
Because spelling bee is not for students. William Finn uses bad language, inaproprate stuff, touchey subjects, and weird spelling sentences for a reason. You can not censor talet. It's a terrible idea.

I've been to shows where children were brought up on stage. I forget exactly but I think it was listed as about appropriate for 12 and up. The language wasn't too bad and it can be changed. The inappropriate and touchy stuff can be softened, all without losing the spirit of the show. Even the weird sentences were not terribly objectionable. I suppose the production can decide what sort of sentences to use.

If anything "needs to be changed", it really isn't much and the spirit of the show would still be intact.


So you say we should cut chips lament?

No, as I pointed out, it can be changed. People have different sensibilities. I'm fine with it. But if some administrator or parents (or yourself) think it's a bit too offensive for a high school production, it can be altered as I pointed out and still retain the spirit of the song.

I'll just toss out this suggestion.

It is tradition
That the person eliminated
From the competition
Is fair game for derision
Especially the alpha-male
Will sell goodies at the bake sale

Anyone for brownies
Anyone for chocolate chips
Anyone for anything
That isn’t dated
How could I have been
Eliminated?
You wanna know how?
You wanna know how?
You wanna know why?

My unfortunate affection
Is destroying my perfection
It is my recollection
That everything I once did
I did perfectly
(spoken) Last year’s champ defeated!
(sung) Because of
Marigold Coneybear
Because there’s something and not a thing between us
I don’t blame my brain but I do blame my genus

My unrequited romance
Seems to have its own exuberance
Anyone for M & M’s?
Delicious and appropriate
Anyone for Chewy Goobers?
Inexpensive
Anyone for buying the stuff that I’m selling?
Because my desire has ruined my spelling

Affection
Affection
My unfortunate affection
Whoa
It’s ruining my life
It’s ruining my world
It’s ruining my
Ruining
Ruining
Ruining my life
My life

Adulthood brings its own peculiar rejection
Which is why I’m selling this PTA
Confection
It will ruin your complexion
All because of my unfortunate
Affection
Oh No!
carolecat

Absolutely great!
I will have to say honestly, I saw the show several times, once in NYC, and I really hated that song. I don't think erections are funny, and I'm definitely no puritan.
Sure, it's a fact of life but some things are just not funny.
Please,Hello

carolecat wrote:
Absolutely great!
I will have to say honestly, I saw the show several times, once in NYC, and I really hated that song. I don't think erections are funny, and I'm definitely no puritan.
Sure, it's a fact of life but some things are just not funny.


You must have a bad sense of humor. What is chips song then huh?


And the changes arn't FUNNY. You might as well take the gore out of sweeney todd! My unfortunate affection? really......you make me hurl.
Pounce

What you like in the song is the shock humor which is a cheap way to get laughs. But the changes I suggest still convey the same basic idea and doesn't damage the plot.

The show's topic is ideal for schools and I'll guess there might be a lot of requests for a "sanitized" version. But really, only a small portion of Spelling Bee might be deemed offensive.
Please,Hello

If you change it we can only guess that yes, he did have a erection.
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
If you change it we can only guess that yes, he did have a erection.

No, I don't think his having an erection is really the point or even important. Chip is entering puberty and has to deal with his interest in girls intruding into his mind. That's the crux of the matter.
Please,Hello

Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
If you change it we can only guess that yes, he did have a erection.

No, I don't think his having an erection is really the point or even important. Chip is entering puberty and has to deal with his interest in girls intruding into his mind. That's the crux of the matter.



Are you familiar with A New Brain
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
If you change it we can only guess that yes, he did have a erection.

No, I don't think his having an erection is really the point or even important. Chip is entering puberty and has to deal with his interest in girls intruding into his mind. That's the crux of the matter.



Are you familiar with A New Brain

Know of it but haven't seen it. Finn also wrote it.
Please,Hello

Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
Pounce wrote:
Please,Hello wrote:
If you change it we can only guess that yes, he did have a erection.

No, I don't think his having an erection is really the point or even important. Chip is entering puberty and has to deal with his interest in girls intruding into his mind. That's the crux of the matter.



Are you familiar with A New Brain

Know of it but haven't seen it. Finn also wrote it.


Do you have any changes for that? Neutral
ActingDude17

In the first place, it's illegal to cut anything from a show. In the second, why cut "My Unfortunate Erection"? All guys get them. Whether you want to face it or not, it's a fact of life. If you think a boy being frustrated due to being sexually aroused and thereafter distracted is inappropriate, apparently you can't sympathize that well. Yes, the song can be taken comedically, but some people can seriously identify with it. He's not only frustrated with being distracted/eliminated, he's frustrated with all the changes and new experiences happening in his life.

For all that is implies you may as well cut "Giants in the Sky" from Into The Woods.
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
Are you familiar with A New Brain
Pounce wrote:
Know of it but haven't seen it. Finn also wrote it.

Please,Hello wrote:
Do you have any changes for that? Neutral

I haven't seen it.
Pounce

ActingDude17 wrote:
why cut "My Unfortunate Erection"? All guys get them. Whether you want to face it or not, it's a fact of life. If you think a boy being frustrated due to being sexually aroused and thereafter distracted is inappropriate, apparently you can't sympathize that well. Yes, the song can be taken comedically, but some people can seriously identify with it. He's not only frustrated with being distracted/eliminated, he's frustrated with all the changes and new experiences happening in his life.

For all that is implies you may as well cut "Giants in the Sky" from Into The Woods.

Well, it's all pretty veiled in "Giants in the Sky". In "My Unfortunate Erection", it's not. Sure it's natural and normal but most people feel uncomfortable talking about it. It's not a subject in everyday conversation and a delicate topic even among close friends. Spelling Bee pretty much acknowledges that by using its shock appeal. But essentially it is about Chip going through puberty and having "different" feelings about girls that conflict with his more academic thoughts.

But Spelling Bee is more than Chip's erotic feelings. It has a lot of material kids can identify with outside of that. That's why I think a slightly toned down version, a student version, could be really popular with schools. And I think it is possible without damaging the show's quintessence.
Please,Hello

ActingDude17 wrote:
In the first place, it's illegal to cut anything from a show. In the second, why cut "My Unfortunate Erection"? All guys get them. Whether you want to face it or not, it's a fact of life. If you think a boy being frustrated due to being sexually aroused and thereafter distracted is inappropriate, apparently you can't sympathize that well. Yes, the song can be taken comedically, but some people can seriously identify with it. He's not only frustrated with being distracted/eliminated, he's frustrated with all the changes and new experiences happening in his life.

For all that is implies you may as well cut "Giants in the Sky" from Into The Woods.


Exactly. The show can't be forwarded.
Please,Hello

I also belive there is a part in the show where Loganne talks about current politics. In the show I saw, she was slamming Sarah Palin and Obama with all these political jokes. I don't know if thats in the licenced script though.
The Very Angry Woman

Please,Hello wrote:
I also belive there is a part in the show where Loganne talks about current politics. In the show I saw, she was slamming Sarah Palin and Obama with all these political jokes. I don't know if thats in the licenced script though.


They change it according to current events. Sara Inbar and Sarah Saltzberg used to email each other weekly about Logainne's rant so it stayed topical. I only saw it on Broadway once, but her comments were much less radical compared to San Francisco, and this was by design (due to having tourists from all over). I also saw the production at San Jose Rep, and while it wasn't quite as funny, it was still topical.
Pounce

Please,Hello wrote:
I also belive there is a part in the show where Loganne talks about current politics. In the show I saw, she was slamming Sarah Palin and Obama with all these political jokes. I don't know if thats in the licenced script though.

In the tour they threw in some jokes for the locals. For instance Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre would foretell her future working for "President Shirley Franklin" (the then and present Atlanta mayor). In Pittsburgh Logainne mentioned their mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Apparently they can make some changes.
The Very Angry Woman

They can also change Olive's mode of transportation. For the entire SF run, she said she got to the Bee by BART. In San Jose, she said she used the light rail.
Pounce

The Very Angry Woman wrote:
They can also change Olive's mode of transportation. For the entire SF run, she said she got to the Bee by BART. In San Jose, she said she used the light rail.

Yeah, in Atlanta she took MARTA. And I think she also said something like "I've never seen a school gym in a museum before". The theater is attached to the High Museum.
carolecat

The whole point Please is to make Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools. When you do a show at a high school, you have to run it past administrators and parents as well. It's not all about adolescent humor, which is apparently what you appreciate.
ActingDude17

Either do the full version uncut or unchanged (the only legal way to do it) or do a different show. Sadly, MTI does not have a school edition up for licensing.
Please,Hello

carolecat wrote:
The whole point Please is to make Spelling Bee appropriate for high schools. When you do a show at a high school, you have to run it past administrators and parents as well. It's not all about adolescent humor, which is apparently what you appreciate.


Have you ever seen or heard of a high school production of Speed the Plow?
i look attractive greeen

I'm not taking a side but for what it's worth MTI is releasing alternate lyrics for My Unfortunate Erection to make it more appropriate for schools...
WickedToo

MTI also said this in their e-newsletter:
"Although adults played the students on Broadway, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a great choice for schools as well as community and regional theatres."
i look attractive greeen

thanks I was trying to find that quote...but to no avail...
WickedToo

i look attractive greeen wrote:
thanks I was trying to find that quote...but to no avail...

MTI is being tricky. They said the quote that I posted in their e-newsletter but the description on their website is different. It's doesn't include schools.
"THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a great choice for community and regional theatres."
http://mtiblog.mtishows.com/?p=1514
It's the beginning of the second paragraph.
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