Suggestion for a play to do with High school students?

I really need some help with finding a decent play to do with my Year 11 Drama students. There are 12 girls and 3 boys in the class. If absolutely necessary, some girls could play guys. I don't want a play set in school or something like that. I would appreciate any suggestions for a play that wouldn't be too bad to do at a Catholic school. A comedy would be great, but I will take any suggestions! I have searched and searched and find it hard for this cast size and to find plays that aren't really dated... Thanks, Jenni

I would suggest doing a search at Ozscript.org. They have a range of scripts for different uses, ages, etc. You can try locating a playwright in your area who can write something for you/with your students. There's also Scripts Aus. at http://scriptsaustralia.com.au. And you can have a chat to anyone in your area by checking out Drama Australia's branches. They include resources for drama teachers and students. Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

When are you looking to do the show? I think exploring the possibility of student written plays is a good idea- I know my drama teacher looks at plays I write as we performed one of mine last year, and I write quite a few now. A website like the one above is a good way to go. Alternatively I know MTI in their forms asks the kind of cast you have and it breaks down shows that way. The other thing, you mentioned dated shows,try modernising one of them- could be fun too! The kids get to actively modernise a show, not just perform from a script. Sean ____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: "Boy Banned" a fusion of live acting, video footage, corny songs, syncronised dancing boys and egos! JULY 2007, ticket information coming soon!!!

Well there are lots of plays available...but how committed is the cast? Is this play for their end of year production or a class task? Some plays really need the commitment of the cast to make it work (like Shakespeare) and they need to have an understanding of the text (unlike Shakespeare which very few people understand first time) My favorite plays include: 1) Any Terry Prattchett Discworld plays & 2) Any Comede De Latte (Yes I know its spelt wrong) You can have a lot of fun with these plays :) That's my two cents Keep Smiling :) David Green DRAGON FILMS www.davidgreenenterprises.com

Commedia Del Arte. You could also try www.doollee.com or there is an english publication site called www.plays4theatre.com that I know allows you to search by cast sizes. I have some plays on my website but the only one big enough for you would be probably totally unacceptable in a Catholic School as it discusses genetic engineering and cloning. It might be a problem for year elevens too. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Sorry, have you looked at "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" it's getting a bit old though. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

There's a play called "Daisy Pulls It off" which is a satire of fifties comic books. Very funny but I'm not sure how many male roles there are if any. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

What about 'The Cagebirds' (i think there is one ot two male roles)- it is a one act i think, and is absurdist. but instead of a 2 hour play, maybe do 2 one-acts.

The Cagebirds is absurdist? (As in the movie that had Robin Williams in it?) Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

umm no- not the one with Robin Williams (though that was a great movie). the Cagebirds is by David Campton, 8 female roles (except one could be male). It is set in a mental institution, and from what I remember - an outsider called the 'wild one' comes in to make the inmates want to be free. and each character represents a 7 deadly sin i think. its good. it actually may be more expressionism...

The movie with Robin Williams was called The Birdcage, not The Cagebirds

You could try doing one of the greek comedies. Aristophanes "The Frogs" or something like that. Get your students to find a parallel and modernise it. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Ah... now I get it. Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

And is an American remake of the originally french film La Cage aux Folle. Now a musical of course Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Yes, I realised it after I posted. Chalk it up to not having oxygen being sent to my dictionary in my mind. :P Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

in year 11 we performed a modern version of romeo and juliet where we had about 4 males, and stole other from year 12, but most of the male roles got re-written to female....eg. benvolio become benvolia, mercutio became mercutia who was secretly in love with romeo. the montagues were goth/emos and the caplulets were preps. it would b a simple choice if they havent studied shakespeare yet.

Logos suggested "Daisy Pulls It Off". I have done this with Year Eleven/Twelve students and it worked really well. It has two male roles. I was teaching at a Catholic Girls' School and used adults for the adult roles - but you could use the boys in these roles and if you had a clever boy - do the headmistress or the toady-bully character in drag. Could work nicely. Kim

Forgot your stipulation - not set in a school -. Daisy is set in a very English boarding school in the 1920s or 30s.

Yea it is set in a school but it's a glorious satire. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

I would definetly suggest the new Australain drama, 'Inheritance' written by Hannie Rayson. Its comedic, fun, and deals with highlighting great moral issues that would be idealistic for a catholic school. we did it as our year 12 production. there are a few male characters, but we had your problem, and used a female to play Farley, and changed Felix into a female role. it turned out really well. Catcha, Ben x

I would definetly suggest the new Australain drama, 'Inheritance' written by Hannie Rayson. Its comedic, fun, and deals with highlighting great moral issues that would be idealistic for a catholic school. we did it as our year 12 production. there are a few male characters, but we had your problem, and used a female to play Farley, and changed Felix into a female role. it turned out really well. Catcha, Ben x

I would definetly suggest the new Australain drama, 'Inheritance' written by Hannie Rayson. Its comedic, fun, and deals with highlighting great moral issues that would be idealistic for a catholic school. we did it as our year 12 production. there are a few male characters, but we had your problem, and used a female to play Farley, and changed Felix into a female role. it turned out really well. Catcha, Ben x