You wont miss the R-rated elements; the revised version has excellent music, plenty of meaty characters to go around, and some high-school-appropriate life lessons about bullying and inclusivity. Thanks. Have you done a small cast musical that went over well with your actors and audiences? Side Show (2014 Broadway Revival) by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell (US/UK)(Full Length Musical, Drama /7f, 14m)Based on the true story of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, who became stars during the Depression,Side Showis a moving portrait of two women joined at the hip whose extraordinary bondage brings them fame but denies them love. Dancing, singing, and ABBA whats not to love? Looking for a show that offers a range in vocals, characters and perspective? The dancing might be a stumbling block, but as long as your actors can master a basic box step, youre golden. Packed with all the snarky fun and high-octane stunts of the 2000 movie, Bring It On The Musical has a mostly female cast. Set in the Bronx in 1960, A Bronx Tale tells the story of a young boy with mob-boss ambitions and a father whos fighting to keep his son away from organized crime. The first time you heard the audience applaud or laugh and thought, Oh, Im home? Cast: 10 femaleLicensing: Concord Theatricals. At some point, its time to look into the best contemporary musicals for high schoolers. Make sure to listen carefully to Chips Lament before you select this show; its the song thats most likely to hold up the approval process. Picking musicals for high school is a huge responsibility in addition to finding a show thats appropriate for your students, you need to consider parents, school leadership, the school board, and the community at large. 4 women, 3 men . Traumatized by the death of her infant son from an undiagnosed intestinal obstruction, Diana has . Produced by Sydney Harper and Eric Krupke. Does your school have a large turnout for auditions? Alternatively, its a fun way to bring in a choir and gym teacher. De Sylva, P.G. And, if you cast a beloved teacher or coach as the Trunchbull, youre sure to draw a crowd. To streamline the process, look for easy shows. Jerrys Girls by Jerry Herman (US/UK)(Revue / 3f, Expandable)This Broadway hit features three women sharing the stage as they sing all the best songs from immortal musicals like Mame, Hello Dolly!, Milk and Honey, Mack and Mabel, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine and La Cage Aux Folles. Six is a modern retelling of the lives of Charles Schulzs beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesners classic musical, Youre a Good Man, Anas Mitchell breathes fresh, new life into classic mythology with her folk musical Hadestown. Evita is based on the historical story of Mara Eva Duarte de Pern, a poor Argentinian girl who Falsettos is the story of a large, eccentric, and dysfunctional -- but loving -- Jewish family in Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the tale of how a slip of a girlyboy from communist East Berlin, An American in Paris is a story of finding love, happiness, and a new lease on life. Annie is one of those musicals that everyone knows its a family friendly show, which is handy if you live in a conservative area. Audition Songs 63 Best Musicals for High School: The Ultimate List. Should You Put Music on an iPad for a Musical Theater Audition? Falsettos can be summed up in a line thats sung by the lone child in the cast: My fathers a homo; my mothers not thrilled at all. Showtune. Apr 13 Top 10 Smaller Musicals for Community Theaters Cindy . Its a tale as old as time: a widower marries again, only to be tormented by the ghost of his first wife. 2. Musical Database is a classic high school musical and with 17 roles, its the perfect option for a large cast. Watch videos and learn about plot, characters, context, songs. One good thing about revisiting "Pretty Woman": You can't deny that society has made some real progress since 1990. Make sure to request a perusal script before you choose; shows like Spring Awakening, Bare, and Dear Evan Hansen tackle some pretty serious subjects. Each category is sorted alphabetically. Cast: 7 female, 3 maleLicensing: Concord Theatricals. "Drag is a different art form. makes it easy to feature them. Christabel dedicated her life to the cause and let nothing, not even the pursuit of love and happiness, stand in the way of womens emancipation. Cast of Five or Fewer See All. Wed love to hear about the shows youre doing! And this also happens to be the perfect year to try out a small-cast musical in the digital space! If you conceive it correctly, you can do most any musical (not all) with a small cast. Many schools offer a tiny (or nonexistent) budget for the drama department. . Classic MusicalsMoneymakersShowcase Your Finest PerformerGreat Vocal DemandsFeature ChoreographyLittle ChoreographyPredominantly Female CastsPredominantly Male CastsFor Schools and Youth GroupsFor Advanced Youth Groups and Senior SchoolsMusicals with Parts for Middle-Aged PerformersShows That Don't Depend on Young CastsMusicals That Rely . The exuberant score and the light-hearted plot will leave your audiences (and your actors) smiling from ear to ear. Nine: Although the 2009 movie version was a bit of a flop, the original stage musical about a legendary director and the women who come in and out of his life remains a classic. Drama Desk award-winner The Last Five Years is Jason Robert Browns intimate window into a couples Divorced. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. 60-minute play scripts with all females about survivors of sexual abuse. Smile by Howard Ashman & Marvin Hamlisch (US/UK)(Comedy / 10f, 6m, 2 boys)This touching and satirical musical about a teen beauty pageant features a host of great roles for young women. Please note:This post contains affiliate links. Music: Thomas Fats Waller Lyrics:Various Concept: Murray Horwitz, Richard Maltby, Jr. Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1978), Music/Lyrics:Gary Adler, Michael Patrick WalkerBook:Kevin Del Aguila, Music:John KanderLyrics:Fred EbbConcept:Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman, David Thompson, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1991), Music/Lyrics:Maury YestonConcept:Gerard Alessandrini, Music/Lyrics:Bruce BrownBook: Merridy Eastman, Jonathan Gavin, Richard Glover, Wendy Harmer, Sheridan Jobbins, James Millar,Debra Oswald, Music: Fatboy Slim Music/Lyrics: David Byrne, Music/Lyrics:William FinnConcept:Rob Ruggiero, Music/Lyrics:VariousConcept:Vernel Bagneris, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1979), Musical Type:Post-Golden Age/Revue (1960), Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1992), Music/Lyrics:VariousBook:Phillip George, David Lowenstein, Music/Lyrics:David NehlsBook:Betsy Kelso, Music/Lyrics:Steve SchalchlinLyrics:John Bettis, Marie CainBook:Jim Brochu, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1997), Music:George Stiles Lyrics/Book:Anthony Drewe, Music/Lyrics:David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro, Music/Lyrics:VariousBook:Mel Marvin, Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte, Music/Lyrics:Jeff BowenBook:Hunter Bell, Musical Type:Contemporary/Song Cycle (2019), Music:Dick Gallagher Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark WaldropConcept:Howard Crabtree, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1996), Music/Lyrics:VariousBook:Larry Gallagher, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1985), Music/Lyrics:Dengue FeverBook:Lauren Yee, Music:David FriedmanLyrics/Book:Peter Kellogg, Music/Lyrics:Naomi LivingstonLyrics/Book:Hugo Chiarella, Music/Lyrics:Paul DoustLyrics/Book:Jack Feldstein, Music/Lyrics: Danny AboschLyrics/Book: Susan DiLallo, Music/Lyrics:Louis JordanBook:Clarke Peters, Musical Type:Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1990), Music:Chris MillerLyrics:Nathan Tysen, Musical Type:Contemporary/Song Cycle (2008), Music:George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe, Music/Lyrics/Book:The BengsonsBook:Sarah Gancher, Music:Joshua SalzmanLyrics:Ryan Cunningham, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Music/Lyrics:Jacques BrelBook:Eric Blau, Mort Shuman, Musical Type:Post-Golden Age/Revue (1968), Music:Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book:Brian Yorkey, Music/Lyrics/Book:John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel, Jim Wann, Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future, Music:David Pomeranz, David FriedmanLyrics/Book:Kathie Lee Gifford, Music/Lyrics:VariousBook:George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall, Music/Lyrics/Book:Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss, Music/Lyrics:Stephen SchwartzConcept:Michael Scheman, David Stern, Musical Type:Contemporary/Revue Hybrid (2005), Music/Lyrics:Andrew LippaBook:Jules Feiffer, Music/Lyrics/Book:Jeff BlimBook:Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Music:William Patrick HarrisonLyrics/Book:Maryhee Yoon, Cara Baldwin, Music/Lyrics:Cole Porter Book:Rowland Leigh, Paul Lazarus, Music/Lyrics/Book: Clark Gesner Additional Songs: Andrew Lippa. The Light in the Piazza by Craig Lucas & Adam Guettel (US/UK)(Drama / 4f, 4m +Ensemble)Victoria Clark and Kelli OHara originated the leading roles in this tender yet powerful portrait of a mother and daughter vacationing in Italy. Since the stakes and investment are lower, these mini shows are also a fun way for theaters and college groups to try something new, both for performers and audiences. Assassins can be done with 11, which is one over what you wanted, but maybe you can swing it. Music:Michael RupertLyrics/Book:Jerry Colker. If youre looking for an interesting, slightly offbeat high school musical, The Apple Tree fits the bill. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Carrie: The Musical by Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford, Lawrence D. Cohen and Stephen King (US/UK) (Full Length Musical, Drama / 5f, 2m) Carrie White is a misfit. In this wartime musical revue, MGM star Marian Ames and her all-girl band from the Hollywood Canteen entertain the troops in 1944 London. It takes place in the south in 1795, but theres nothing overly historical about it the fun lies in mistaken identities, bumbling criminals, and even a wicked stepmother. Grease is one of the top high school musicals of all time. Musicals with SMALL Casts (Message Board) - BroadwayWorld Little Shop of Horrors delivers, big time. Divorced. Theres something special about doing a musical set in a high school with actors who are still in high school. Luckily, there is no shortage of wonderful musicals that involve smaller casts and are even particularly effective in smaller venues. Students resonate with the show because it doesnt make light of the very real problems they face and the potentially lifelong consequences of their decisions. Cy Coleman's celebrated jazz and pop-inflected score concludes with Sonja and Queen singing a powerful two-woman duet called My Friend.. Read expert guides about theatre shows including musicals, plays and operas. The songs are catchy, and theres plenty of opportunity for over-the-top choreography. Wonderful Town by Joseph Fields, Jerome Chodorov, Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden & Adolph Green (US)(Comedy / 3f, 4m +Ensemble)Based on the hit play and film My Sister Eileen, Wonderful Town tells the comical and heartwarming story of two Midwestern sisters, newly arrived in New York. Carrie: The Musical. Audition Songs ), One challenge that high school theater directors face is finding musicals with plenty of roles. Koko Da Doll, who was featured in "Kokomo City," a documentary about four Black transgender sex workers that won awards at the Sundance Film Festival this year . Cinderella is an easy musical to do with your high school students for one reason: the music is extremely singable. Read More. You might also like: 15 Best Musicals for Community Theater. This brassy, tuneful, hilarious and touching adaptation of Patrick Dennis's bestseller Auntie Mame features two of musical theatres most colorful characters. believe. The familiar characters are just the right amount of outrageous and the costuming requirements are surprisingly flexible. "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba, "Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!". | Image: First Date . If you have a lot of men, it's a good option. Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube. Survived.. Nearly every musical has some sort of a female lead, so Im featuring the musicals where women carry the show (and not in conjunction with a leading male). If you have a bunch of theater kids who keep up with the latest Broadway shows, the Golden Age classics will only get you so far. Fortunately, theres a whole world of small cast musicals to choose from! Theatre Degree Programs. Little Women the Musical (6 females and 4 males) Survived. Heathers The Musical by Kevin Murphy & Laurence OKeefe (US/UK)(Dark Comedy / 9f, 8m)Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. So heres a full list of musicals for small casts. This jukebox musical is fun and unexpected, featuring music from Katy Perry, The Supremes, and more. This isnt your typical love story the woman, Cathy, tells the story from the end of the relationship, while Jamie, the man, tells it from the beginning. There is a whole art form that is drag," Emerick said, adding that the theater has thousands of years of history of casting this way as well. She could not have predicted how they would resonate with the women of England, nor could she have imagined how her name would become synonymous with culinary expertise and domestic bliss for generations to come. It's basically a Jerry Herman revue that can be interpreted in anyway possible. Cast size: 1 man, 1 woman. Cast: 3 female, 1 maleLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Bernarda's five daughters, however, struggle with her cold wishes. Its exactly the kind of absurdist humor that high school students love and their parents and grandparents will love how Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick have cleverly woven in hits like When Will I Be Loved, Dont Cry Out Loud, and the Hawaii Five-O Theme.. All of the below musicals have six roles or less, and are listed from the smallest cast size to the largest. With its laugh-out-loud dialogue and delightful music, this musical is a fun challenge for novice actors. Dani Girl. Gift Guides Also available in a Large Cast Edition (US/UK). Get ready youre about to hear theres no place like home on repeat. Full of mistaken identities, mishaps, and love, its a fun musical that will have your audiences crying with laughter. It's very cool and different. Survived.. Six is a modern retelling of the lives of Charles Schulzs beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesners classic musical, Youre a Good Man, Anas Mitchell breathes fresh, new life into classic mythology with her folk musical Hadestown. Evita is based on the historical story of Mara Eva Duarte de Pern, a poor Argentinian girl who Falsettos is the story of a large, eccentric, and dysfunctional -- but loving -- Jewish family in Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the tale of how a slip of a girlyboy from communist East Berlin, An American in Paris is a story of finding love, happiness, and a new lease on life. The script is fun and adult, and the music is sure to get plenty of laughs (especially if your audience has had a cocktail or two before the show). An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. With powerhouse performers like Chita and Liza leading the bill, you know this show features two roles actresses would love to sink their teeth into! I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change is a GREAT small cast show, featuring 4 performers ( 2 M, 2 W). Audiences wont think twice about buying tickets because they already know theyll love the show! 9. For the purposes of this list, Im selecting musicals that have very prominent female leads. Make sure you have a few talented singers in mind; the character of Olive Ostrovsky, in particular, has some demanding vocal lines. Here are five of our favorites: 1. * Heres where you can find a list of 2-Person Musicals! Still others are small cast high school musicals, so you dont need to worry about staging and directing an enormous, wayward ensemble. Bernarda Albas husband has just died, and she announces that the entire household (including her mother and five daughters) will be locked in the house in mourning. Costumes are easy to put together with thrift-store finds or volunteers who can sew, and you can get away with very minimal sets. Elvis Has Left the Building V. Cate Productions (52) Comedy; 90 - 100 minutes ; 2 W, 3 M, . She has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters. Everyone's favorite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacle, based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film and outrageous Broadway musical. Died. Sweet Charity by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 4m +Ensemble)The men may come and go, but Charity and her friends Helene and Nikki are the backbone of this classic musical set in the 1960s. Margaret and Clara are touring the Tuscan countryside when Clara meets the handsome Fabrizio. Based on the novel of the same name by Rick Riordan. Musicals for Small Casts. With its gorgeous (but not overly complicated) music, small orchestra, and flexible set requirements, The Fantasticks is the perfect budget musical for a small high school theater program. (Our favorite line: StandardsI used to have some standards.) Watch I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change on YouTube. Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. If youre facing a casting challenge, these musicals all have female leads. The best part? Rodgers and Hammerstein Musicals (and the Stories Behind Them), How to Build an Actor Website: A Complete Guide. Is. 5 Best Small Cast Musicals - Theater Love This gripping tale of one headstrong and passionate young woman's all-consuming love for an ambitious sea captain provides a tour-de-force for its leading lady. 75+ Musicals for Small Casts - A Full List of Shows Stacy K July 14, 2018 April 19, 2023 musical types Putting on a musical requires many resources - money, space, time, and of course available actors. This is typical Dear Evan Hansen is running on Broadway and in a national tour; it was also made into a movie in September of 2021.