"Mary Poppins is out and Matilda is in, according to the new high school theater rankings from the Educational Theatre Association. The top spot for high school musicals went to The Addams Family, a show that's been hanging around the top 10 list for the last decade. Mamma Mia! was the second most-popular, making an appearance on the list for the second year (the rights for schools recently became available). Cinderella rounded out the Top 10 list a new addition this year."
"The rankings come out as schools across the country are being challenged to adapt their theater and concert performances to online platforms because of the coronavirus. For Vernon Hills High School in Illinois, Clue was a great choice because of its creativity and humor, says Stephanie Freichels, the school's theater director. "It combines mystery with some really great physical comedy," she says. "There are secret passageways and over-the-top characters.""
"This year, 85 percent of nearly 3,300 schools surveyed by the EdTA said they had canceled performances, and many educators say they'll feel the financial impact from that this year. Money made from ticket sales in the spring often funds the fall shows. For nearly half of the schools surveyed, financial losses from cancelled shows mean cutbacks for next year's theater and arts-related activities."
The 2020 high school theater rankings show shifts in popular productions: Mary Poppins drops while Matilda appears. The Addams Family ranks first among musicals, with Mamma Mia! second and Cinderella newly joining the Top 10. For full-length plays, Clue overtakes Almost, Maine for the No. 1 position. Schools must adapt theater and concert performances to online formats because of the coronavirus. Some programs, such as Vernon Hills High, converted Clue into a Zoom-produced radio drama and sold streamed audio tickets. Eighty-five percent of nearly 3,300 schools canceled performances, and almost half expect budget cutbacks from lost ticket revenue.
Read at www.npr.org
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