This show is ideal for a new high school drama department or a program that includes middle school and elementary school, too. Cast: 11 roles, 7 children, flexible ensembleĪnnie is one of those musicals that everyone knows - it’s a family friendly show, which is handy if you live in a conservative area.And let’s not forget - nuns! (There’s something about a nun costume that makes a chorus role more fun.) If your theater program needs to make money for future shows, this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is sure to spike ticket sales. It has everything: a big cast, cute kids, beloved music, and just enough darkness to keep things interesting. The Sound of Music is one of the best musicals to do in high school. Cast: 8 roles, 16 featured, large ensemble.Plus, if you live in a conservative area, no one will find fault with the squeaky-clean plot. You can bet that local families will be buying tickets en masse - no parent is going to deny their kids the chance to see Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion in person? High schoolers love this show partly for the iconic characters, and partly because it’s just so much fun. Ever since The Wizard of Oz movie came out in 1939, this adorable musical has been an American classic. Get ready - you’re about to hear “there’s no place like home” on repeat. You can perform it in a theater of any size, but it works particularly well in an intimate black-box setting. The 2014 movie starring Meryl Streep brought everyone else into the fold - now this show is guaranteed to draw a crowd. This is a great show to do while your students are in the Halloween spirit, but it works any time of year.ĭie-hard theater nerds have always been obsessed with Sondheim’s masterpiece, Into the Woods. It’s easy to see why - the characters are quirky, the music is fun, and the sets are delightfully dark. Since it debuted in 2010, the Addams Family has been rising up the charts of the top high school musicals. As a bonus, you won’t have to spend much on costumes summer street clothes work just fine. Dancing, singing, and ABBA - what’s not to love? Though it does reference adult activity (drinking, “dot, dot, dot…”), Mamma Mia! is relatively tame and appropriate for high school. There are six starring female roles and three leading men, plus a variety of smaller parts. If your drama department is packed with stars, Mamma Mia! makes it easy to feature them. One challenge that high school theater directors face is finding musicals with plenty of roles. Audiences won’t think twice about buying tickets because they already know they’ll love the show! Plus, the cast has a large number of roles, so you can show off more of your talented performers. You probably already know the story of Beauty and the Beast - and that’s exactly why it’s one of the most popular musicals for high school. When you want to build interest in your school’s drama club, start here! 1. Each of these shows is virtually guaranteed to draw a huge audience, so you can pack the house with excited friends, family members, and people from the community. Sometimes, you just need a surefire hit for your theater program - and that’s when it’s time to choose from the most popular high school musicals. ![]() Most Popular Musicals for High Schools Image courtesy of HarshLight under CC BY 2.0 Top image courtesy of Steven Pisano under CC BY 2.0 | In the Heights, directed by Sonya Baehr at Poly Prep Country Day School Looking for a specific type of high school musical? Jump to: ![]() Whether you work at a school with a big arts budget or you’re building a high-school drama program from the ground up, these musicals are a great place to start planning your next theater season. It’s a place where everyone belongs - a lifesaver for kids who feel like they don’t fit in anywhere else in high school. Think back - do you remember when you first felt your castmates turning into family? The first time you stepped on stage and found your voice? The first time you heard the audience applaud or laugh and thought, “Oh, I’m home“?Īt Theater Love, we believe that musical theater is magic. It can be challenging, but it’s worth it to see shy kids transform into confident, capable actors and singers.įor theater kids, musicals are the best part of high school. Picking musicals for high school is a huge responsibility - in addition to finding a show that’s appropriate for your students, you need to consider parents, school leadership, the school board, and the community at large.
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