<p>Our High School Drama program is researching shows for next year's Spring musical and someone mentioned Chicago. If anyone has ever been involved in HS production of Chicago, just wondered if you could share your thoughts or experience. Preliminary info we have been given is that its a tough show to get the rights for.</p>
<p>I haven't been involved personally in a high school production of Chicago. However, I have seen this show done at both of my children's theater camps (with high school aged actors) and I know of a production of it done at a public high school in my region.</p>
<p>I know our local theatre group that my D has been involved with for years tried to do it last year. They ended up having to change to Kander and Ebbs 2 x 5/ Chicago. It was scenes from various shows. I think it was because Chicago was currently on Broadway at the time. Not sure if it is now. 2 x5/Chicago incorporated most of the scnes from Act 1 of Chicago, and then some other stuff. I forget, as my D was no longer involved with the company.</p>
<p>Chicago's rights are restricted but they ARE available. Terms are quoted once the application is received. It's one of the few shows which is occasionally performed even though the Broadway production is still running. I've never seen a high school production of the show.</p>
<p>Teriwtt's D, was, I think, in a production of Chicago. I believe she has posted about this in the past. Maybe the original poster can do a search. I recall she said that the production drew in a large audience, which was important in attracting arts funding to the school. I hope I am remembering this correctly!</p>
<p>yes, our high school did Chicago last year - my daughter was Roxie and another CC mom's (jordansmom) daughter was Velma. </p>
<p>Whether or not you get the rights, I believe, has to do with whether or not anyone else in the area is also doing the show, so I would think the earlier the director applies for the rights, the better chance you have of getting them. </p>
<p>What I can tell you is that many parents had doubts about our school pulling off the show (well after our director had the rights), but it was phenomenal. Much of that had to do with the director casting every role perfectly. Our band director came to us two years ago after getting his master's at Penn State, and he said when they did it there, the music was hard, and he was intially concerned about the ability of a high school band pulling it off - but they did a fantastic job. They had the pit up on stage just like the Broadway version, which I thought was awesome as in most other musicals the pit is usually unseen. </p>
<p>It was well received in the community, but we also got great press coverage (unlike Into The Woods that we did this spring). </p>
<p>If you could be more specific with your questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can. Oh, and as a comparison... our high school is around 2000 students - they had record numbers of auditionees for this production. We also have a very successful show choir program, and I'd say 95% of our cast were also in show choir, so there was already a strong bond amongst the cast, and a lengthy history of performing together. Amazingly, our theatre director (this was his second year at the school) also took on the role of vocal director for this play (he does have the background, but it is definitely not his strongest suit); he uses a program called Rehearscore that is usually available when you purchase the liscensing rights, so kids can work on their music well before the pit is brought in. (It was also extremely helpful for the more musically complex selections for Into The Woods).</p>
<p>The good thing is that the set is pretty minimal; costumes are fairly easy to assemble from off the rack stores (minus a couple of outfits).</p>
<p>teriwtt, weird! we just did chicago AND woods!</p>
<p>anyway, my school did chicago last march (06)...HUGELY popular with the audition pool (i feel like 120ish tried out?) and sold out our 700-seat theatre like <em>that</em>. we had a prof. director/choreographer who had done the show many times before, band onstage, some original choreo.
gotta say, the cheers following "all that jazz" were probably the biggest rush of my theatre career.</p>
<p>also-- i guess even samuel french (rights company) were surprised when my theatre teacher called about more details...the rights are wicked hard to get.</p>
<p>We did 'Chicago' the year the movie came out. I was an underclassmen, so I was dancer number four haha. The show is edgy, but we had a great response from the community. Being primarily a dancer, it was a wonderful experience for me, especially because we did original choreography. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Prior to that, our director had been trying to get the rights consistantly for four years prior to the year we did it. And when we got them, they were rediculously expensive... but it was well worth it.</p>
<p>My school did Chicago, although I wasn't invovled in it :) </p>
<p>It apparently took our director three years to secure the rights before we finally got them... the show, from what I can tell, was <em>ridiculously</em> expensive, with rights and buying some new things for the sets, etc., but I think we basically sold out every show. It was definitely a success.</p>
<p>for all the great info. Our director has a very challenging job this year. The HS program is going into its 4th year. We have done Once Upon A Mattress, Grease, Kiss Me Kate. Grease did very well. But the other two were not well attended. The objective for next year is to find a musicial that has enough female leads (we have quite a few talented female Seniors that have committed their HS years to building the drama program); a good size ensemble and that will sell tickets. Chicago would be a very good fit. But there may be concerns about content by school administrators and the rights may be difficult to get for next Spring - although I can't remember any HS in our area doing Chicago. Into the Woods and Pippin are also under consideration. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be most welcome.</p>
<p>Again, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about Chicago - they confirm that this would be a great choice if we could do it.</p>
<p>Rizzo's Mom....West Side Story maybe? West Side Story has several female lead parts, but the music is ridiculously hard.</p>
<p>WSS definitely has female roles, but the guys get MUCH more stage time. I don't know how Wonderful Town or On the Town would go over-- but there are a lotttt of parts. I LOVE Pippin.</p>
<p>Gypsy... it'll be a little scandalous (like Chicago) and there are tons of female roles.</p>
<p>Fiddler on the Roof has 6 very good featured parts for women -- but you do have to have some strong men as well.</p>