kk5033
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PROBLEMS PICKING A SHOWSomeone tell me why I am having problems picking a show this year. I have never had this much of a problem getting inspired to do my job as the Drama teacher here at my Middle School.
It seems like I've done all the shows I can do and the ones I want to do have so many problems.
So I ask you MdN people, pick a show and tell me why you can or can't do a particular show in Middle School.
Here are my parameters:
1) I teach in NYC so I am within the mileage of a competing house on Broadway, so most shows there now are out(e.g. Grease).
2) I am sticking to musical comedy because I want the kids to have fun and this is what I know.
3) I like casts of 25-30 to maximize the number of students who can participate. I usually write in roles and add an extra of one thing or another to fill out the cast. Nobody plays trees or rocks.
4) My girls are great, my boys are like death when it comes to singing and dancing. Boys are good comedians at least.
Past shows
On The Town
H2$ (How to Succeed)
Damn Yankees
Bye Bye Birdie
Guys and Dolls
Kiss Me Kate
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Please help,
KK
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theatreisme
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School House Rock Live????
My kids had a great time with the show, and you can always change the guys to girls, and the show is meant for a big cast 
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Sweeney Hyde
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Oliver!?
Gypsy? (possibly too risque for middle school...depends...)
The Pajama Game?
Seussical?
Finian's Rainbow?
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ConverseSneaker
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West Side Story?
Fame
I'm blanking out right now....
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theonetowatch
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Stuff I was in/saw done by middle schools:
Annie Get Your Gun
How to Eat Like a Chid (ensemble shows like this tend to be good choices, even if as shows they are kind of sucky)
School House Rock (as mentioned above)
Robin Hood
Bye Bye Birdie
Bugsy Malone
Barnum (don't do it)
Annie
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Set_Buildin_Dad
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Once on a Mattress
Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
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Kay Kap
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| Set_Buildin_Dad wrote: | Once on a Mattress
Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum |
Nothing beats a little sexual humor with those wacky youth. Nothing.
Exept maybe pigeons.
If you're willing to tone down Lola a bit, DAMN YANKEES works
And Sweeney Hyde, are you on crack? GYPSY for middle school? Tears of hilarity are pouring down my face now. Let us all aspire for out 12 year olds to play Tessie Tura. And nobody plays Mamma Rose like a desperate 11 year old.
HAHAHHAHAHHAHHA
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Brigantine
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Hard to find shows that don't use a lot of guys, or at least don't make them sing much! If you have at least a few good guys, how about The Music Man? Harold hardly needs to sing (more speak-sing, a la the old movie) and the other male parts are all comedy, low or no singing skills needed.
Other things I came up with from browsing MTI.com
the Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Honk (REALLY good for a large chorus, usually you double parts but you can separate them and each can have a very nice, memorable part)
and there's always a bunch of Disney things, like Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc.
??
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rcs
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I would probably recommend Annie. It's a fun show for youngsters, gives the girls plenty to do without requiring too much from the boys in the way of singing and dancing. And if I'm not mistaken, it's about the cast size you're looking for.
If you hadn't already done Bye Bye Birdie, that would be my other recommendation.
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