What shows have your y5/y6 children done?

[VinegarDrinker]

My DH, amongst other things, is a primary music teacher. He is struggling to come up with a good show for this year's year 6, so I offered to ask on here. They have done Bugsy Malone, Oliver and Joseph recently.

Would be very grateful for any suggestions!

At that age I did
Wizard of Oz and Annie

The 3 " big year 6 productions" my kids have been in were:

Gel the musical (Better than you thought it would be).

The Rocky Monster Show (also OK)

Alice the musical (very good)

Also what about Jonah Man jazz (I'm a huge fan of that) Daniel Jazz or Swinging Samson?

I second Annie

Show?

Dd1 did Bugsy.

When I was at school one of the teachers used to write his own adaptations of classic plays (like pygmalion or Shakespeare). They were excellent. Can he make up his own using songs he likes.

There's a musical Famous Five, but I don't know whether it's been released for amateur productions.
What about the schools version of Les Mis-I think there are a lot of restrictions (need more than just piano for accompanying), but it would be great to manage to do.
Or try one of the simpler G&S ones-HMS Pinafore would be doable by primary, I'd think, as would Iolanthe.

Annie is great fun, but not much for chorus boys. You can have them as orphans (although the first scene is set in a dormitory), and there are good male solos too. I suspect the boys won't be too impressed with Annie (although my ds would love to give Mollie a try!).

The Demon Headmaster

KS2 play last year was 'Oh What a Knight' (King Arthur et al), the year before was 'Aladdin' and this year is 'Oz'.

Y6 do a separate production, and I can't remember what it was

I did Jonah Man Jazz in Y7 a million years ago, Theas and loved it!

dd2 just did a selection of choruses from Matilda, with her drama group, and that was brill. Very professional.

Peter Pan.

I remember doing Jonah Man Jazz when I was at school 30 something years ago! The sad thing is, I can remember the songs ........... Can you get it on CD?

There was another one about Samson and Delilah too - can't remember what it was called.

Oh go on, do Jonah Man Jazz and invite me please, please.

"Go down Jonah deep in the ocean, go down Jonah far from the shore.
La la la la la la:)

Nineveh city was a city of sin, the jazzin and the jivin made a terrible din la la la....

madame hooch, I still have the score (circa 1971)

Beat groups played a rock and a roll....

And the Lord he said well Bless my soul!

For Elibean!

The MN musical has been chosen :)

Pirates of the currybean... Was brilliant

for the MN version of Jonah Man Jazz.

Altogether now:-

"I need a boat man, that'll carry me away..."

And, wonderfully, I've just found a CD on Amazon which includes Jonah Man Jazz and 'Swingin' Samson.'

If my DD thought I was embarrassing before .......

I think it's probably worth thinking about what is wanted:

• Parts for everyone? Or a couple of 'big' parts with everyone else being a chorus? Or a couple of 'anchor' roles with lots of 'little' parts so that everyone has a line?
• A 'known' show? Or something designed specifically for prinary-aged children?
• Amount of accompaniment needed (piano / backing track / full orchestra)
• Costume supply
• Amount of time available for rehearsal, and how much of that is 'whole cast', and how much 'main characters'.

DD & DS's school does a musical show for every pair of year groups each year, plus one for Year 6 (so R/1 is the Christmas show, 2/3 is at this time of year, 4 / 5 is in the Autumn term, Y6 finishes the school year). Everyone gets on stage at some point, so everything they do has to have something that 120 children can do alone or in groups (options are usually large speaking / small speaking / dance / percussion musicain), as well as everyone singing all the songs. They have, as a result, never done a 'big name show', relying instead on the various musicals written specifically or primary age children, but they are wonderful occasions because everyone is involved. Possibly a thought for a Year 6 show, as I presume that it will be their 'swansong'? In DS's Y6 show, everyone - all 58 - said saomething, even if it was just 1 line.

Grease!

DD did The Wizard of Oz and Annie

DS did Lion King and a 50's version of Midsummer Night's Dream - fab music

Brilliant, thanks very much. I'll pass these on and let you know!

I suggested Jonah man Jazz but as we are in a very multicultural area I think he think it'd be easier to avoid anything overtly religious (although they did don't Joseph before he started there). I'm another one that can remember all the words to it!

We did musical of Terry Pratchett's The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents - published by AC Black. Brilliant!!!!

I remember singing Jonah Man Jazz! I'd forgotten all about it, but now have it in my head.

No other helpful suggestions, sorry OP

When Jonah sank into the sea
He closed his eyes and prayed
Oh Lord I'm very sorry
That your word I've disobeyed
If you will only come and save me
I will do as you command
Instead of treading water
Let me tread upon the land!

... to be sung very very quickly as if bubbling underwater, WMKPGS!

Boggling slightly at the thought of getting 10/11 year olds to do Les Mis...