Middle School Show Question

[Quiche2]

Hey y'all. So I'm directing this year's school musical at my little brother's Middle School this year and need advice. Which shows do you think would be best for Middle Schoolers? Please consider their age (11-14), their attention span, (not big), and appropriateness. I am thinking about the following:

HOW TO SUCCEED
SEUSSICAL
SHREK
ANNIE
INTO THE WOODS
URINETOWN
HARISPRAY
AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION
ELF

Also open to any suggestions. Any/all USEFULL responses are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[JoeKv99]

Is there a Urinetown JR? I saw it at a High school and parents were outraged.

[Quiche2]

Oh. Really? I've never seen it, a friend of mine suggested it.

[JRybka]

Seussical would be good.

[PetitPapillon]

I agree, Seussical is probably your best bet out of those.

[Quiche2]

I agree that Seussical is great, but it's practically all music. Most students at this school won't be able to sit through 1.5 hours of singing.

[tazber]

I would recommend Hair School Edition.

[ggersten]

You didn't say how big a cast you wanted/could have/must have.

HOW TO SUCCEED No. Not appropriate and not relatable.
SEUSSICAL Best bet.
SHREK Is this even available?
ANNIE Ego issues.
INTO THE WOODS School Edition that cuts Act 2 could be good.
URINETOWN No.
HARISPRAY Possible.
AVENUE Q: SCHOOL EDITION Don't think so.
ELF Is this even available?

Other "popular" Middle School shows around here: Guys and Dolls, Jr.; Once on this Island, Jr.;
Fiddler has a large cast.
Anything Goes can have a large cast.

[temms]

MTI, the licensing house, offers one-hour versions of several of those titles, specifically designed for performance by Middle Schoolers. I strongly encourage you to check out the titles they offer. Seussical, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, and Annie are all available as well as a number of Disney titles.

Music is put into keys that are more friendly for adolescent voices, and the shows are smartly cut down. I've attached the link below.
MTI Broadway Jr.

[Quiche2]

ggersten, MTI does liscense SHREK and ELF.
I don't know the cast size. Last year we did The Wizard of Oz, and had 22 people audition. We only used Dorothy, Scarecrow, Lion, Tinman, Wizard, Glinda, Witch of the West, and 2 Munchkins. (Toto was a stuffed dog). So essentially only 9 people of the 22 got parts. I can't predict how many will audition this year.

[dramamama611]

The Jrs are a great thing for new directors and young casts. Shrek would be a technical nightmare.

Seussical is a wonderful show for middle graders. I don't love the show, but I loved working on it and so did the kids. (Middle Graders)

The Jr version is (imho) far superior to the full length.

[ggersten]

The MTI site says Shrek is not available until June 2013 and ELF is "restricted".
But, I'm more concerned that you seem to want to restrict your cast size. 22 auditioned for Oz and you cast only 9? That seems counterproductive to an educational experience. With all of the opportunities for munchkins, monkeys, jitterbugs...
(FWIW, I'm with dramamama611 - go with Seussical)

Have fun with whatever you choose - and do check back in and tell us what you chose.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

They let another student direct the school musical?

[trentsketch]

Seussical is a good choice. I also had a really great experience over the summer music directing middle school kids in a production of The Music Man Jr. Honestly, I'd lean towards one of the 60 minute Jr. shows rather than the 90 minute shows. It'll be easier on you and the kids will have less down time during rehearsal.

At that age, they just want a chance to perform. Choose a show you think they can handle that you enjoy and then sell them on how great it is as you go.

[JoeKv99]

No offense but you're picking a musical and you aren't familiar with the musicals you are considering? How can you possibly make a decision?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Probably because it's not true

[henrikegerman]

Hairspray.

[Wilmingtom]

R&H has very good student versions of STATE FAIR, OKLAHOMA!, THE KING AND I, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and CINDERELLA.

[Quiche2]

Joe, most of these have been suggestions from other people.

[Wynbish]

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Snoopy
Best Little Whorehouse

[Wilmingtom]

...Goes Public.

[JRybka1611]

I still think you should do the amazing off Broadway musical about politics. "Let My People Come" --

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

So you cast only nine people in a show last year and you're considering all these large cast shows? Do you have enough African-American students for Hairspray? Are you sure you're not just making all this up?

[Quiche2]

^^^

Yea, I'm sure I'm not making this up. The school is 40% black. We have had a high interest level this year, with lots of students asking for audition dates and what the show will be.

[Wynbish]

... Are you really sure? Really?

[Quiche2]

Are you sure?