need theater help please (ot)

[Wormwood]

just don't do macbeth....dear lord don't do macbeth.

Our class did Macbeth as our 6th grade play (1981, Terra Centre Elementary, Burke VA).

Everyone had a blast---we took those great lines and ran with them! From the witches ("Eye of newt and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog.") to creepy Lady Macbeth ("Out damn spot") and the final swordfight ("Turn, Hellhound!")

The kids loved it and the parents loved it.

Even I had a great time, and I was just the dude who painted the sets and made the props for the witches.

You could do a LOT worse than Shakespeare. The only reason I didn't recommend it to Clay was because I assuemd he'd already considered it.

If not, check out: Shakespeare for Children (links)

 

[Moe Ronalds]

I know that my middle school did "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" last year and we're doing "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" this year. In the past they've done Guys and Dolls and The Music Man.

I know the high schools have done the Wizard of Oz, Footloose, Fiddler on the roof, Little Shop of Horrors, And You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (it's the "inn" thing amongst musicals 'round these parts lately. No clue why (it is an enjoyable play though, a little kiddy-ish but I'm having a blast.)) Also, I know the middle school considered and an independent child's theatre camp put on Oklahoma, if that interests you.

Note: AN issue with You're a good man- there are only 6 main parts. Everything else is chorus. Our school handled it by giving a few lines to other kids to make several small parts, but it still may be unsatisfying for the kids in your group.

 

[tarchon]

Man, you should have brought this up with the expert while you were talking to her in England.
There is a little journal that publishes original plays and adaptations for youth drama, but I don't remember the name of it. It used to be widely available in public libraries at one time.

 

[Angcuru]

Well, if you were able to do Macbeth, chances are that you were using the watered-down/edited to hell script. Did you include how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are all over each other (LITERALLY), and how MacDuff's baby was stabbed to death in the crib, his servants raped, etc.

 

[Wormwood]

Well, if you were able to do Macbeth, chances are that you were using the watered-down/edited to hell script. Did you include how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are all over each other (LITERALLY), and how MacDuff's baby was stabbed to death in the crib, his servants raped, etc.

Naturally it was age-appropriate. Knocked down to about 30-45 minutes, IIRC.

What did you expect?

 

[alsih2o]

Man, you should have brought this up with the expert while you were talking to her in England.
There is a little journal that publishes original plays and adaptations for youth drama, but I don't remember the name of it. It used to be widely available in public libraries at one time.

i sent her an im this morning, hoping to here from her too

 

[Angcuru]

Naturally it was age-appropriate. Knocked down to about 30-45 minutes, IIRC.

What did you expect?

THE WHOLE SHINDIG!

 

[blackshirt5]

Heavy(uncut) Macbeth, OR NO MACBETH AT ALL!

 

[Angcuru]

Wimps and Posers, LEAVE THE THEATER!

 

[jaerdaph]

Based on the students' background and parental concerns you mentioned, I recommend these classic 1940s comedies - Broadway plays that were later made into movies:

You Can't Take It With Your
Arsenic and Old Lace
Harvey