Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Play for Young Audiences

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padfoot13
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Player

Joined: 5/23/05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 24

Topic: Play for Young Audiences
Posted: 7/05/05 at 1:12pm

Hi!
We're looking for a play for our HS drama class to do. We usually start the year off w/ a play for young elementary age audiences. We've done Charlotte's Web, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Stone Soup in the past. THanks!
=),
padfoot

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jtonner
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Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 56

Posted: 7/05/05 at 1:31pm

Try Babe, The Sheep Pig. It is a avery well done version of the movie. Rights are held by Samuel French. It is a costume heavy show.

John

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tristanrobin
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Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 704

Posted: 7/05/05 at 3:20pm

I haven't done that much children's theatre - but I have done a
couple of children's plays that I found exquisite: "THE MASQUE
OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" by Michael Elliot Brill and "THE
BUTTERFLY" by Bijan Mofid. They're not run-of-the-mill
children's pieces - though, of course, they both have the
requisite lesson to learn.
They're both published by Anchorage Press. Get a couple of
copies and read them - you might be surprised!

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casey05
Lead
Lead

Joined: 6/17/05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 42

Posted: 7/06/05 at 6:23am

Children's Theatre / TYP is probably my favourite area of theatre. I can think of heaps of plays you could do. But, suggestions -

* The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the play is adapted from the original C.S. Lewis novel. There's quite a few adapations by different playwrights, however the best ones I know of are probably one adapted by Joseph Robinette (straight play, cast of ~16. Extras can be added, or lots of the minor roles can be doubled.). Robinette adapted Charlotte's Web for the stage, and his script is licensed through Dramatic Publishing. Short play, about an hour long. Just a note, DP also license one by Don Quinn - very bad adaptation, terrible in fact, don't touch it with a bargepole. Samuel French also licenses a version by Glyn Robbins, but this isn't licensed in USA/Canada.

* David Wood's plays. Licensed through Samuel French, and some are available through Dramatic Publishing. He's adapted Babe: The Sheep Pig (which is actually based on the book written in the 80's, not the movie --- though very similar), lots of Roald Dahl plays and in general has written about 60 plays. Check out his website, which gives information on licensing agents.

* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been adapted for the stage, by Richard George. Licensed through Dramatic Publishing.

In general, for a recommendation, I'd suggest The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I think that you might be in the U.S., and so I'd suggest the Joseph Robinette version. It's really well written, easy to stage and has lots of action. If you're in the UK, though, try the play by Glyn Robbins. A local theatre staged a production, with only normal advertising, and received their biggest audiences since their inception. Tickets grossed $150000, for a six week run. It's also a really fun play to do, since most people remember reading the book as children, and so they'll already be familiar with the roles and the story.

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charlz
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Joined: 7/07/05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 26

Posted: 7/07/05 at 11:57am

I directed, THE SOMEWHAT TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD, by Marilyn
Dobson this year at our high school. It's a very, very, funny script
and the kids had a blast performing it. The great thing about this
play is that the adults loved it as much as the kids did. It has an
expandable cast too, which was particularly good for us. And, it
was one of our plays with the highest attendance, which was
surprising since that has only happened with our musicals in the
past.

It's published by Dramatic Publishing. There's info on their website
about it (that's where I first came across it). You can download an
excerpt.

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DramaGal
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 7/13/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:33am

We just did Hyronomous A/ Frog, the Frog Prince (Pioneer Drama) and it's hilarious! Our actors were High School and Middle School students and the audiences were all ages, but as youg as 2 years. It's funny for all ages and lasts about an hour.

DramaGal

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Guests
Guest
Guest

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:07pm

Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue Meet the Dirty Dan Gang (Pioneer)

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Author	Message
padfoot13 Player Joined: 5/23/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Topic: Play for Young Audiences Posted: 7/05/05 at 1:12pm
	Hi! We're looking for a play for our HS drama class to do. We usually start the year off w/ a play for young elementary age audiences. We've done Charlotte's Web, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Stone Soup in the past. THanks! =), padfoot

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jtonner Star Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 56	Posted: 7/05/05 at 1:31pm
	Try Babe, The Sheep Pig. It is a avery well done version of the movie. Rights are held by Samuel French. It is a costume heavy show. John
	John
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tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 7/05/05 at 3:20pm
	I haven't done that much children's theatre - but I have done a couple of children's plays that I found exquisite: "THE MASQUE OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" by Michael Elliot Brill and "THE BUTTERFLY" by Bijan Mofid. They're not run-of-the-mill children's pieces - though, of course, they both have the requisite lesson to learn. They're both published by Anchorage Press. Get a couple of copies and read them - you might be surprised!
	IP Logged

casey05 Lead Joined: 6/17/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 7/06/05 at 6:23am
	Children's Theatre / TYP is probably my favourite area of theatre. I can think of heaps of plays you could do. But, suggestions - * The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the play is adapted from the original C.S. Lewis novel. There's quite a few adapations by different playwrights, however the best ones I know of are probably one adapted by Joseph Robinette (straight play, cast of ~16. Extras can be added, or lots of the minor roles can be doubled.). Robinette adapted Charlotte's Web for the stage, and his script is licensed through Dramatic Publishing. Short play, about an hour long. Just a note, DP also license one by Don Quinn - very bad adaptation, terrible in fact, don't touch it with a bargepole. Samuel French also licenses a version by Glyn Robbins, but this isn't licensed in USA/Canada. * David Wood's plays. Licensed through Samuel French, and some are available through Dramatic Publishing. He's adapted Babe: The Sheep Pig (which is actually based on the book written in the 80's, not the movie --- though very similar), lots of Roald Dahl plays and in general has written about 60 plays. Check out his website, which gives information on licensing agents. * Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been adapted for the stage, by Richard George. Licensed through Dramatic Publishing. In general, for a recommendation, I'd suggest The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I think that you might be in the U.S., and so I'd suggest the Joseph Robinette version. It's really well written, easy to stage and has lots of action. If you're in the UK, though, try the play by Glyn Robbins. A local theatre staged a production, with only normal advertising, and received their biggest audiences since their inception. Tickets grossed $150000, for a six week run. It's also a really fun play to do, since most people remember reading the book as children, and so they'll already be familiar with the roles and the story.
	IP Logged

charlz Player Joined: 7/07/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 26	Posted: 7/07/05 at 11:57am
	I directed, THE SOMEWHAT TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD, by Marilyn Dobson this year at our high school. It's a very, very, funny script and the kids had a blast performing it. The great thing about this play is that the adults loved it as much as the kids did. It has an expandable cast too, which was particularly good for us. And, it was one of our plays with the highest attendance, which was surprising since that has only happened with our musicals in the past. It's published by Dramatic Publishing. There's info on their website about it (that's where I first came across it). You can download an excerpt.
	IP Logged

DramaGal Walk-On Joined: 7/13/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:33am
	We just did Hyronomous A/ Frog, the Frog Prince (Pioneer Drama) and it's hilarious! Our actors were High School and Middle School students and the audiences were all ages, but as youg as 2 years. It's funny for all ages and lasts about an hour.
	DramaGal
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Guests Guest	Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:07pm
	Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue Meet the Dirty Dan Gang (Pioneer)
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Topic: Play for Young Audiences( Topic Closed)