Reading Civic

What are good musicals for small high schools?

I go to a small Catholic high school and I REALLY want to do a musical this year(it being my senior year). We only have 200 people in the entire school and not a lot of people are into musicals. We have a couple of guys who can sing and a few girls. I need a musical that is popular(in order to draw in an audience), with a small cast, and it does not have too many male lead/supporting parts. I am willing to double up smaller parts. :) Thanks! -Thanks for the idea's...Ironically enough, I am helping out with a children's theatre camp this summer and we just did Seussical in June so I want to stay away from that show...lol... And I am currently in High School Musical(I'm Taylor) but I'm not a huge fan of the show...so I don't want to do it. Thanks again everyone! Thanks to everyone!!! I actually was in Little Women last February at a local community theatre and I would LOVE to do this show again but in a different role (I was Meg last time and I want to be Jo). The show however, requires VERY strong vocals,especially for girls... But it is a WONDERFUL show...the best show I've ever been in.

Public Comments

1. Our school did Thoroughly Modern Millie with a cast of about 30, but I think it could be done with fewer if you doubled up on the parts, certainly. There are only a couple of male lead parts, the rest are female. It's very cute and 20s themed, and the music is great. If you've seen the movie, don't base your opinion of the musical on that, because the musical is much better.
2. If someone answers "High School Musical," I will pull out a gun. My suggestion is "The Fantasticks." It's a small cast, and the only role that has a difficult range is Luisa, who sings rather high in places. Also, the two fathers and easily become two mothers [I've seen it done in both school and legit productions]. Other good small-cast shows [whose titles would be known to the public] are "Man of La Mancha" and "Into the Woods." Oh, and I've seen "My Fair Lady" stripped down to include a very small chorus, so it could be done with about 14 people. And since it's a Catholic school, there's always "Nunsense" which is just five females playing nuns [fun songs]. Oh wait, I just re-read the part about avoiding too many guys. Well, there's always "The Sound of Music" -- only five males [the Captain, two Von Trapp kids, Max Detweiler, Franz the butler, and Herr Zeller].
3. I think u should do Bye Bye Birdie. It can be easily be done with a small cast and u only need 2 good guy singers (Hugo and Conrad Birdie). I know a group who's doing that show with only 12 people signed up. Also, the music is really addicting. You could also do Sessical the Musical. You would have to have t have 2- 4 good guy singers for leads (Mr Mayor, Horton the Elephant, and the Cat in the Hat and Jojo but the cat and Jojo can be played by girls too). The costumes are colorful and zany and the music is so much fun and pretty easy to choreograph. Hope I helped!!!
4. I would suggest "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" (it's a very small cast and I mean VERY SMALL). You could also try "Rent" (only needs like 15 cast members) but since it's a catholic school that show might no go over well. There's a private school around were I am (I don't go there) but they did "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Little Shop Of Horrors" and another school I know of did "The Sound of Music" but that one is way over done I feel.
5. Some good ones that we did at our Arts School are Cabaret, Honk, Ruddigore, The Sound of Music, Pirates of Pennzance, Little Shop of Horrors, and Suessical The Musical. All these shows have a good amount of roles available, and extras for those that don't make major roles. (The Sound of Music is a little small though). But anyone can pull these off, even in a school of 50 people. These shows also give people with all vocal ranges a good chance to get a role
6. "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" is a very small cast - and Snoopy can be played by a male or female. "The Wizard of Oz" can be done with a small cast - you can put females into the roles of Scarecrow, Lion and Tin-"Person". Be sure to get the ORIGINAL BROADWAY version (pre-movie). It has all the memorable songs, but it doesn't include the monkeys and poppies (which are tougher to pull off). Check with a local Catholic Elementary School to find your munchkins. "The Apple Tree" is a great small cast show - 3 leads and a few extras. This a a three act show - but you can do any of the acts on their own (you don't have to do all 3). This is a bit more challenging musically - but a lot of fun.
7. Okay...My school did Grease last season, and it sold unbelievably well. But you need to check out how many ppl exactly that you have for that one. Little Shop Of Horrors-It's a VERY small cast, we're doing that soon, and it's so small! There are a few guy parts and four girl parts, and of course the extras. But it's one of the smallest you can get.
8. Little Women--- has a very small mostly female cast. The music is beautiful and very singable, but it's not well known) You're a Good Man...---can be big or small Godspell---can be be or small Children of Eden---(This has lots of music and is not easy) Fantastiks--- Annie (You can get away with a smaller cast and the audiences love it, but it's not my favorite) Try mtishows.com. It has a show selector feature where you can type in what your needs are and they give you a list of suggestions.