Junior High School Musical!
September 6, 2010 6:08 AM Subscribe
What is a good choice for a Junior High School musical production? Details inside.
We're putting on a musical this year and will be selecting from either Broadway Junior or MTIl (unless someone knows of another reputable place). Our main criteria are the following:
– something no longer than 80 minutes or so (much preferably w/out intermission)
– the more non–singing speaking roles the better (we have some boys who are shy about singing but would definitely act)
– songs that aren't too complicated to sing
– something that has the possibility to visually stun you, including nice costume possibilities
Last year we did Aladdin and it was the perfect choice but we can't do Aladdin 2.0!
Any help here will be greatly appreciated.
We're putting on a musical this year and will be selecting from either Broadway Junior or MTIl (unless someone knows of another reputable place). Our main criteria are the following:
– something no longer than 80 minutes or so (much preferably w/out intermission)
– the more non–singing speaking roles the better (we have some boys who are shy about singing but would definitely act)
– songs that aren't too complicated to sing
– something that has the possibility to visually stun you, including nice costume possibilities
Last year we did Aladdin and it was the perfect choice but we can't do Aladdin 2.0!
Any help here will be greatly appreciated.
Guys and Dolls Jr? My dad's middle school did that show, I think it would fit the bill.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:10 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:10 AM on September 6, 2010
Seussical Junior could work. Visually, the set and costumes have unlimited possibilities. There aren't any non-singing roles, though, but some of the "male" roles (the Wickersham brothers, Vlad Vladikoff, the Mayor of Whoville, Yertle the Turtle) have lots of stage time but not a lot of singing. Some of it's more sing-talking, too.
posted by geekchic at 9:15 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by geekchic at 9:15 AM on September 6, 2010
Other reputable places to get the rights (and scripts and scores) for musicals include Tams-Witmark, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Samuel French, FYI. The shows done in the past few years by a junior high group I'm connected with include The Wiz (SF), Footloose (R&H), Guys and Dolls (MTI), Grease (SF), Oliver! (TW), Annie (MTI), Once On This Island (MTI), Zombie Prom (SF), and Seussical (MTI), probably not all of which would fit your needs but would still be worth looking at.
posted by likedoomsday at 11:34 AM on September 6, 2010
posted by likedoomsday at 11:34 AM on September 6, 2010
We did Hello, Dolly! as our junior high school play when I was in eighth grade. It was lots of fun. It has a large cast, nice costume possibilities, and a fun storyline. Bonus: if the kids have seen Wall-E they're likely familiar with a couple of the songs. : )
posted by SisterHavana at 12:39 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by SisterHavana at 12:39 PM on September 6, 2010
My middle school did the Broadway Junior version of Honk! last year (I was not involved), which turned out far better than most middle school musicals I've seen (really- they did a whole-school performance for 800 12-14 year-olds and everyone was engaged/ no participants were mocked afterward) because it was:
1) easy to put together in chunks
2) featured lots of easy easy unison chorus singing/mild lineish dancing, and even in the solo parts nothing seemed to get too fancy
3) had a friendly, non-threatening, administrator-pleasing message
4) was actually fairly entertaining- plenty of semi-decent jokes
5) definitely ran under 90 minutes
There's a big range of potential regarding what you could do with the sets/costumes for the main animals/marsh setting/cat's lair etc.
It requires at least two semi-okay male singers, however, unless you can switch the gender of the main character and I am unaware of that fact. Every other character of importance was female.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:05 PM on September 6, 2010
1) easy to put together in chunks
2) featured lots of easy easy unison chorus singing/mild lineish dancing, and even in the solo parts nothing seemed to get too fancy
3) had a friendly, non-threatening, administrator-pleasing message
4) was actually fairly entertaining- plenty of semi-decent jokes
5) definitely ran under 90 minutes
There's a big range of potential regarding what you could do with the sets/costumes for the main animals/marsh setting/cat's lair etc.
It requires at least two semi-okay male singers, however, unless you can switch the gender of the main character and I am unaware of that fact. Every other character of importance was female.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:05 PM on September 6, 2010
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It has the opportunity for great costumes and lots of spectacle, and there are several large cast numbers and a biggish cast of speaking roles, which is great for a cast of kids where everybody gets a moment to shine. Many of the kids will probably be familiar with the music from the Disney movie.
I don't know how long it is, or how many non-singing roles there are, though.
posted by Adridne at 6:58 AM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]