Help me pick a musical for middle school students!

[bbernardini]

Here's the rules:

1. No "junior" shows like the kind MTI puts out. Has to be a full-length show.

2. Has to be a "name" show. Not one of those cutesy "Tied To The Tracks" kind of shows that nobody knows.

3. Has to lean towards females in the cast. Let's face it, it's middle school. Drama ain't cool for the boys.

On edit: I'm leaning towards "Annie", as it seems to fit those criteria.

[Initech]

1. The Producers!

[TK421]

2. How about Hello Dolly?

[Texasgal]

3. Grease!

Who wouldn't LOVE that?

[bbernardini]

5. The uptight parents?

Don't forget some of those storylines, and a few choice lyrics.

[Texasgal]

6. Where are you?

In a fundie area?

[bbernardini]

12. Big red Chester County in Pennsylvania.

[BigMcLargehuge]

19. if that's a fundie district...

Inherit the Wind

[Texasgal]

22. So is it a FUNDIE area?

Just curious, because it seems to me that Grease is peanuts compared to what middle schoolers are watching/reading today. Plus, many parts could be edited.

Sorry, just kinda struck me a strange. :shrug:

[JimmyJazz]

32. Hey! Me, too!

:D Southern CC. :hi:

[SpiralHawk]

37. Yes - Grease !!!!

You could update it and stage it in the way back yesteryear of the 1990's....

[youthere]

4. Guys and Dolls.

[JimmyJazz]

7. let's look at the list:

http://musicals.net/

on edit: a lot of the topics are a little racy or about war, etc. I say go with Annie or maybe Cats :shrug:

[no name no slogan]

8. Hair-- no, wait...

[tinfoilinfor2005]

9. I agree with "Annie"

Our local theater group did it a few years ago and it was a big hit. Was probably a tad overdone when it first came out, but now it is fun to watch again. And there are plenty of girl roles, for certain.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. South Park - Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

Hey, it was a musical!! ;-)

[crispini]

11. Little Shop of Horrors

has a girl-back-up "chorus" and although there are at least three pretty big male parts, the "chorus" could be filled out a bit. Plus, it's totally fun. Although it would depend on what kind of creative props folks you have, as far as producing "Audrey."

[Courtesy Flush]

21. Second that one n/t

[xmas74]

13. Camelot

Most of the lead roles are male but you could fill much of the chorus w/ women.

[Debbi801]

14. Fame? It even takes place in school.

[bbernardini]

17. Gay character.

YOU try getting a middle school boy to take that role. :)

[BigMcLargehuge]

15. Oh Calcutta

LOL

[ohiosmith]

16. Rocky Horror Stage Play

[BigMcLargehuge]

18. Don't dream it... Be it!

[flvegan]

20. A sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania

[crispini]

24. T-t-t-touch me!

[JVS]

23. West side story

It's stab-a-riffic!

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. Annie, Peter Pan, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

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[crispini]

26. Can't go wrong with Rogers and Hammerstein!

Probably not "South Pacific" -- too many men. But "Oklahoma" or maybe "State Fair" might be worth looking at.

Or if you've got a LOT of vocal talent, why not take on Gilbert and Sullivan? They are tremendously fun to update and usually can be "modernized" quite well.

Or maybe "Annie Get Your Gun" -- female lead.

[kwassa]

27. Sweeney Todd?

[KitchenWitch]

28. State Fair.

[trof]

29. Gilbert & Sullivan?

We did H.M.S. Pinafore in HS and it was a lot of fun.

[bbernardini]

30. I wouldn't mind it, but...

...it might be considered a throwback to a previous music teacher. (I'm trying to think like the headmaster, you see.)

[kwassa]

33. My junior high did "The Mikado" and it worked very well

[AllegroRondo]

31. The King and I

great music, lots of female cast, and the lead male actor gets to shave his head!

[5thGenDemocrat]

34. Bye bye Birdie

Saw a high school production of it in Bay City, MI and the kids seemed to have a great time performing it.
John
Oh, and we in the audience enjoyed it, too.

[China_cat]

35. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

:sarcasm:

[Calliope]

36. You're A Good Man Charlie Brown

Please - not Annie

[SocratesInSpirit]

38. I second the King and I

For God's sake, stay away from Peter Pan!!!!! It's too overdone.

Another cool musical is Anything Goes.

Side note: I was in all three musicals above. The King and I was the most fun.

[SocratesInSpirit]

39. Also, how about Oliver?

Everyone has to learn to speak in cockney accents for that one, though. :)

That one was rather difficult - my cockney accent came out southern half the time.