<p>I need help! I am a director for a childrens theatre. We put on full broadway musicals. This is my 11th year and we can't decide what to do this fall! I need suggestions of some of your favorate broadway shows that are age appropriate. We have done alot of shows like Oliver, Guys and Dolls, Annie, The Wiz, ect. I would love your suggestions. We have a huge buget.</p>
<p>Seussical the Musical. Once on this Island-Jr.</p>
<p>Beauty and the Beast, R & H Cinderella, Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma!, Footloose, My Fair Lady. I can't think right now. You threw me with Guys and Dolls. I do not think of that as a show for 10-14 year olds because of the gambling theme and dulce de leche! LOL.</p>
<p>Barnum. Annie Get Your Gun. Bugsy Malone.</p>
<p>The King & I (If you have any 8th grade boys who aren't dwarfed by the girls)</p>
<p>Honk. Charlie Brown.</p>
<p>Peter Pan! Also You're a Good Man Charlie Brown -- originally a small cast, but you can add a big chorus.</p>
<p>Just look at the MTI "Broadway Junior Collection". Those are specifically age appropriate, and they even have some Disney shows.</p>
<p>I personally do not feel it is necessary to use the "junior" versions of shows and it sounds like you already put on full scale productions. At my daughter's theater camp, they put on full scale productions with that age group just fine. I once directed a full scale version of Peter Pan with grades 1-4! </p>
<p>Some ideas (some were already mentioned): Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once on This Island, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, Honk, Barnum, Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan, Seussical, Cinderella, 42nd Street, Sound of Music, High School Musical, The Boyfriend, Tintypes, Damn Yankees, Children of Eden, Godspell, The Music Man, School House Rock, Working, and Perfectly Frank.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for this helpful and timely reminder of why I have been essentially lurking all these months. Serves me right -- no good deed ...
Back to lurking I go.
No reply is necessary, as no response will be forthcoming. Best wishes to all.</p>
<p>I dont know what kind of childrens theatre we are talking about here, but 11 years experience says she must know what she is doing. We all reach creative brick walls, when we just cant come up with an inspiration... this person was asking for help and was getting some good advice. We all come from different backgrounds and we do the best we can with what we have to work with. I am not from a "perfect" world with summer programs and perf arts schools, but I am from a system that supports the arts. I directed a JR musical, a joint venture between several public intermediate schools, and I never felt like I was "resorting" to something that was beneath me by using the Broadway Jr. version. We all come from different backgrounds and different situations, and we need to remember that we are on this site to help our kids and to help each other. There is plenty of rejection at this point of our lives (at least there is for most of us); we need to be careful that we remain respectful and not offensive with any advice, suggestions, or comments that we make to each other. While those of us who are less experienced need advice from those of you who have been through this and who have advice or suggestions for everything, we also need to feel comfortable reaching out for that help and advice. I know this field is all about being the best, getting the role, getting into the program, etc., but this site is about helping each other, not about looking down our noses at others, making snide remarks, or rejecting one persons advice or opinions.</p>
<p>I don't see anyone rejecting any of the great advice on this thread. I happen to think the Junior versions at MTI are great options. I'm very glad those were suggested! I also was suggesting that since the OP already is doing full scale versions, that she can continue to look at full scale version options because many middle school age kids can pull those off fine. But the Junior versions are ALSO a really fine option! I was saying to also look beyond junior versions and not be limited to those that are offered, but those that are offered are GREAT options as well. I thought the advice and suggestions offered by each poster were really really good ones, in fact. If any other meaning was interpretted, it was not at all intended that way. One suggestion is not better than another. I see them as all really good suggestions in fact. I certainly was NOT saying to NOT consider junior versions. I was saying to ALSO not overlook full versions if already doing them successfully (as the OP indicated). My suggestion wasn't instead of, but in addition to, other suggestions. Lots of middle schools only put on junior versions. I was saying that I have also seen groups in this age range put on full versions and so not to overlook that option, particularly since the OP already was doing full scale shows. It was not meant as negative toward junior versions at all. I think the junior versions are also good options, and in particular, for schools or groups new to putting on shows or with less experience. I'm glad that MTI has developed these options. I just have also seen groups in this age range who have been able to put on the full versions. Both options are worthy of looking into. I think every suggestion on this thread has been excellent. The group brainstorming on this site is very informative.</p>
<p>I really thought that BrownSugar's suggestion to review the MTI junior collection was right "on", because it quickly helps refresh your memory which shows would be "age appropriate". Whenever I am asked for suggestions for local youth theatres, I find myself turning to that website quite often :). </p>
<p>Since actressmom has the experience and her program the budget to put on full scale productions however, she could then use the Jr. info and choose to put on the full scale version. A win win for all :D!</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom, that is also a good suggestion. The MTI junior versions give an idea of age appropriate musicals. Since the OP has handled full scale productions with this age group, she could look there for inspiration and then opt to do the full scale version, as you say. In fact, MTI, for example, has a junior version of Once On This Island. A less experienced group may want to use that version. I have seen the full scale version put on twice by this age group, however. My own kid played TiMoune at age 11 with a cast that was ages 8-13. I also saw teh full version put on in the Caribean by West Indian kids who had NEVER put on a musical in their lives and people from America came to do this show with them. So, either version may be possible for the OP's group.</p>
<p>Of course, I don't know what I'm even talking about. . .but I suggested the ISLAND Jr version only because I think it MIGHT be cleaned up a bit in terms of sexual references/implications. Our high school is doing the "regular" version this spring, and, according to my D, there are some pretty interesting sexual comments/implications or what ever. One student with whom I was talking had been in a Jr version a couple of years ago. He was surprised by some of the lines in the one they're doing at school. Interesting discussion--I sure hope actressmom lets us know what she picks!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. Most of these skows we have already done. We only do full productions not jrs. Our theatre has music directors, scene and costume designers. We are very forunate! some of our kids have made it to broadway. We will have a cast of 60- 65 kids. I didn't want to start a fight. I just wanted to ask for help by all the wonderful people who post on cc. I knew there would be great suggestions. Thank you all again.</p>
<p>Have you done The Boyfriend already? My D was in that when she was nine and there are a lot of parts for both males and females and also very good ensemble numbers and choreography. I think it is a good one to look at.</p>
<p>I just thought of another one that one of my kids did at that age....Babes In Arms.</p>
<p>Along those same lines -- how about Little Mary Sunshine or Dames at Sea? Both fun, campy shows.</p>
<p>Good ones^^^. </p>
<p>Another one I have seen that age group do....Little Shop of Horrors.</p>
<p>Also, Anything Goes.</p>
<p>What about Runaways?</p>
<p>Or
The Secret Garden?</p>
<p>And -- Once Upon a Mattress.</p>