Hello,My community theater group is considering Shrek for our summer 2014 musical. I am putting together a proposal, and was wondering if anyone who has already done it could share how they did casting with the ensemble. I am trying to make heads or tails about what roles can be double cast and what works well with costume changes etc. Thanks!

Hello -- any ideas or places where I can get the cup that the hermit gives to the monster that is broken on stage?

Hello! I'm directing a production of Young Frankenstein this summer and I have a ton of talented girls (a good amount of boys too) but I'm considering changing the Hermit to a girl -- would this be weird? The option would be that she would be a SHE not a HE. This would make Frau Blucher's line at the end be a girl-on-girl line. Which I think could be funny. Thoughts???

Good morning, everyone.After a successful first-time school production of Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS, I am considering directing another musical next year. I want to share my joy of music and the theater to the children. Since I am volunteering my time and our school doesn't have a budget for the program, I want to keep it simple without sacrificing quality. This year, I directed the musical by myself with some teachers designing the set, as well as parents making their child's own costumes. I am leaning towards choosing Annie KIDS but am also thinking about Sleeping Beauty KIDS. My concern with both of these choices is that I am afraid I might scare off some boys because they might perceive them as "too girly." Since, prior to this year, the school has not had a play or musical, I want to build up interest and encourage the broadest base of participation possible. (The license does not appear to be available in Europe for other musicals I considered: Aladdin KIDS, 101 Dalmatians KIDS or Willy Wonka KIDS.) There are also some JR selections that are interesting to me--for example, Alice in Wonderland, Honk!, and the upcoming Peter Pan--but I am concerned that since they are twice as long that they might be too much for me to take on. I appreciate anyone's thoughts or suggestions.