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Topic: New teacher needs HS melodrama ideas?( Topic Closed) | |
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Guests
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Topic: New teacher needs HS melodrama ideas? Posted: 1/15/04 at 6:46pm |
Hi, I'm a new drama teacher looking for people who could tell me which would be the easiest and most fun melodrama to do as my first high school production and dinner theater. I would love to find a funny one with around 15-25 characters and not too hard of affects/costumes. I'm interested in Vaudville numbers too. Anyways if you can recommend melodramas and which company to order them through I'd be overjoyed. Please forward this to others if you know anyone else that can help. Plays too. Thanks, Andrea 530-343-3384 or email
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Guests
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Posted: 1/16/04 at 2:56am |
Hi Andrea...Samuel French has loads of good melodramas, we recently produced Showtime on the Showboat and followed it with a second act of skits and olios, musical numbers. Deadwood Dick is another all time favorite, though a little more difficult.
Other winning shows, not melodramas, for High School? I really like MASH, The Lion that Roared and Harvey. They all have good name appeal, are easily produced and costumed and have a good number of characters. Good luck! |
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Guests
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Posted: 1/16/04 at 1:24pm |
It's not even remotely a melodrama- but it's fantastic & if I had access to HS kids I'd do it in a heartbeat- read "Bang, Bang, You're Dead"- forget about what you saw on Showtime- read the script which you can download at bangbangyouredead.com (I believe). It's just really phenominal & moving- there are no rights required if you're doing it for a school either which is a bonus. Read it if only because you work with high schoolers.
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Guests
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Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:50pm |
My favorite melodramas: Musicals, but non-musical versions available too: Tied to the Tracks, Orphans in Candyland (both PIONEER) Straight: Pure as the Driven Snow (SF), Egad! What a Cad! (SF) Samuel French also has melodrama song books and idea books. Pioneer Drama has a book and CD called Between Hisses. |
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sastb2
Walk-On Joined: 10/15/05 Location: Mali Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 10/15/05 at 9:10am |
My first melodrama was last year. I was so pleased with Pioneer Drama Services(www.pioneerdrama.com) I did Heaven Help the Potater's. I only had problem on choosing the waltz and getting the dancing in. I also used their book, Between Hisses. It gave me the jokes of that period, plus some songs. I ended up choosing other songs, but it at least started me with the ideas and I was able to take off. Hope this helps. The audience enjoyed the jokes, dance and music before the production.
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GWK - theater teacher
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angelsme
Walk-On Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 10/15/05 at 9:43pm |
Hi- I also directed ShowTime on the Showboat a few years back, followed by Olios, musical numbers and mime, several from the "Hisses" book. This was a great way to use a large cast with a real ensemble quality, and to give each actor something they could really shine in. The actor performing as your Master of Ceremonies is pivotal to the success of your show, look for an actor with high improvisation skills and the ability to work directly off of the audience. The MC sets the tone and teaches the audience how to participate in the show. Have fun, Melodrama is one of my favorite teaching tools. Angel |
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Gaafa
Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181 |
Posted: 10/16/05 at 12:13am |
The most enjoyable melodrama I have done, was ?Jack the Ripper?, it was treated as an old English music hall.
It had smattering?s of panto, to include the audience participation of "He?s behind you", also chucked in the mix! |
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Joe
Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
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tristanrobin
Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704 |
Posted: 10/16/05 at 7:35am |
Gaafa - I think I've seen that version - the characters in the
music hall double as the characters in the Ripper story? As I recall, it was really quite good - very theatrical...and the songs were real songs, not rehashed popular tunes of the 1890's. I'm glad you mentioned it - I'm going to get a copy and read through it LOL |
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Gaafa
Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181 |
Posted: 10/16/05 at 10:37am |
that's the one - it was great to do I think the it was played out in the 'Packet boat' Music hall of the Whitechapel area!
There were a couple of songs which were an adaptation of old ones of the Cockney stage! I'll try & find the programme & find out more details mate! Joe |
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Joe
Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
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tristanrobin
Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704 |
Posted: 10/16/05 at 11:43am |
ah - I found it with very little hassle!
I've sent off for a copy - I may be interested in doing this LOL - I had completely forgotten about it. for anybody else interested, just go to http://www.samuelfrench.com and enter "Jack the Ripper" in the search box! |
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