Whilst I agree about it being too old for high schools to do I see no problem with good amateur groups doing it.

Of course it would be scaled down, but if the show couldn't withstand that and still be powerful, then it really isn't a good show.

Not all amateur groups perform at the local village hall.

I'm currently (opening night last night) in a production of Chess. Whilst this is a show that works well with a minimal set, it is also in the same epic style as shows like Miss Saigon, and requires a similar level of stamina from the company. Musically it is very difficult. And yet we were a huge success last night.

A previous poster was right - don't limit it to what you have seen. When I first saw Miss Saigon in London there was no helicopter. It had fallen during a technical test a few days earlier and one of the crew had ended up in hospital. They were keeping it out of the show until they were sure it was safe. So when it came to that scene the actors just ran into darkness at the back of the stage. With good lighting it worked. So it is definately possible.

People focus too much on the helicopter. A piece of set should not MAKE a show. The score and lib should do that.

Oh, i don't know...

Well, if it's in Arts Magnet school, like Carver Center which is in MD...^^ Yea I'm going there next year!

Musical Theatre International, which licenses Miss Saigon, doesn't list either a school/junior edition OR a concert edition.

"Hopefully, not anytime soon.... I love Miss Saigon, but I don't think a high school would have the talent needed to pull the show off.... "

With all due respect, you've obviously never seen a Cardinal O'Hara production. The directors take their shows extremely seriously, stating that it is to be - for all intents and purposes - professional, and that is how it appears (and how our audience reacts). As a testament to this, we have recently purchased the beautiful Aviom system. For anyone who does not recognize this name, it is a system for the Pit Band that allows all the music coming from the instruments to be taken in put out through the speakers by Cat 5 cables (I believe, though I could be mistaken). In this way, we can lower the sound of the pit so as to hear the actors better, we can raise certain instuments like flutes and lower others like drums. Also, the musicians have special headsets in which they can hear only those instruments they wish to hear.

Needless to say, that is a very professional peice of equipment, one no High School has ever purchased before (but one that has been purchased by Broadway and SNL, if I am correct). It is a brilliant peice of equipment.

Unlike other High Schools, who would normally take melody and teach that to every singer, O'Hara goes in depth to learn the sometimes extremely difficult harmonies.

The sets are also quite breathtaking and the special effects. Marley flying in "Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol: The Musical" or the Nile transforming into Radames' tent in "Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida" are just a few examples of the magic O'Hara has performed in the past.

As of right now, we are wrapping up "Aida," which had an extremely successful run. Next up is none other than Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and then next year, the spring show is set to be "Miss Saigon." One of the first things our director told us when he let the cast of "Aida" in on this small secret was that we would, indeed, be putting a helicopter onstage. This, to me, was no big surprise.

So, professional is all a point of view, as it seems. I believe the only thing separating O'Hara from most professional productions is the age difference. Talent-wise, we are set for at least the next four years, though I doubt there will ever be a time when there is a dire need for that. Please, with the deepest respect, I have been attempting to dispel the stereotypes that enter people's minds about High School production. I know, I have taken the defensive and written a veritable novel here, but it is something I feel quite strongly about. Just one thing, please, please, please, do not judge before you see something. I understand wholeheartedly where you are coming from because I have seen many High School shows (and many professional ones as well), and they do seem to be more of a "fun time" rather than an entertaining experience. I'm sure there are some other schools out there that may feel the same, but speaking from one -- do not judge. You may be undecided on this matter, but make no specific judgments until after you have seen what magic can be had to offer.

Thank you for listening to my rant and I wish you the best of luck in all future performances. Have a good one!

-Mike

How 'bout a link, Mr. Pretentious?

I'd guess this is it. These appear to be photos of Les Mis and the aforementioned 'A Chistmas Carol' and 'Aida'

Thank you, Moci, yes that would be the site. Also thank you for reminding me something else about Les Mis -- when we put it on, we built the revolving stage for the barricade, just another neat little thing.

I don't know exactly the aviom site, but if you wish to check up on that to make sure it is all I said it would be, google is a fine search engine.

Also, if you'd like to see pictures of any other shows we have performed, they too are on the site, www.cohs.com -- the ones up on the site are: Cinderella, Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical, Les Mis, Footloose, Oklahoma, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Godspell, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, (and soon Beauty and the Beast and Miss Saigon will also grace the site). The newer show pics will be found in the photo gallery while the older ones will be found in the "Theatre" section of the site.

Thanks,
-Mike

I preface this post thusly: I am not about to attack the person whom I'm quoting. I'm going to pose arguments in opposition of the attitude present in these quotes, one that I've encountered often from high school/college theatre folks.



Well, just because the directors take the shows extremely seriously does not in any way shape or form suggest that the show will actually be of professional caliber. I can intend to cook a delicious meal and I can tell everybody that I think it will be delicious. That doesn't mean it actually will be or is delicious. In "professional" situations, intent does not matter; it's the end result that people care about.



This is a misstep in logic. The school's possession of the Aviom system tells us ONLY that the school administrators, benefactors, or whoever had the MEANS to purchase the system. It does not in any way logically point to Cardinal O'Hara's ability to do professional-quality shows. With enough money, I can purchase an airplane. That doesn't automatically grant me the skills necessary to pilot the damn thing.



This is perhaps my biggest "beef" with high school musicals. I do not believe that some 16 year old kid can convincingly play Jean Valjean or Javert or Mrs. Lovett or whoever. I don't care if they can sing every note in the entire score. In the proper setting, it's easy for an audience to suspend disbelief and suppose that the people on the stage aren't actors and actresses but characters. It's another matter altogether for the audience to believe that some barely-out-of-puberty kid is an aging convict on the run with a lifetime of hardship and despair behind him.

AMEN, sister!!! Give the kids a challenge and they'll rise to the occasion!