<p>It's about the growing trend toward high schools putting on near-professional-quality, sophisticated musicals (something I can attest to as a nearby hs did a marvelous "Les Miserables" 2 years ago). It also touches on the sheer heart high school performers, teachers, and parents bring to this annual endeavor.</p>
<p>Anyone on this board from New Albany High School in Indiana? The article details their production of "Into the Woods" and I found myself wondering if any CCers were among the actors/parents.</p>
<p>You might have to do a free registration to read the article, but it's quick (and worth it!).</p>
<p>what an interesting article! I seriously wanted to switch to that school! My school has been so disapointing with theater.....They do shows, but they did a show like "Into the Woods" withOUT adding extra parts and it was the only musical they did (20 parts, 60 auditioned) and the girl who got the lead got it without trying out (note: she had the lead all four years of high school)......I choose not to participate anymore because when I was in the show freshman year, I had a horrible time in it. My college-driven school only values theater and the arts just so it's another thing you can put on your college resume.....The people in the play aren't the outcasts of society because they aren't at all interested in the theater enough to be considered "different" or "passionate." </p>
<p>I saw these kids perform Crazy For You at Internationals! The show was stupendous. Teachers and kids put so much time and effort into this show, their hearts and souls and blood, and it showed. Kids who never danced before were tap dancing on the rooftofs. The leads are off to CCM and Evansville. I know each of us would do anything to have our high schools do such superior quality work, but I know from my own hs who happens to have many talented kids, as we all do, the level of professionalism has to be with all: teachers, performers and parents. We have such a struggle getting parents to commit to help, and when we get parents, the teachers are not receptive, a vicious cycle. But let me tell you, these kids, this school, this director deserve every accolade they get. And, btw, this is not a performing arts hs, just your typical public school.</p>
<p>"ANYONE who's ever been part of it knows that the thrill of theater, disasters included, is greatest when you're unpaid and uncynical. That effect is exaggerated in New Albany, where the theater kids are not the school's outcasts but its stars: respected and, whatever their peculiarities, generally left in peace. That's part of their unusual confidence, too; they don't have to waste energy validating their passion, because they do their shows in a community that validates it for them."</p>
<p>I wonder how a culture like that is created in a regular public high school. I know the drama class at the school I attended in 9th and 10th grade was pretty much ruled by geeks and stoners looking for an easy A. There wasn't even a real drama teacher - just the sterotypical "harried English teacher" and the productions were beyond Guffmanesque. Even mentioning that I was into theatre would have been social suicide had I not also been a cheerleader/athlete. It still got me some "You've gotta be kiddin' me" looks. It must take a great, charismatic teacher to start a tradition like that.</p>
<p>At my relatively small (1300 students, K-12) private school, we definitely have a tradition of theatre that is not looked down upon by other students. Since we are such a small community, "traditional" cliques are rather nonexistant and we pride ourselves on being involved in Academics, Athletics, AND Arts. This is exemplified by our facilities (a 3 yr old, $30mil theatre, etc) and our administration who truly believes in educating the WHOLE child.</p>
<p>i'm so jealous of all of you!! i truly wish that my school had a theater program i wanted to be in because it would make things so much less insane in many different ways.....and also there is definitely something to be said about getting acknowledgement from your peers about an ability you have....</p>
<p>my school is about 450 from 9-12, so maybe that's why the theater program is very weak, but I don't think so.....It's just been such a disapointment and I've been lucky that I live in a county in NY that has soo much community theater with adults, teens, and kids. </p>
<p>the school in indiana is amazing. i seriously decided i was moving there! especially since they've done a lot of shows that I really really love!! what was amazing to read about was that the shows attract the public. The only people who go to the shows at my school are students, teachers, parents, and maybe an ocassional relative (but not really since no one really cares enough to invite a grandparent or someone)......it's really incredible....i go to a private school, yet the theater and arts programs at so many high schools are so much better!!</p>
<p>Good thing we all on CC have better days of hopefully MT colleges and professional theaters ahead of us! :-D</p>
<p>there is a high school in my area that spent $100,000 on their production of Beauty and the Beast.</p>
<p>i only wish i could get administrators in my district interested in theatre. football is the main attraction and probably always will be. but i wish we got SOME attention, or funding for that matter. i go to a public high school of 3000+ and we have about 20-30 kids who regularly audition for plays.</p>
<p>well when im a famous gazillionaire, things are gonna change.</p>
<p>I have known several high schools who have spent fortunes on their productions. And though I do not begrudge the use of the budget on performing arts, I do find it sad, when the money is used for the glitz, the polish, and other things than getting the kids prepared and interested in theatre. I know of a school that has the best musicals in their area, but they have an abysmal record in turning out anyone in the performing arts. All of their budget is spent on the flash. I believe one year they hired professional actors to fill in for difficult parts to get over the casting hump. All well and good if they were also training the kids. Sometimes the simplest productions yield alot of very good actors, and in my book that is what is important in these programs, not the flash and glitz.</p>
<p>Our HS is famous in the area for the shows it puts on every spring. This year's show, just completed, was Elton John's Aida, with a cast of 70. Last year they did Into the Woods. The previous year was Les Miz. Every year, at the end of the run, the audience wonders "what will they do next year to top this one?" I don't know how much this year's show cost, but the year they did Miz they spent a huge amount of money to add a revolving section to the stage. During the years that my daughter was there, the printed program was produced in-house by the graphic arts club; however, the year they did Miz the program became a professionally produced novelette. The kids love what they do and work like dogs, but there is such blatant favoritism involved in the casting that many kids don't bother auditioning after freshman or sophomore year. If you aren't in the premiere choral group or the show chorus, or if you haven't managed to endear yourself in some way to the director/music director who is also the choral music teacher, you'll never make it out of the chorus no matter how talented you may be. There are two views of the director/chorus teacher: one, that he is a genius; two, that he is a megalomaniac. After knowing him for many years, I go with the latter choice. Yes, the shows that the school puts on are fabulous, but somewhere between December's auditions and May's production everyone loses sight of the fact that this is a high school, and that these are kids whose primary job is to be the best students they can be. By the time my daughter was a senior she couldn't wait for the show to be over, the pressure was so intense. Yes, the school ends up with a highly professional end product, but whatever happened to the whole idea of having fun? Personally, I find this terribly, terribly sad.</p>
<p>This, unfortunately happens alot in show biz, this favoritism in casting. I do agree fully that the primary purpose of these shows is to for the kids to learn some skills and info, and to enjoy the process. In my book, that is a better show even if it bombs productionwise, than a show that just "puts on the dog".</p>
<p>WOW I wish we had the money to go crazy at our HS. I am the Musical director and choreographer, We do 2 musicals and 1 straight play a year. Our budget is 15,000 for the year. I do my own costumes, yes I sit and sew for hours. but it saves money after all by the time we get the rights, deal with tech and sound there is not a lot left for other costs, But I feel very good because our productions look like a million dollars. Recently I saw a nyc production of Dames at Sea and knew I could have brought it in for a tenth of the cost! Well I guess some of us still appreciate the cost of a dollar!</p>
<p>I myself come from a school that is very very well off in its theatre department. Our shows are so very ewll produced and our sets are amazing. Even our facilites are great. It is so weird to me to think that some of the kids active in drama are not pursuing it in college. I have fallen in love with theatre because of my school's excellent department. Even though it is not completely embraced by the administration and general athlete dominated suburban population we still do our thing.</p>