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!

[EvilTwins]

Me too, lottie - I'm doing the schools version next year at the secondary school I work in. Our Valjean will be a Yr13. Not sure how Yr 5s would manage...

OP, are they doing it "properly"? (ie paying for performing rights etc) If so, there is a series called Broadway Junior which are held by Josef Weinberger - we've used them in the past and done Guys & Dolls Jnr, High School Musical Jnr and Annie Jnr. They're simplified versions of the shows and last about an hour. You have to buy the showkit though, which is around £400. It comes with all the scripts, a backing track CD and various other useful things. Most of the primaries round here seem to to their own "version" of something, otherwise it can get quite expensive.

[treas]

Ds's school have done The Wiz, Orvin: Champion Of Champions, Bugsy, Oliver etc.

[lljkk]

Do the children in your shows actually have solo or small group dances & songs?

[Hulababy]

In DD's school all of prep (juniors) are involved in the plays. Y6 have the main parts, so bigger speaking parts, solo singing (or duet/small group if they prefer), etc. Y5 have some smaller parts and ones with maybe 1-2 lines, plus in the chorus. Y3/4 have supporting roles and are the chorus.

Last year they did Macbeth and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
This year they are doing Mary Poppins.

Previous years were Midsummer Night's Dreams, Oliver and Joseph.

[Theas18]

Go down Jonah deep in the ocean, go down Jonah far from the shore !


:)

[lljkk]

Wow, never knew this was so common, DC primary does not do shows beyond Nativities (which are rather grand affairs, to be fair). Each class will do own brief assemblies (no song or dance).

I think a lot of the secondaries do shows, but it's a very minority pursuit.

[Lancelottie]

EvilTwins, our school's Valjean was only 13! He was utterly knackered by the end of the run -- and I permanently envisage Valjean now as small, ginger and bespectacled...

[Schmedz]

Try the Starshine music site....lots and lots of original and appealing musicals (although our school tends to use them more for Year 4 productions than year 6 ones).

The Broadway Juniors series available through josef weinberger have a fantastic selection! The 'show kits' are expensive but include lots of scripts, CDs with performance and backing tracks, a directors book, two piano/vocal scores and choreography DVD with suggestions on how to stage. If you charge parents a small amount for tickets that will well and truly cover the cost of the kit! Our school has done a number of them and they are great adaptations of the full Broadway show, lasting around 60-70 mins and all have been fantastic, involving a large number of children with thoroughly enjoyable music. Double-casting ensures the main parts are shared out with a wider variety of children.

Feel free to PM me for any more info. I have done LOADS of shows with junior school children!!!

[BrigitBigKnickers]

CinderellaRockerfella is a good one for year 6. Brilliant songs and a funny script.

Our year 6s have also done Charlie and the Chocolate factory and a number of the Andrew Oxspring Edgy Productions show- School Daze and a Blast from the past are both great fun.

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

lljkk We have a 3/4 Christmas proudction and a 5/6 summer production. DDs Y6 was Oliver!, she was a street seller with a solo.

DS2 was in a junior school musical version of A Christmas Carol last year, in Y4, with a solo song as a mourner, plus a speaking part.

ALl the children from the relevant years are included, though if the older Y6s really don't want to they are stage hands.

[Hulababy]

Lljkk - shows are a big thing at dd's school. They incorporate them into the curriculum.

The infants do the nativity, again a big thing though with main party's, solo singing, etc. it's a small school so it's mixed year groups. Y2 have main nativity parts with yr and y1 in supporting roles and chorus.

Then the junior one is in summer and works as said below.

They also have 2-3 class assemblies a year which last about 15-20 min. But the pupils tend to organise them, ESP in juniors.

They're lucky as they have a stage and lighting, etc.

My school is an infants and we put on class showing assemblies most half terms for 15 minutes or so.

Y1 do a Christmas show and then y2 do a big summer show. We use a local place down the road in order to fit everyone in! This year were doing Charlie And the Chocolate Factory.

[angelinas]

Hi

I'm a mumsnetter and I just so happen to be a writer of musicals for schools. Spotted this thread and thought......thats my department. About the only time I can speak with authority on here! Please have a look at our website and drop me an email if I can help.....www.luckybucket.co.uk. Having been responsible for the end of year show more times than I care to remember, I speak from experience when I say, the choice of show is everything. Would love to help your hubby if we can.

[member]

When dd1 was year 6, their teacher let them work in groups to write their own sketches which were interspersed with songs.

Dd2 is year 3 & the year 3/4s did Treasure Island last term which was great - the children really got into pirate - speak!