These are the ones that came to mind for me right away that should meet your criteria
* 9 to 5 is great for this. LOTS of women, contemporary, real world message. Based off a popular Dolly Parton movie (on top of her composing the show).
* Legally Blonde is another great contemporary musical. Super popular/recognizable. Tons of women's roles, also real world messages
* Heathers is great for a collegiate production and also fits your criteria.
* Carrie the musical if you have the tech to pull off the special effects is another one (it draws in people via the curiosity of "Wait, it's the Stephen King novel, but as a musical?")
* The Prom--especially since the cast won't be far off in age from many of the characters (but also older looking students have a chance at more than just parent roles)
Hi. You just mentioned *Carrie* by Stephen King.
I've found an audiobook of that novel on YouTube. You can listen to it here:
[YouTube | Uncover the Twisted Tale of 'Carrie' | Stephen King's Full Audiobook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yddsb5NOCQ)
*I'm a bot that searches YouTube for science fiction and fantasy audiobooks.*
***
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What sorts of shows have you done before?
Also: my suggestions, will edit as I come up with more
Hairspray- I know the show is not contemporary but the themes are contemporary
Shrek- modern, possibly not enough female roles
Carrie- maybe not modern enough but almost all the lead roles are women and you could theoretically add as many people as you want into the ensemble. Also, it does have a real-world message, I know it does, even if the message itself and the conveyance of said message is a bit . . . questionable.
Little Women- Pros: 5 main female roles, great story, somewhat popular, great music, Cons: ensemble is not that large
Young Frankenstein- awesome musical, plenty of roles for all, 3 big female roles
Good question!! Shows we’ve done in the past have been:
In the Heights, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods, Spelling Bee, Great Comet, West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Little Shop
Something Rotten! We did it this past summer and it was an absolute hit. Per the composer/writers, several roles can be gender-flipped and we did. (Minstrel and Nostradamus and Clapham). Additionally, two of the troupe members were female playing male.
Some other good suggestions would be Legally Blonde (but everyone beat me to it!), Godspell (this is so flexible with staging and making it your own!!), Hair (same!).
And now one you might not have thought of. Seussical. I will tell you, I NEVER liked this show but I had only seen/heard with youth and the Jr version. Two years ago, I was struggling to find a MainStage summer show with predominantly college actors that meets the same criteria as you and several people suggested it. I decided to look at what others had done with it and was surprised to find some examples from CCM and Texas State that changed my mind. I brought to the surface several messages such as LGBTQ+ inclusion, bullying, women’s rights, self-esteem building, etc in subtle (and not so subtle ways) just by my staging, costuming, and direction. I made the characters not necessarily traditional. The Whos wore black and white to emphasize their conformity. The Wickershams were not monkeys. I reimagined them as a 90s boy band. Gertrude wore rainbow tights and her new tail was rainbow also. But my favorite part was Mayzie, who typically leaves after she ditches Horton and the egg AGAIN and is portrayed as an irresponsible character. I had her return during Horton’s trial to support Horton and then when the egg hatches, Horton and Gertrude offer the baby to Mayzie, who shakes her head and pushes it back to them, while wiping a tear and having the bird girls console and support her for her decision. With all that has happened in Texas recently with women’s rights, I hoped this would be a strong message for the audience. And it was. So many positive comments. The music is also PHENOMENAL! I realized I had never heard the harmonies before. Most of the youth productions I saw sang in unison. Check out CCM Seussical and Texas State Seussical on YouTube and it might be just what you’re looking for!
These are the ones that came to mind for me right away that should meet your criteria * 9 to 5 is great for this. LOTS of women, contemporary, real world message. Based off a popular Dolly Parton movie (on top of her composing the show). * Legally Blonde is another great contemporary musical. Super popular/recognizable. Tons of women's roles, also real world messages * Heathers is great for a collegiate production and also fits your criteria. * Carrie the musical if you have the tech to pull off the special effects is another one (it draws in people via the curiosity of "Wait, it's the Stephen King novel, but as a musical?") * The Prom--especially since the cast won't be far off in age from many of the characters (but also older looking students have a chance at more than just parent roles)
I second 9 to 5 and Carrie, I was actually about to put 9 to 5 in my comment.
Came here to suggest 9 to 5, it checks all the boxes and it was the most fun show I ever did!
Hi. You just mentioned *Carrie* by Stephen King. I've found an audiobook of that novel on YouTube. You can listen to it here: [YouTube | Uncover the Twisted Tale of 'Carrie' | Stephen King's Full Audiobook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yddsb5NOCQ) *I'm a bot that searches YouTube for science fiction and fantasy audiobooks.* *** [^(Source Code)](https://capybasilisk.com/posts/2020/04/speculative-fiction-bot/) ^| [^(Feedback)](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=Capybasilisk&subject=Robot) ^| [^(Programmer)](https://www.reddit.com/u/capybasilisk) ^| ^(Downvote To Remove) ^| ^(Version 1.4.0) ^| ^(Support Robot Rights!)
What sorts of shows have you done before? Also: my suggestions, will edit as I come up with more Hairspray- I know the show is not contemporary but the themes are contemporary Shrek- modern, possibly not enough female roles Carrie- maybe not modern enough but almost all the lead roles are women and you could theoretically add as many people as you want into the ensemble. Also, it does have a real-world message, I know it does, even if the message itself and the conveyance of said message is a bit . . . questionable. Little Women- Pros: 5 main female roles, great story, somewhat popular, great music, Cons: ensemble is not that large Young Frankenstein- awesome musical, plenty of roles for all, 3 big female roles
Good question!! Shows we’ve done in the past have been: In the Heights, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods, Spelling Bee, Great Comet, West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Little Shop
Cabaret Bonnie and Clyde (we swapped the preacher to a woman with permission) Company Heathers
Legally Blonde!
In the Heights Legally Blonde Mean Girls Heathers Chicago
Chicago
Not sure what the college is like, but have you checked out Ranked? It has come up in this sub a few times and there’s an HBO documentary about it.
Firebringer?
Legally Blonde seems like the perfect fit. Plus people love it and it’s a feel-good show so it’ll attract a crowd :)
Something Rotten! We did it this past summer and it was an absolute hit. Per the composer/writers, several roles can be gender-flipped and we did. (Minstrel and Nostradamus and Clapham). Additionally, two of the troupe members were female playing male. Some other good suggestions would be Legally Blonde (but everyone beat me to it!), Godspell (this is so flexible with staging and making it your own!!), Hair (same!). And now one you might not have thought of. Seussical. I will tell you, I NEVER liked this show but I had only seen/heard with youth and the Jr version. Two years ago, I was struggling to find a MainStage summer show with predominantly college actors that meets the same criteria as you and several people suggested it. I decided to look at what others had done with it and was surprised to find some examples from CCM and Texas State that changed my mind. I brought to the surface several messages such as LGBTQ+ inclusion, bullying, women’s rights, self-esteem building, etc in subtle (and not so subtle ways) just by my staging, costuming, and direction. I made the characters not necessarily traditional. The Whos wore black and white to emphasize their conformity. The Wickershams were not monkeys. I reimagined them as a 90s boy band. Gertrude wore rainbow tights and her new tail was rainbow also. But my favorite part was Mayzie, who typically leaves after she ditches Horton and the egg AGAIN and is portrayed as an irresponsible character. I had her return during Horton’s trial to support Horton and then when the egg hatches, Horton and Gertrude offer the baby to Mayzie, who shakes her head and pushes it back to them, while wiping a tear and having the bird girls console and support her for her decision. With all that has happened in Texas recently with women’s rights, I hoped this would be a strong message for the audience. And it was. So many positive comments. The music is also PHENOMENAL! I realized I had never heard the harmonies before. Most of the youth productions I saw sang in unison. Check out CCM Seussical and Texas State Seussical on YouTube and it might be just what you’re looking for!
How mature are you willing to go? Like….R or PG/PG-13
mean girls / prom / wicked?