Good Shows for High School - 2007/08/30 22:40So, school started last Wednesday and our choir director told us that they hadn't picked this year's musical. So we spent most of our first choir class of the year brainstorming musicals that would be good for our school. We have a ton of strong girls (a good mix of legit sopranos and belters) and about 4 or 5 good guys (including one guy with amazing vocal and acting range who could handle any role thrown at him). Unfortunately, our school has a no-cut policy which leaves a bunch of useless, talentless people in the chorus along with some genuine talent. As for dancers, we don't have many but the few we have are good and our usual chorus is fairly good at movement. It's a pretty small private school but we have an absolute genius for a director. These are the shows we came up with: Aida(I'm one of the only girls who can sing this style so it's my current vote), Babes in Arms, BatB, The Boyfriend, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line (we would make the dance a bit simpler, but we can probably handle most of the stuff), Fame, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Jekyll and Hyde, Kiss Me Kate, Les Miserables, Little Shop, Little Women, My Fair Lady, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Oklahoma!, Sound of Music, South Pacific, Sunday in the Park, Sweeney Todd, and Urinetown. What do y'all think we should do? Feel free to add anything to the list. Keep in mind our directors loves to challenge convention and push the rules as far as possible. He also likes Sondheim and dark subject matter. Thanks!-Georgia
Upcoming Auditions: West Side Story Current Show: none-I'm dying! Recent Shows: Carousel - Principal Dancer, Ensemble, A Christmas Carol - Lily, Charwoman, Charitable Gentleman, Principal Dancer, Ensemble; Rootabaga Stories-multiple roles; Joseph... Dreamcoat -Wives Chorus
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Dreams4Drama
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/08/31 01:25I'm starting to think that Guys and Dolls could be a great choice, too. My high school did it last year.
Reasons why: 1. There is only one really strenuous male singing role - Nicely Nicely Johson (a Tenor with great control). However, Sky Masterson does quite a bit of singing as well. The lead Nathan Detroit sings a quick duet and maybe a few solo lines, but doesn't have anything too difficult. 2. The role of Sarah Brown, the missionary, is definitely a legit soprano. 3. The role of Adelaide is a belter. And since you said there are a lot of strong girls, I'm assuming one of you can pull off the character acting as well. 4. You said there are 4-5 good guys... In addition to Sky, Nathan and Nicely, there are other smaller male roles such as Benny and Rusty (who do a bit of singing too). 5. There isn't much dancing AT ALL in the show. Basically, the guys dance in a few numbers (though I've only ever seen easy choreography/blocking), and the Hot Box Girls/Havana dancers do a little. But depending on how your show is directed, the dancing can vary in difficulty. 6. The no-cut policy is no biggie. There are a lot of ensemble characters that sing some (i.e. back up for "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat"), a big male chorus featured in multiple numbers, and a few minor female roles. 7. A genius director can do A LOT with the comedy in the show.
Wow, I've just thoroughly argued for a show that you hadn't even thought of. Hahaha. Besides Guys and Dolls, I like the sound of Oklahoma! (in particular), Bye Bye Birdie, Grease, or Aida (just for you!)
Best of luck choosing!!My Name Is: Lisa! And I'm fifteen! Upcoming Auditions:The Pajama Game Favorite Roles: Tumnus in Narnia The Musical & the Narrator (the Artful Dodger) in A Christmas With Scrooge.
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Annie
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/08/31 15:39Because you have so many people to play the different roles I would add Seussical to the list. It's a fun show and gives a lot of people the chance to shine. For that matter, Cats is also a good show for that. You don't really need that strong of dancers and you could cut the Jellicle Ball if you don't have enough good dancers to pull it off (although when I did the show the ball was one of the few breaks the soloists had in the show).
As for your current picks: Jekyll and Hyde is one of my favorite shows, but it only has four female roles (although in my current production we have a female newsboy, Bisset, and Spider- he's now a Madame). This would allow for your director to do a dark show, he could play up the murders.
FOTR is a great choice since you seem to have enough talent to fill all of the roles right now.
Aida is a great show, also.
I'd stay away from Sweeney Todd, unless your production is before the release of the upcoming movie.
Good luck picking out a show!~Annie Recently: Pick-A-Little-Lady (The Music Man), Miss Thorn (Ruthless! the Musical), Emma Carew (Jekyll & Hyde)
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margyjohnson
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/08/31 16:05I'd also add Once Upon a Mattress. I have been wanting a chance to do that play because it looks like so much fun.Favorite Shows: Wicked, Hairspray, A Chorus Line & Spamalot Dream Roles: Ado Annie/Oklahoma, Galinda/Wicked In production: Ti Moune in Once On this Island Jr Upcoming Auditions: The Music Man, McKinney Has Talent contest
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lls888
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/08/31 21:12i'm not sure if this is any help but the high school in my area is doing Chicago this year. (sadly i'm homeschooled, drat my luck) it's a fun show, if your looking for something a bit darker then your average happy-go-lucky musical.
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broadwaybaby09
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/09/06 09:11Thanks for all the help so far, keep it coming! Y'all have some really great ideas! And Lisa, I love Guys and Dolls so much but Our middle school did it just 2 years ago with most of the current high schoolers in the cast so we can't really do it again so soon. Even though I would love to be in it again-Georgia
Upcoming Auditions: West Side Story Current Show: none-I'm dying! Recent Shows: Carousel - Principal Dancer, Ensemble, A Christmas Carol - Lily, Charwoman, Charitable Gentleman, Principal Dancer, Ensemble; Rootabaga Stories-multiple roles; Joseph... Dreamcoat -Wives Chorus
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myturntobebrave
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/09/06 20:11Enloe High School near where I live did Sweeney Todd last year and pulled it off AMAZINGLY -- several actors/actresses who could be on Broadway - But then again they are a school of the arts, so yeah. But I recommend the musical - dark subject matter and also comedic.Credit for the avatar goes to Amy from the Idina message boards. It's my turn to be brave ~Idina Menzel
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Dreams4Drama
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/09/06 20:43And Lisa, I love Guys and Dolls so much but Our middle school did it just 2 years ago with most of the current high schoolers in the cast so we can't really do it again so soon.
Awww too bad. I love that show!
Have you and your class narrowed it down anymore? Because if they've come up with a few main possibilities, maybe I can pick one and make a case for it. (Like my extremely long, almost overwhelming argument for Guys and Dolls haha! )
But yeah, I still like the idea of Oklahoma! I think it fits the criteria you gave us concerning the talent your school has to offer! Good luck picking one!!My Name Is: Lisa! And I'm fifteen! Upcoming Auditions:The Pajama Game Favorite Roles: Tumnus in Narnia The Musical & the Narrator (the Artful Dodger) in A Christmas With Scrooge.
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broadwaybaby09
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/09/08 00:25Our directors are so indecisive, they won't even hint at what they're leaning towards. Unfortunately, all the seniors are pushing for Sound of Music which I really don't want to do. Don't get me wrong I love the show and want to play Maria someday but I just don't thin its a good show for us to do.-Georgia
Upcoming Auditions: West Side Story Current Show: none-I'm dying! Recent Shows: Carousel - Principal Dancer, Ensemble, A Christmas Carol - Lily, Charwoman, Charitable Gentleman, Principal Dancer, Ensemble; Rootabaga Stories-multiple roles; Joseph... Dreamcoat -Wives Chorus
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theatredoll89
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Re:Good Shows for High School - 2007/09/26 17:22how about into the woods jr???? it has a good mix of different vocal styles (belt, legit etc) and its a challenging show so no one will get bored. and dancing with that show shouldnt be an issue
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Besides Guys and Dolls, I like the sound of Oklahoma! (in particular), Bye Bye Birdie, Grease, or Aida (just for you!)
I love that show!
