Plays for 8th-9th graders?
April 28, 2011 8:47 AM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend plays for performance by 8th-9th graders? I need to cast an entire class of 16-20 kids, and I'm looking for something generally gender balanced.
Ask MeFi tackled a similar question here
http://ask.metafilter.com/113897/Good-Plays-to-Do-With-Eighth-Graders
but I'm asking about acting, not reading, and the requirement for a large cast and gender balance aren't addressed in that post. Anybody suggestions? If I do _You Can't Take It With You_ one more time I'll cry.
Ask MeFi tackled a similar question here
http://ask.metafilter.com/113897/Good-Plays-to-Do-With-Eighth-Graders
but I'm asking about acting, not reading, and the requirement for a large cast and gender balance aren't addressed in that post. Anybody suggestions? If I do _You Can't Take It With You_ one more time I'll cry.
"Midsummer Night's Dream" worked for our class when I was in 8th grade. Lots of Rustics, lots of Fairies.
posted by np312 at 8:53 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by np312 at 8:53 AM on April 28, 2011
My Junior High did a short play about being in your early teens, something that was written expressly for Junior High students; it was called "Teen". I can't seem to turn up any mention on Google; I think it was something pitched solely to the "junior high school drama club" market (and it was a bit lame, actually, but it fits the demographic).
There's also Runaways. My high school also did a similar ensemble piece based on Studs Terkel's book Working, which may also work -- there are a couple of racy bits (one of the characters is a prostitute, and the policeman character talks about nearly shooting a guy who was having a quickie with a girl in a hallway), but the show actually can be sanitized somewhat if you prefer (each of the characters gets one monologue and they're done, so the prostitute character can just be cut; as for the policeman, my school changed it so the policeman monologe talks about surprising a guy who was trying to take a leak in the corner). But Working had something like 28 speaking parts, almost all of them equal weight, and a good mix of "some for singers, some for not".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2011
There's also Runaways. My high school also did a similar ensemble piece based on Studs Terkel's book Working, which may also work -- there are a couple of racy bits (one of the characters is a prostitute, and the policeman character talks about nearly shooting a guy who was having a quickie with a girl in a hallway), but the show actually can be sanitized somewhat if you prefer (each of the characters gets one monologue and they're done, so the prostitute character can just be cut; as for the policeman, my school changed it so the policeman monologe talks about surprising a guy who was trying to take a leak in the corner). But Working had something like 28 speaking parts, almost all of them equal weight, and a good mix of "some for singers, some for not".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2011
Slightly younger, but when I was in 6th our class did "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". We had an absolute blast. Kind of a smallish core cast though, lots of bit parts.
posted by xedrik at 8:57 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by xedrik at 8:57 AM on April 28, 2011
Thirteen
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:00 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:00 AM on April 28, 2011
Gilbert and Sullivan plays have a chorus of men balanced by a chorus of women (they often pair up and dance at the end); don't know if you're looking for musicals.
posted by Melismata at 9:04 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by Melismata at 9:04 AM on April 28, 2011
Sounds like you need "Check, Please."
Oh! You could also put together a whole collection of David Ives' short pieces. They're short, they're generally "rated PG", they're pleasantly nonsensical, and you can balance out the "male-heavy" cast ones with "female-heavy" cast ones.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:09 AM on April 28, 2011
Oh! You could also put together a whole collection of David Ives' short pieces. They're short, they're generally "rated PG", they're pleasantly nonsensical, and you can balance out the "male-heavy" cast ones with "female-heavy" cast ones.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:09 AM on April 28, 2011
The Night of January 16th?
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:26 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:26 AM on April 28, 2011
Depending on the length of time you have, the costume changes you are allowed, and the musical aptitude of some local adults, I remember doing a lot of muiscals back then (Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat). There was some editing by the adults to minimize length and some content.
I can probably still recite about half of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamscape because singing was a good way for me to memorize lines and stories.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:47 AM on April 28, 2011
I can probably still recite about half of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamscape because singing was a good way for me to memorize lines and stories.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:47 AM on April 28, 2011
We did Arsenic and Old Lace with this age group, and it was great. There's only something like 14 real speaking parts, but we added loads more without too much problem. We played with the script a lot to make it wackier & faster paced, and the extra roles sprung pretty naturally out of that. It's got a good blend of male & female roles.
posted by piato at 9:49 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by piato at 9:49 AM on April 28, 2011
Possibly "Greater Tuna"? While it was originally a two-person show, it has a whole lot of characters that you can just use different people for. Some of the jokes might be a bit more risque than you're comfortable with for that age group - don't recall for sure.
posted by nickmark at 9:55 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by nickmark at 9:55 AM on April 28, 2011
The Spoon River Anthology would lend itself well to this.
Since it's all monologues, everyone gets a moment in the spot light, and some of the kids could play multiple people.
There are a few play adaptations, but you could make your own using the original text.
posted by zizzle at 10:36 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since it's all monologues, everyone gets a moment in the spot light, and some of the kids could play multiple people.
There are a few play adaptations, but you could make your own using the original text.
posted by zizzle at 10:36 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A bunch of people have suggested musicals. It might help to know whether you want a musical or just a straight play. I'm guessing the latter unless you have a music director and at least a small orchestra on board too. It might also help focus your search if there are any particular themes you're interested in exploring. Perhaps a certain time period or country or some topic that ties in with part of the curriculum? More light or more serious? Length and technical complexity are other parameters worth considering too.
For rough screening purposes, here's a Play Database Search (a woefully incomplete site, but it's something) that matches the basic parameters: plays only, around 16-20 actors (depending on the play, you can fudge this with double casting), and rough gender balance. Also try searching Playscripts. Finally, check out Droollee as well. Scrolling through that list and a few others quickly, here's a few things that randomly jumped out at me:
- Stand and Deliver - no idea if this stage adaptation is any good, but might be worth a look
- The Crucible - a classic school play with some real meat and good curricular tie-ins, but most school performances are as boring as heck. Personally, I think it's a play worth reading, not performing.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - written for 13 men/4 women, but there's no reason you need to cast it this way.
- The Man Who Came to Dinner - popular Broadway favorite
- Our Town - the single best introduction to the mechanics and nature of the theater. Easy to mount very simple productions or even rather complex ones. Very flexible in terms of cutting and casting arrangements (I've seen the Stage Manager played by a trio of actors before)
- Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Based on Salman Rushdie's first book after Satanic Verses. Very allegorical, lots to talk about. I think this stage adaptation is pretty well done too.
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - enough said
- Korczak's Children - Holocaust drama portrayed through the eyes of young people. Very moving.
- Land of the Astronauts - I'm a sucker for Horton Foote. You could also probably done one of his more classic plays.
With a cast that large, you could also consider doing a couple of one-act plays. This can complicate things (you're preforming more plays), but it can also simplify the process, as you have a few different independent casts so you're not corralling the entire class at once and it's easier to schedule rehearsals when each play has a smaller cast. It's also easier to ensure that everyone gets a sizable role too. It's something worth considering anyway.
posted by zachlipton at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2011
For rough screening purposes, here's a Play Database Search (a woefully incomplete site, but it's something) that matches the basic parameters: plays only, around 16-20 actors (depending on the play, you can fudge this with double casting), and rough gender balance. Also try searching Playscripts. Finally, check out Droollee as well. Scrolling through that list and a few others quickly, here's a few things that randomly jumped out at me:
- Stand and Deliver - no idea if this stage adaptation is any good, but might be worth a look
- The Crucible - a classic school play with some real meat and good curricular tie-ins, but most school performances are as boring as heck. Personally, I think it's a play worth reading, not performing.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - written for 13 men/4 women, but there's no reason you need to cast it this way.
- The Man Who Came to Dinner - popular Broadway favorite
- Our Town - the single best introduction to the mechanics and nature of the theater. Easy to mount very simple productions or even rather complex ones. Very flexible in terms of cutting and casting arrangements (I've seen the Stage Manager played by a trio of actors before)
- Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Based on Salman Rushdie's first book after Satanic Verses. Very allegorical, lots to talk about. I think this stage adaptation is pretty well done too.
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - enough said
- Korczak's Children - Holocaust drama portrayed through the eyes of young people. Very moving.
- Land of the Astronauts - I'm a sucker for Horton Foote. You could also probably done one of his more classic plays.
With a cast that large, you could also consider doing a couple of one-act plays. This can complicate things (you're preforming more plays), but it can also simplify the process, as you have a few different independent casts so you're not corralling the entire class at once and it's easier to schedule rehearsals when each play has a smaller cast. It's also easier to ensure that everyone gets a sizable role too. It's something worth considering anyway.
posted by zachlipton at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2011
A friend of mine helped his class of kindergartners make a film of The Tempest. If you take a few liberties (editing for time, maybe doubling or tripling some kids in the main parts so that one kid bears the brunt of Prospero), Shakespeare comedies are very doable.
In addition to A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, you could also look at Twelfth Night or Much Ado About Nothing.
If there still aren't enough parts or the casts aren't balanced enough (hint: Shakespeare is easy to cast gender blind), you could incorporate some of the songs into group performances.
In the summer between 9th and 10th grade I was in a production of Antigone that went surprisingly well. Also easy because you can divvy up the chorus parts pretty much indefinitely. Something classical could be really good, though I'd avoid anything too heavy, esoteric, or sexual (Lysistrata).
posted by Sara C. at 10:56 AM on April 28, 2011
In addition to A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, you could also look at Twelfth Night or Much Ado About Nothing.
If there still aren't enough parts or the casts aren't balanced enough (hint: Shakespeare is easy to cast gender blind), you could incorporate some of the songs into group performances.
In the summer between 9th and 10th grade I was in a production of Antigone that went surprisingly well. Also easy because you can divvy up the chorus parts pretty much indefinitely. Something classical could be really good, though I'd avoid anything too heavy, esoteric, or sexual (Lysistrata).
posted by Sara C. at 10:56 AM on April 28, 2011
That should say "no one kid bears the brunt of Prospero", sorry.
posted by Sara C. at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by Sara C. at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2011
Try checking out 'HONK!'. It's a musical based on The Ugly Ducking. It won all sorts of awards in the UK but never really made it here. It is perfect for a large group of kids and has many speaking parts. The wardrobe is also adorable and easy to put together.
posted by Pennyblack at 12:32 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by Pennyblack at 12:32 PM on April 28, 2011
Response by poster: Lots of great suggestions here, many of which I haven't considered. Thanks very much to all! The links to Play Database Search, Playscripts, and Droollee.
We don't have the resources to stage musicals, unfortunately. Maybe someday...
I'm not trying to tie in with curriculum or explore particular themes. In fact, the kids themselves choose the play, so that part is really up to them. But I have to give them a set of appealing, workable options that cover a range of styles (comedy, drama, history, horror, fantasy, etc.), and I'd prefer not to stage the same production more than once or twice. So I need a lot of variety. You've give me a great infusion here, which I will be sifting through in the coming week.
posted by Greenie at 12:50 PM on April 28, 2011
We don't have the resources to stage musicals, unfortunately. Maybe someday...
I'm not trying to tie in with curriculum or explore particular themes. In fact, the kids themselves choose the play, so that part is really up to them. But I have to give them a set of appealing, workable options that cover a range of styles (comedy, drama, history, horror, fantasy, etc.), and I'd prefer not to stage the same production more than once or twice. So I need a lot of variety. You've give me a great infusion here, which I will be sifting through in the coming week.
posted by Greenie at 12:50 PM on April 28, 2011
Since you mentioned horror as a genre, you might want to look at some Grand Guignol plays. Students could get really into making "special effects," and would probably have a good time. But parents might object, depending on what kind of parents your school has.
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 4:44 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by hapticactionnetwork at 4:44 PM on April 28, 2011
I read Arsenic and Old Lace at that age and loved it. I agree with Plato that you could add in some extra characters.
posted by radioamy at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2011
posted by radioamy at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2011
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posted by reverend cuttle at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]