What is too much for a 'High School' show or what do you think about Avenue Q for High Schools?

The song itself is actually quite funny and more relevant to the younger demographic. I like it a lot although I would need to see it in full context of the new show to see what else they'd changed.

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• 13 votes

I think that Avenue Q is clearly aimed at people in their mid-20s and above. The basic storyline is one about leaving Uni to find life is harder than you thought. The bad idea bears talk Princeton into buying a slab because he's saving money if he buys beer in bulk. They talk him into spending some of his parents' startup loan on beer in the first place. They talk Kate Monster into getting drunk before her big opportunity at work. These are not concepts I'd want my teenager viewing as rites of passage and I think they're purely intended to be laughed at by people who've done similar and probably regretted it.
I think sure, make another age appropriate show - Avenue P - which addresses teenage stuffups and write a fantastic score and give that to the high schools.
I admit I'm against the 'junior' musical phenomenon generally. When you have Frederick singing above Mabel in Pirates, there's something a bit wrong.

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• 16 votes

The show is totally inappropriate. Pretty much every song in the show needs rewriting. EG: Special, Schadenfreude.

Why not just make Sesame Street The Musical. The show will lose everything it is supposed to be or intended to do.

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• 20 votes

As a teacher, I actually don't see the point of rewriting shows for schools particularly when such a major rewrite of a show (as is the case with Avenue Q) needs to be done. On the other hand, there's a couple of pretty good rewrites - take for example Grease School Version which we did two years ago. It eliminates the swearing and removes Rizzo's pregnancy scare - instead replacing her with getting with various guys at school. I think if it's something that a couple of minor changes are needed that won't change the storyline, then it's fine. When you're changing entire songs, it's pretty over-the-top!
In terms of what's appropriate, that's really a case-by-case basis. I know that some schools are more full-on when it comes to what you can and can't perform. Others are more lenient. When it comes to content, it depends on the context. A lot of schools won't have an issue with gay themes but it's a matter of finding boys in the school who are talented and are happy to play a gay character. In general, according to standards from the various teaching powers-that-be, anything that promotes drugs, alcohol and violence as good things should not be portrayed, however if they're in there to show the negative side, there generally isn't a problem.
As I said though, it all depends on the school. What is ok for a state school with a really forward thinking principal will be quite different to a conservative private school.

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• 22 votes

Yay! My favourite topic ever! Last year my school did RENT: School Edition and it was a huge success for the students, teachers and college community. Minimal changes were made to the score, eg - taking out some of the swearing and cutting back some of the numbers to ensure a shorter production. Still, the show works really well.

Students don't want to do the Rodgers & Hammerstein. They want contemporary pop-culture. Avenue Q will work as a school edition. Without doubt.

My concern ALWAYS is the standard of educators who 'direct' them. For example, I once played for a school production of Sound of Music. The student playing Captain Von Trapp had no idea it was set during World War II. Honest to God... did not have a clue.

Students can do amazing things in productions, regardless of subject matter (as we all know). But I pray that schools select 'acheivable' material'.

We talked to our students about the themes in the show, watched some docos, had some discussions and answered a LOT of questions - just the same that we did with our previous productions of Grease, Footloose and A Chorus Line. Same format; different questions. The students don't want to be patronised, they want to be informed.

John, at the schools I've worked at, we've never had an issue finding boys to play a gay character. Ever. Especially if it's all hidden in caricature. We were fighting them off to play Collins and Angel for our production of RENT: SE. I also thing that the elimination of Rizzo's pregnancy scare is crap. That above all is the guts of that role and so important for it's young viewers to relate to. And so very relevant.

There is another school whom are currently rehearsing, lets just say "a musical that is not appropriate for them". They're taking bits out, changing lines, changing lyrics... NIGHTMARE! Easiest solution? DON'T DO THE BLOODY SHOW! If you're that conservative and for whatever reason cannot adhere to the shows form, do something that you can! Like the Sound of Music... :)

School Editions are going off right now. Rent, Aida, Sweeney Todd, We Will Rock You and nearly the entire Disney catalogue are on board.

I am so excited to see the development of school productions during the next few years!

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• 27 votes

Drew,
I couldnt agree more. I just lament the fact that I work at a conservative Catholic school who considers 'urinetown' inappropriate to perform... because of the title!

Hmmm maybe one day they'll open their eyes to the massive catalogue of shows they are missing out on.

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• 16 votes

I shudder to think about when they try to release the Spring Awakening Schools Edition...

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• 21 votes

"Because the original Avenue Q has some content elements that have previously made it a difficult choice for some high school productions," MTI, according to its official website, "has worked with the Avenue Q authors to create an adaptation that maintains the dramatic intention and integrity of the piece, while editing it to make it more appropriate for high school audiences and performers."

MTI provides a list of the changes made to the musical for the School Edition; those changes follow:

The language (both dialogue and lyrics) has been cleaned-up throughout. Think of the show being rated PG-13 now rather than rated R

The song "Internet is For Porn" has been replaced with "Social Life is Online"

The songs "My Girl Friend Who Lives In Canada" and "Loud As The Hell You Want" are cut from this version

The videos throughout the show are all now done live using actors

The scenes with the Bad Idea Bears have been trimmed and amended to now focus less on drinking

A few character names have been changed - Lucy T. Slut is now just Lucy, and Mrs. T. is now Mrs. Butz.

These changes, MTI states, exist to "serve the greater message of the piece by allowing its themes to reach a wider audience."

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• -4 votes

Hey all! I'm actually doing this show at my school this year! The students and the staff that I have spoken to are all very excited about this show. Drew I totally agree that the kids do NOT want to do a good ol' R&H classic! They watch Glee and grew up with High School Musical so it makes sense to continue their love for the new!

The new brand of "School Edition" shows are brilliant. Our school produced the School Edition of Sweeney Todd and it was a real success. The changes were minimal and the main aim is to keep the integrity of the original show but making it appropriate for a school audience. They also make it easier for the kids to perform with the length and some of the keys the songs are in.

The changes listed my MTI above are all true (except for the bad idea bears part) they still convince Princeton to buy a case of beer. I believe that the show will resonate with the students and its main message about relieving the stress and pressure of what is expected of them in the future when they leave school. The show has a big heart and is more than the shock factor of a puppet sex scene.

Of course the script has had a few changes but on the whole the show is the same. Swap Kate Monster’s F-word for “crap” and Lucy tones it down but in a clever way. Instead of her saying “Yeah, they’re real” she states “Nothing fake here” bringing the focus away from directly referring to her breasts and making the audience draw their own conclusions, she’s a puppet after all, all fake! I think the biggest change for me is that fact that Princeton does not go home with Kate Monster after they get drunk together. “The begin to mash” are the stage directions then cut to the “Fantasies Come Ture” scene. Schadenfreude is shortened and the verse about the vegetarian is swapped for a verse about your neighbours going on a fancy holiday and returning with sunburn.

I’m really excited about producing and directing this show. I think MTI are onto a good thing here. They aren’t stupid, they WANT to licence their shows to make more money from the high school cash cow, so they will do their best to make sure the shows that are given a SCHOOL EDITION translation are appropriate. I don’t think we will see Book of Mormon School Edition any time soon.

I was speaking to someone last night who noted that when we were at school there were no school editions, so doing a production of Grease, Pippin or Chicago was totally fine. Its funny how we are more picky about our content these days. I just hope the students have a great experience, meet life long friends and their friends and families have a good laugh.

PS if anyone is keen to see how the show pans out come see the show for yourself in July at Glen Waverley Sceondary College.
http://s1069.photobucket.com/albums/u469/GWSC/?action=view&current=A3mai...

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• 6 votes