The Big Production (Drama Club) [Hardcover]

Peter Lerangis (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Drama Club

When it is announced that the Big Spring Musical will be Grease, immediately the drama heats up. Auditions are swamped, emotions run high, and everyone is stressing to make sure that every last detail is exactly right. Meanwhile, it’s all just a bit too much for Brianna, who takes some desperate measures to keep her head above water. Can the Drama Club nail their performance and keep Brianna from falling apart? It could be the chance of a lifetime, and no one wants to be the one to blow it.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Overall, a solid and well-cast production. -- School Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Peter Lerangis performed in the touring company for a major Broadway show, and is the author of over 100 books for young readers, including the Spy X series, the Watchers series, the Antarctica series, Smiler’s Bones, and many TV and movie tie-ins. He lives in New York City. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: San Val (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141778749X
• ISBN-13: 978-1417787494
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Peter Lerangis's books have sold over 4.5 million copies and been translated into 28 languages. Titles include THE SWORD THIEF, THE VIPER'S NEST, one-fourth of VESPERS RISING, and the upcoming THE DEAD OF NIGHT (in the N.Y. Times bestselling series, THE 39 CLUES); the novel SMILER'S BONES (a N. Y. Public Library Best Book for Teens); the SPY X series; the YA thriller WTF; and the upcoming YA novel SOMEBODY, PLEASE TELL ME WHO I AM, written with Harry Mazer. He'll gladly recite the rest of the list if you ask nicely. He's also performed on Broadway, run a marathon, rock-climbed in Yosemite during a 6.1 earthquake, and, with his wife, sprouted and grown two sons in NYC. At the moment he's moving his car for alternate-side-of-the-street parking and will be right back. (Meanwhile, for a longer bio, see http://peterlerangis.com/about-peter/bio/.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Drama Queen strikes again!, May 19, 2008

By 

T. Fleming "piggydiva" (Louisville, KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Production (Drama Club Book 2) (Paperback)

The Big Production, by Peter Lerangis, is the second book in the Drama Club series. Washington D. C.'s Ridgeport High School is an ordinary public school with an extraordinary history of theatrical productions. As the students prepare to perform Grease, their spring musical, junior Brianna goes from motivated good girl to an overachiever relying on uppers and downers to get her through her jam-packed days.

There is the usual cast of drama students within the main plot: the diva, the tech geek, the reluctant performer, the jock who can act, the homosexual, and the student director. The multi-narrators' points of view stay very true to teen language including instant messaging between various characters. The drug use subplot has very little explicit use--most shows the effects of the drugs on Brianna (short temper, shaking hands, confusion and delerium). Another main character, nice boy Harrison, deals with his racist, homophobic, Greek father providing a father-son strained relationship as another sub-plot.

Unlike similar novels (such as the Drama! series by Paul Ruditis), the theatrical aspect of the book isn't too technical, and in fact provides much of the drama and hilarity. Case in point is stage manager Charles' reaction to opening night:

"By opening curtain, Charles wanted to kill Gabe for adding a motor to the
car, which went off all by itself as the cast were taking their places.
By the first musical number, he wanted to kill the cast.
By the start of the second act, he wanted to kill himself.
These were excellent signs.
The wish for mass murder, he had come to realize, was healthy in the
theater, as long as one refrained from the accomplishment thereof" (214).

The Big Production would be enjoyed by many students grades 7 and up, not just those interested in drama.

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite in the series!, May 12, 2011

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Big Production (Drama Club Book 2) (Paperback)

"The Big Production" is one of my favorite books. I think it's a great read for any overachiever! Being the musical freak I am, I love all of the musical references! Everyone can relate to at least one of the characters, if not more. I definitely recommend this book!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 5, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Production (Drama Club Book 2) (Paperback)

Here at Ridgeport High School, theater is everything. With tons of awards and the reputation of having Tony winners as alumni, every generation has to make sure that the momentum keeps going.

Brianna Glaser is proud to be co-president of the Drama Club. The drawback of having that position, though, is that it does take up a pretty good amount of her time. But Brianna can't let this effect her at all. She does, in fact, have to make time to study, choose a college, and try to be the top of her class while trying not to get lovestruck.

But since the Spring Musical is coming up, Brianna finds it hard to fit academics into her schedule. Especially since this year's musical will be the world-renowned Grease, one show everyone will want to be in.

Of course, from here on out, it isn't smooth sailing for Brianna. From accidents on the stage to some of the main performers having to drop out, it's bad enough that Brianna can't keep herself together, but will she be able to keep the musical together before opening night?

There's always drama in the DC!

Peter Lerangis keeps this new series going with THE BIG PRODUCTION. Fast-paced and very dramatic (of course!), readers who enjoyed the first book, The Fall Musical #1 (Drama Club), will not want to miss this next one.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen