Ask a Consultant: How to Choose the Best Production for Your School

Who better to talk about choosing a script than a former director and actor herself? Callie Summer—Educational Consultant at Palmetto Fortis—has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Theatre. Callie has directed, designed, adapted, and acted in over a dozen shows at the elementary, high school, and collegiate level, and has toured in a children's show group across the country. She shared insight on how to choose a play that is the best fit for your school and your students.

Q: How can a director best evaluate if a play script is a good fit for their show?
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A: It’s important to find quality shows. The classics are always a good option to start with as they have a legacy of success and proven quality. A few examples would be Matchmaker for high-schoolers and Tortoise and the Hare for Elementary students—stories that audiences are familiar with and enjoy, and that students can adopt quickly.

Another thing to consider is “what is the play saying, what are its values?” Is the story condoning something wrong? Just because it contains a challenging topic doesn’t mean you always avoid the story, but as a director/teacher, it’s important to guide your students through content using the lens of Scripture.

Don’t forget to keep in mind who is attending. If it’s a show for Grandparents’ Day, you might not want to do a serious, deep story. Helen Keller is a great play, but it also is really challenging and heavy for young audiences; not right if you’re aiming for a lighthearted mood.

Q: What are some things to consider when deciding on a script?
A: I was in a show called Wait Until Dark—a brilliant, thrilling show—but it is extremely technical, and the main character I played—Susie—is blind. When looking at your cast, you need to determine the following: “Do I have an actor who can handle these difficult roles?” and “Do I have the crew/volunteers to assist with technical aspects of the performance?”
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Think through your rehearsal schedule—how many hours of practice time will you have with your cast? If you have less rehearsal time, consider choosing an abridged version, Prince Caspian for example, instead of the full version.

Q: Are there other ways you can determine if the script is right for your students?
A: I’d encourage starting with an abridged show to see the talent level of your students. Maybe don’t start with a musical (as fun and amazing as they are!). If you’ve staged shows before, definitely look at The Scarlet Pimpernel.
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And remember to keep your administrator involved! There might be necessary schedule changes and last-minute requests, so it’s important that everyone stays in the loop.

A former principal wanted to start with a challenging show, and I encouraged us to do a classic instead. We got on the same page and ended up with a fantastic, doable performance for our school to build on. 

​I set the play in a time period that was less expensive to costume and stage than the original setting. Get creative with the script to help it fit your cast needs!

And remember, don’t be afraid to cast and train new actors and help them grow. 
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Q: What is something that has helped you as a director?
A: Prayer is absolutely key. I have a notebook full of Bible verses that I pull out when things are tough in rehearsals, or I can’t figure out a technical aspect of staging a show. Having God’s Word in our hearts and hands is the best tool possible.

​Remember, theatre is a wonderful way to life-on-life disciple your students. 

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