Ten Important Elements to Consider When Directing a Youth Theater Production

Ten Important Elements to Consider When Directing a Youth Theater Production

When becoming a drama teacher, I had high hopes of ending up in a large high school.  But life didn’t work that way.Instead, I developed and administrated several youth theater companies for community theaters. Once our daughters were in elementary school and I no longer needed to stay home with them, I went back to teaching. Today, I’m going to discuss Ten Important Elements to Consider When Directing a Youth Theater Production.

For many years, I taught at the same time as I ran the youth programs (my last teaching position included teaching students in second through twelfth) with all of these other responsibilities. It was a crazy busy time, but It was necessary and I enjoyed it.

Thirty-eight plus years later, I can see my talents and knowledge were best used with students of every grade level. Surprisingly, I enjoyed teaching middle school students the most, but I liked directing the high school ones.  Frankly, it was just easier.

Middle School Students Versus High School Students

Although as I write this, that isn’t really factual either.  Let me put it this way–middle school students are fresh, accepting and diligent.  High school students are quick, discerning and trusting if they think you know your stuff.

I do.

From time to time, teachers email me asking for advice on selecting a musical for their school or youth theater program.  I’ve directed over 250 plays and musicals through the years. I’m glad I can help others.

Do you need some guidance? Here are my thoughts on the subject.

Ten Important Elements to Consider When Directing a Youth Theater Production

1. Talent pool--Of course, we’d all like our talent pool to be large.  Middle school students voices begin to change (especially boys) and if you cast the show in September it’s likely by the time you open in November your male lead’s voice may have dropped.  That’s okay.  Teach him how to talk sing his lyrics and he’ll be fine.
2. Number of Students–More important than the talent pool is the number of students which are interested and the number of roles available if the show you’ve selected.  Can you cast everyone?  Do you want to involved everyone?  I wouldn’t recommend using a particular show as a recruitment tool.  Start small if your department is new at your school and over tie you can produce large cast shows.  There’s nothing wrong with tempting interested students who have never acted to have to wait until the second production.  It makes the experience all the more special.
3. Funds for producing–Can your budget afford the production you selected?  Musicals are notoriously expensive, but they usually bring in the larger audiences.
4. Costumes and Set Requirements–What about the needs of the costumes and the set?  Are the costumes something you can rent or build?  Do you have volunteers to sew them?  Do characters change costumes many times?  Does the set have anything that is crucial to it?  Can you design a set which is inexpensive, but gets across the setting?  Or do you have a technical theater director and students to build it?

Here’s one show I think is great for middle school–Willy Wonka, Jr.

Ten Important Elements to Consider When Directing a Youth Theater Production

1. A quick synopsis—Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory — or suffer the consequences.
2. Characters–I love the characters in Willy Wonka, Jr. Plus, students enjoy them, too!  What’s easiest for students to portray?  Characters near their age.  There’s Verua Salt, Charlie Bucket, August Gloop, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teevee.  Plus, there are the roles of the parents, the Oompa Loompas,Charlie’s grandparents and of course Willy Wonka.  (Several times, I’ve cast Willy Wonka with a female.)
3. Costumes, Sets and Props--I’ve been lucky enough to have parent volunteers who create the stage properties for me.  Some of these props can be collected easily, but a few need more attention–the chocolate bars, the fizzing lifting drink, etc.  But a warning if you are new to producing a musical:  they notoriously have many stage properties.
4. Audience appeal–Roald Dahl’s book of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or which the musical was adapted is quite popular with children to read and the title has word recognition.  Whole families can attend without any worry about subject matter or language. Everyone can relate to the story–from the children contestants to the parents.  Some of the best lines are Willy Wonka’s asides to the audience.  They come across as private jokes and that’s such fun.
5. Music–Oh my gosh, it’s so clever!  It’s written in key signatures young voices can reach and sing strongly.  No trying to reach notes which are completely out of their range. Students pick it up quickly, plus Music Theater International provides rehearsal CDs for your students to use. Personally, I think the rehearsal cd is worth its weight in gold.  Students become very confident singing because they learn the music right along with the CD. If you’ve never used the MTI rehearsal cds, you will not believe how much it helps the students.

If you are considering double casting, check out Double Casting a Show? 

Having directed Willy Wonka, Jr. four times, I know it very well.  It never grows old.

 I have one complaint

1. Length–The show is a little long (In the past, I’ve cut reprises near the end. I even gave one of the Oompa Loompa reprises to the contestants in the Willy Wonka contest.) If you have students which can sustain their energy for ninety minutes, then great!  It’s my experience that the length drains their energy.  I mean, they are only kids, you know?

If you would like more information about directing a production, check out Critical Steps in Selecting a Play or Musical: Budget & Royalties or Critical Steps in Producing a Play or Musical: Costumes 

Create Your Own Musical Lesson

Are you looking for a lesson to engage your students which teaches about writing a musical? Here is one.

Create Your Own Musical

Teach your students the process of creating a musical of their own! This lesson gives your students an opportunity to work cooperatively and become playwrights and lyricists by adapting a portion of a children’s book. It is most successful with students in sixth through eighth grade, especially students new to theater class or in a Language Arts class. In addition, a teacher could use this lesson with students who are distance learning #DistanceLearningTPT

Please note: To teach this lesson, you will need to check your school library or purchase several children’s books. I used a Berenstain Bears book for the example.

This product includes:

• a letter to the teacher
• warm up—MY version of this popular exercise
• teacher’s script–what I say and how I say it!
• procedure for the entire lesson
• outline assignment
• example of outline
• detailed assignment sheet for students
• storyboard template
• rubric–FULLY EDITABLE
• links
• sources

I hope this helps you and gives you a nice start to selecting a musical to produce with students.  If you need any more help, please feel free to contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Want a FREE guide and lesson plan to help you teach creative dramatics in your classroom?  Go to https://dramamommaspeaks.respond.ontraport.net/