The Sound of Music
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2515
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 3:39pm
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Topic: The Sound of Music
Posted By: Karin
Subject: The Sound of Music
Date Posted: 7/05/07 at 5:17pm
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Hi,
I would like some help making a decision on next spring's production for our middle school. I am considering The Sound of Music (however student comments are that it is soooooo boring..... Has anyone directed or been involved in this before? If so, did the actors have a positive experience? Where would I purchase a script? The usual play companies don't have it listed?
Also, any thoughts on Beauty and the Beast?
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Replies:
Posted By: lessismore
Date Posted: 7/06/07 at 12:10pm
| "The Sound of Music" probably wouldn't be as much fun for students as "Beauty and the Beast". I have directed both shows, and they are very different. The students would have more of a connection with 'B&B'. The characters are also fun to play, and the costumes are more challenging to work with. You can get the script for "The Sound of Music" through Rodgers and Hammerstein (rnh.com), and "Beauty and the Beast" is available from MTI (mtishows.com). Hope this helps. |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 7/06/07 at 12:24pm
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I guess there's always the musical du jour: Disney's High School Musical. Beauty & the Beast you better have a very large costume budget. Renting them ain't cheap and neither would making them (if you want to do it right). ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 7/07/07 at 9:53pm
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I have found plays on "findaplay.com" Maybe check there for musical Beauty and the Beast. ------------- Kim |
Posted By: suzecue1
Date Posted: 7/08/07 at 9:52am
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Check out MTI's Broadway Junior selections. Music Man, Annie. I agree that Music Man would not be as much fun for them as Beauty and the Beast. ------------- Sue ***** So many hats.....so few heads! |
Posted By: charlz
Date Posted: 7/08/07 at 1:35pm
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You can find information about Sound of Music and any other R&H show at:
www.rnh.com/theatricals/index.php Good luck! Check |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 7/09/07 at 8:28am
I have to agree with your students ... "Sound of Music" is boooring - and l-o-n-g. I swear the only people who enjoy it are octogenarians - and they always sing along
In addition to the aforementioned costume plot challenges in "Beauty and the Beast," there is that pesky magic thing that be a real guffaw if it doesn't work! But, in response to "did the actors have a positive experience?" ... I've found that almost every high school cast ends up with a positive experience, even if they didn't start out caring for the play. Once they work hard studying, finding and expressing their characters, memorizing lines and music and choreography and blocking, etc. etc. etc., it's hard not to have a feeling of accomplishment and reward when it's showtime. |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 7/09/07 at 8:04pm
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What about "Into the Woods"? ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 7/10/07 at 12:14pm
Yeah, boring . . . girl has to choose between service to her God or life with the family and man she has come to love . . . . military leader trying to decide how best to serve his country as it crumbles around him, and how not to get his children killed in the process . . . follow your leaders or stand up for what you believe in; nope, nothing there that Americans in the 21st century can relate to. Sure, I'd much rather see some kids worry about how cool they'll look if they audition for the school play.
 Jeez, maybe I am an octogenarian.
 PS: It is long, though.  ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 7/10/07 at 6:18pm
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Sorry, POB - I know the play - and saw the Braodway revival a couple of years ago. It was STILL long and boring LOL - even with all the Nazi symbolism.
And though the themes are indeed as you say - all those decisions are made OFFSTAGE. But, as they say, that's why there's chocolate and vanilla! - to each his own! ... I'm ALMOST an octogenarian LOL |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:59am
Just so. But if you tell me you don't like Carousel either, I'm gonna have to pay somebody to beat you up. ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:54am
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heh heh - actually, I like "Carousel" very very much. Frankly, other than "Sound of Music" and "Flower Drum Song," I like all R&H musicals...even those 'flops' that nobody does anymore. I have to admit, they sometimes just didn't know when to STOP - "King and I" is as long as "Sound of Music" - which is a good 20 minutes too long. And "Do You Hear a Waltz" and "No Strings" are, IMO, two very underrated shows!
See, I'm not the anti-Christ 
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Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 7/14/07 at 5:07pm
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Well, speaking from the old coots perspective....I also think The Sound of Music is long and boring and dreadfully dreary. I don't call it THE SOUND of MUCCUS for nothing
I realize a lot of people love R&H but remember, they also are the guys who wrote that other classic..SOUTH PATHETIC.
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Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 7/16/07 at 12:24pm
I'm with you on all the rest - and they could certainly do with some judicious cuts! ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 7/16/07 at 12:27pm
I like that one too! In fact, it has a special place in my heart, because the one character who (in classical Broadway / Hollywood thinking) couldn't possibly die . . . . dies.
Maybe I'M the Antichrist! ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 7/16/07 at 12:28pm
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I just used four exclamation points in two posts.
I AM the Antichrist! (Ooops, five! Six! AAAAARGGGH.) ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 7/16/07 at 6:54pm
| NOW CUT THAT OUT ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 7/16/07 at 10:00pm
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Jay Tee.... I got one thing to say.... 16 performances... Its still brings in the butts... ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:58pm
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I know a community theatre group that once (are you sitting down) QUADRUPLE CAST THE CHILDREN. Ah yes ... nothing puts butts in seats like children in a show. What relative can turn down the request to attend from a small child. SHOOT ME NOW!  |
Posted By: ManMan
Date Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:18am
| ALso you do not needa lot of men to pull off the SOund of Music?? That can be a plus sometimes. |
Posted By: Stageman
Date Posted: 7/26/07 at 2:10pm
| Yikes - you guys are scaring me! I'm directing this thing starting August 12 to go up the last 2 weekends in October. I hope I don't bore the audience, and we're actually thinking of adding to it (acts for the Kaltzberg festival). Does anyone know how long it usually lasts? |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 7/26/07 at 7:30pm
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Besides all the usual reason you don't want to add to a show... This one is the last of the Biggies!!! This is a three hour minimum just with the basics.. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 8/06/07 at 10:51pm
| Our High School did "South Pacific" and "Beauty and the Beast" in the last few years. Both were big hits. Some of the costumes in "Beauty" make it difficult to sing; I think the napkins had to wear corsets. Expensive costumes, but a lot of fun parts with not too many lines. I think "Sound of Music" is too familiar, people have seen the video too many times, which might be why it would be boring or not play well. |
Posted By: lessismore
Date Posted: 8/16/07 at 11:41am
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"The Sound of Music" has been done in our theatre twice over the past 12 years. Each time it sold out. Whether you personally find it lame, boring, whatever ... the truth is - it sells. After all, it is a classic, and there are children involved which is always a drawing card. I wouldn't worry about doing it, but high school students would probably prefer something more
current. I personally would not add anything to it either. A show that is too long does not do well on 'word-of-mouth'. |