There’s nothing fairly like being in a bustling highschool auditorium, charged with anticipation, because the curtain rises on one other unforgettable highschool musical manufacturing. These theatrical showcases not solely entertain but in addition have the facility to coach, shedding gentle on social ideas and life classes. However when there are such a lot of choices, choosing the right musicals for prime faculties generally is a massive problem, particularly when you’ve so many concerns, akin to subject material, solid dimension, singing kinds, and extra. Fortunately, we’ve put collectively this checklist of the very best musicals for highschool so you possibly can focus your power on crafting the right choreography for that showstopping quantity!
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Musicals Set in Faculties
1. Excessive College Musical
What higher musical to carry out at your highschool than Excessive College Musical? This musical is chock-full of relatable highschool tales and drama, and it is without doubt one of the basic musicals for prime faculties.
Grease is a musical set in highschool a few fling that turns into one thing extra when the summer time ends. This musical has many songs that audiences are certain to acknowledge and love, and the interval piece permits for super-fun costumes and units.
Carrie is a more moderen musical that’s full of surprising classes and an intriguing plot that invitations college students to immerse themselves into the characters. A robust feminine lead is unquestionably crucial to realize your director objectives with this intense script.
Though the unique storyline accommodates some components not fitted to a highschool stage, there’s a teen version of the script that also accommodates the identical allure that made Heathers so fashionable within the first place. Hopefully, college students will bear in mind this cult basic film and can respect the adapted-for-the-stage model of the enduring story.
Hairspray is an iconic highschool musical with a number of essential messages. Set within the time of segregation, your college students will familiarize themselves with this period of American historical past and respect our freedoms these days way more.
Expensive Evan Hansen is a more moderen musical that took the world by storm. This musical hits extremely near residence for anybody battling social nervousness or the lack of a cherished one. Stuffed with many essential factors and messages, it is a musical that each excessive schooler ought to expertise.
Solid: 8 leads
Licensing: Not but obtainable
7. Convey It On
Convey It On is a enjoyable musical about rival cheerleading groups, and it has hilarious tropes concerning the basic soccer participant and cheerleader that may you should definitely give the viewers amusing or two. The costumes and set are simple to make as effectively, as all it’s good to do is hop into the highschool gymnasium locker room and borrow a couple of uniforms.
8. The twenty fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
This musical is hilarious and may be completed very gentle by way of set, costuming, and blocking. The free-form script model permits for the actors to shine in their very own particular person manner, and there’s no one particular lead, which lends itself to a fantastic ensemble musical. The most effective half? This musical permits for viewers participation, which is enjoyable for everybody!
Legally Blonde tells the story of a post-grad younger girl who has been misunderstood for too a few years excelling in a graduate regulation program. Though humorous and lighthearted, this musical nonetheless has messages and themes that will encourage your pupil physique greater than you assume.
College of Rock is the right musical in case your theater program has many freshmen and sophomores, as they’ll play the scholars whereas a bigger senior can play the trainer. This musical is tons of enjoyable for everybody and options some superior rock ’n’ roll music.
13 is a musical about—you guessed it—a bunch of 13-year-olds struggling to determine the trials and tribulations of being a younger teenager. This musical will likely be hilarious in your excessive schoolers, as they’re contemporary out of the “center faculty drama” that’s humorous to look again on. Plus, 13 is stuffed with catchy and entertaining songs.
Matilda is an iconic musical a few younger lady who has to take care of a tough life, each by way of a horrific training and a impolite household. Nonetheless, Matilda realizes she possesses powers of telepathy, and he or she makes use of these powers hilariously. This musical is extremely regarded and could be excellent for a various solid of ages and personalities.
Annie is a well-known basic musical that’s excellent for a big solid of females. Administrators might want to decide the right actor to play Annie, and you should definitely have a big ensemble of orphans to carry out big musical numbers, which Annie is chock-full of.
West Facet Story is ideal for a solid of very proficient actors, dancers, and singers. The story is acquainted, stemming from the basic story of Romeo and Juliet however set in a extra fashionable time and coping with racial tensions in an city surroundings. The musical has many iconic songs and alternatives for giant dance numbers.
Cinderella is a musical that may have everybody struggling to not sing alongside. With all of its acquainted songs and characters, all a great director wants is the suitable solid, set, and costumes. Not solely is Cinderella an immediate basic, but it surely accommodates constructive themes as effectively.
Footloose is a few fictional city during which dancing is outlawed and a ragtag group of excessive schoolers who determine that they want dancing of their lives. This story is acquainted and very fashionable although it was launched a long time in the past, and the viewers will love the enjoyable costumes and units.
Mary Poppins is ideal for a solid that features an extremely sturdy older feminine with performing and singing chops. The musical is feel-good and lightweight and when completed appropriately may be enjoyable for giant audiences. With catchy and enjoyable songs, this musical is without doubt one of the instant-classic musicals for prime faculties.
The Music Man is tons of enjoyable with the fitting male result in give power to the remainder of the solid. With energetic songs the viewers will get pleasure from, this musical is enjoyable to observe.
Head underneath the ocean with The Little Mermaid! If in case you have a big finances in your theater program, this musical permits for unbelievable units and costumes to actually make it sparkle and stand out. Flip your stage into an ocean and have tons of enjoyable with these acquainted songs and themes.
Solid: 12 talking roles with sturdy feminine leads, medium ensemble
Shrek is hilarious, with foolish and immature jokes that make the story one of many excellent musicals for prime faculties. With enjoyable units, costumes, and a few acquainted songs, this story simply interprets to the stage for a highschool viewers. Plus, the actors can do enjoyable accents and get out of their consolation zones in a brand new manner.
Solid: 7 leads with sturdy male leads, medium ensemble
Beetlejuice is each extremely entertaining and deep at occasions, making it probably the greatest musicals for prime faculties for its complicated themes. The musical permits for a big solid and eccentric, intricate props and units. Beetlejuice is a more moderen musical, so audiences could have by no means had the possibility to see it, which might make them that rather more excited to purchase a ticket.
Solid: 11 leads with sturdy female and male lead, medium ensemble
Who doesn’t love a visit down the Yellow Brick Highway? It is a basic musical that your college students will likely be extraordinarily excited to placed on. The bonus? You most likely received’t even want to show them the musical rating, as everybody already is aware of songs like “Over the Rainbow” entrance to again.
Into the Woods is a basic musical that permits for an extremely massive ensemble of proficient, whimsical actors. Because it consists of many leads and may be placed on as an ensemble-based present, this musical is ideal for a star-studded solid. Even those that don’t know the musical will acknowledge the acquainted characters akin to Little Purple Driving Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel.
Matilda is without doubt one of the excellent musicals for prime faculties if most of the college students are youthful and might play the solid of scholars. Let your college students go wild in these eccentric roles, and borrow some faculty uniforms from a janitor’s closet to be able to make simple costumes for the solid.
The Addams Household is tons of enjoyable, from its darkish shade palette and characters who refuse to smile to its entertaining and energetic ensemble-led songs. This musical permits for a big solid of results in shine in their very own particular person methods.
Mamma Mia! is without doubt one of the basic musicals for prime faculties that may have your college students hopping as much as dance by the complete present. The musical options songs from Abba, so even when the viewers doesn’t know the themes and tropes of the present, they’ll most positively acknowledge “Dancing Queen” and “Cash, Cash, Cash”!
Identical to each different musical a few Disney princess, Magnificence and the Beast is an immediate basic for a highschool musical. A proficient female and male lead are each essential to placed on the very best musical doable. Plus, the costumes for the servants and the Beast are tremendous enjoyable.
The Sound of Music is a musical full of themes and bits of historical past that prime schoolers right now won’t already know. This basic is without doubt one of the excellent musicals for prime faculties, with the chance to make use of easy units and recycle uniforms for the Von Trapp youngsters’s outfits.
A Refrain Line is a musical about auditioning for a musical—very meta. This musical is ideal for a solid of extraordinarily proficient dancers, as there are a number of large-scale dance numbers that require a powerful method. Moreover, most of the songs are solos for every completely different character, so a powerful general solid would make this musical excellent for a big viewers.
A Christmas Carol is an ideal musical for highschool that permits for a particularly massive solid of various actors, singers, and dancers. This musical could be nice across the vacation season and winter months, because it offers with themes surrounding Christmas.
Large River is a Mark Twain basic story about Huckleberry Finn. Alongside his journeys, Finn will get to fulfill and work together with many lovable characters, which permits for a various solid of actors.
Bye Bye Birdie offers with more-adult themes like being drafted into the military and leaving family members behind. If that doesn’t resonate completely with a highschool viewers, it could as an alternative educate the viewers about what society and day-to-day life was like for younger folks simply a long time in the past. Moreover, the musical has tons of fashionable and iconic songs that the viewers will love.
Dreamgirls is a few trio of black feminine soul singers who’ve the chance to cross over to the pop charts whereas coping with their private struggles and the struggles of the society round them. This musical is instructional and has intense themes and tropes which are excellent for an viewers of excessive schoolers who could also be unaware of the evolution of American R&B music within the Nineteen Sixties.
White Christmas is one other musical that will work completely across the vacation season. The musical has tons of enjoyable and energetic dance numbers for a big solid, and it has lovable themes and an easygoing plot for the viewers.
Seussical is a well-known basic that will likely be tons of enjoyable for the viewers in addition to the solid members. It presents many alternatives for whimsical, distinctive costume and set selections, and the lovable characters will draw audiences in for a enjoyable time.
Totally Trendy Millie follows the story of a flapper named Millie within the Twenties searching for a job … and a husband. This musical is full of themes of ambition and testing one’s private boundaries, and audiences will benefit from the old-timey costuming.
Guys and Dolls options overlapping tales of romances and discusses the theme that typically even those that try to do good will miss the mark inevitably. This musical has a satisfying ending and will likely be tons of enjoyable for an older solid of actors.
Fiddler on the Roof tells a heartwarming story of a household who’s compelled to depart their residence, taking their Jewish morals and heritage with them in making an attempt occasions. This musical has a number of iconic songs that may get the viewers dancing, in addition to hard-hitting themes and morals.
Oklahoma! is an immediate basic musical a few farm lady within the 1900s and her courtship with two completely different boys. This musical is happy-go-lucky and feel-good, and it’s set in an period that’s unfamiliar to highschool youngsters right now, making it one of many excellent musicals for prime faculties.
This is without doubt one of the funniest all-female musicals for prime faculties—it’s hilarious and could be a lot enjoyable to placed on. The story follows a younger sociopathic lady who’s hell-bent on being the lead in her faculty musical. She goes to nice lengths to get the half, which can or could not embrace homicide. This musical could be excellent for a powerful solid of females who need to mess around with attention-grabbing, dynamic characters.
The King and I is ideal for a solid of sturdy dancers, as there are various ceremonial dances and songs all through the musical. The plot follows a British schoolteacher who’s employed as a part of a king’s plan to modernize his nation, and the relationships that develop from this place. A robust female and male lead are required to make the efficiency nice.
Sweeney Todd is the enduring story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Avenue and the hilarity that ensues when he opens a brand new barber apply. The story has many participating songs and musical numbers and permits for very sturdy comedic characters to shine by.
Freaky Friday has been tailored from the display into this enjoyable, energetic musical excellent for a solid of proficient highschool college students. Your college students will certainly acknowledge the title, which can convey them in and promote tickets, however they received’t know what they’ve in retailer with this adaptation!
Who doesn’t love good disco?! This is without doubt one of the musicals for prime faculties that’s excellent for a solid who loves to bop and needs to loosen up on the stage. Saturday Night time Fever is a musical involving a younger romance and tons of dance numbers. You’ll be able to remodel your set right into a dance flooring—disco ball and all—for an unforgettable musical.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a superb musical for an ensemble solid of proficient, multi-aged performers. With every character having a solo or two, the musical retains audiences on their toes and may be very catchy. Plus, the costumes enable your college students to shortly flip into the lovable Charlie Brown and pals.
Peter Pan is a basic alternative for highschool audiences resulting from its timeless enchantment and storytelling. The present’s vibrant music, energetic choreography, and eccentric characters create a magical expertise that many discover acquainted. Its themes of journey, friendship, and the significance of staying younger at coronary heart make it relatable and provoking for younger viewers, encouraging them to embrace their creativeness and by no means cease dreaming.
Large Fish explores the facility of storytelling, household bonds, and the pursuit of desires. The present’s heartwarming and fantastical components, coupled with its relatable coming-of-age themes, resonate with younger viewers navigating their very own paths of self-discovery. This musical presents a significant theatrical expertise for highschool college students and adults alike.
Singin’ within the Rain is concerning the celebration of the golden age of Hollywood and the facility of pursuing one’s ardour. It’s not solely inspiring but in addition permits a well-directed solid to showcase the expertise and creativity of their craft, making it a super alternative for a highschool manufacturing.
Les Miserables is unquestionably one of many darker musicals on this checklist, resulting from its overarching themes surrounding warfare and demise. Nonetheless, there are various transferring and touching moments within the musical which are certain to have a profound impact on a highschool viewers, and a number of the songs will likely be very acquainted. Plus, the musical permits for a big ensemble of expertise.
The Lion King permits for a big, concerned solid to actually shine on a giant stage. With considerate costumes, this musical has a number of room to showcase unbelievable highschool expertise, whereas concurrently sharing messages of identification, household, and the circle of life by the lens of the King of the Jungle.
Little Store of Horrors is an ideal comedic musical for a solid of excessive schoolers to carry out, stuffed with witty jokes and humorous songs. The musical follows a younger boy as he realizes that his piranha plant is definitely a carnivore that requires human flesh to proceed rising. At a look, the story could appear outrageous and complicated, however audiences could have a good time from opening to closing quantity.
My Honest Woman presents a mix of romance, humor, and timeless music. The present’s exploration of sophistication, identification, and the transformative energy of training supplies materials for highschool actors to delve into and painting onstage. With its memorable songs, witty dialogue, and fascinating characters, My Honest Woman presents an entertaining and thought-provoking expertise for prime schoolers.
Oliver! is a superb musical for prime schoolers because of its messages about hope, resilience, and the pursuit of a greater life. There may be additionally ample room for enjoyable numbers and a big solid of ragtag costumed ensemble members. The musical follows an orphan boy who escapes to London and will get blended up in a gang of juvenile pickpockets, the place drama ensues.
Be Extra Chill is a up to date musical identified for its heavy-hitting, relatable themes. At its core, Be Extra Chill tackles themes of social nervousness, peer strain, and a want to suit into society. As in comparison with different musicals on this checklist, this one is a extra related theater expertise for prime schoolers.
Enjoyable Residence is a few younger household who owns a enterprise on the native funeral residence. One of many youngsters, a younger lady named Bechdel, realizes and confronts the concept of her sexuality whereas navigating a relationship along with her closeted father. This musical may be very eye-opening and emotional at occasions, whereas additionally being humorous and witty. General, Enjoyable Residence is a superb musical for highschool.
The Thriller of Edwin Drood is tons of enjoyable to placed on at your highschool, because the musical is interactive in its nature. The musical makes use of a “select your individual ending” format, so college students can actively take part within the story because it progresses. Moreover, the character checklist permits for proficient highschool actors to play a various set of roles.
The Boy Good friend is a superb musical for highschool audiences because it captures the allure and innocence of a basic Twenties romantic comedy. With its catchy tunes, energetic dance numbers, and attention-grabbing characters, the present permits the solid to showcase their singing, dancing, and comedic skills. The Boy Good friend introduces a nostalgic and joyful journey right into a little-known period to the twenty first century.
As soon as Upon a Mattress combines a hilarious, whimsical, and acquainted story with catchy songs and enormous ensemble dance numbers. The musical is ideal for a lighthearted, well-produced musical that your college students and the viewers will certainly bear in mind.
Primarily based on a real story, Catch Me if You Can explores themes of identification, deception, and redemption, providing an attractive narrative that captivates highschool audiences. With its upbeat music, fast-paced storytelling, and alternatives for ensemble solid involvement, Catch Me if You Can is without doubt one of the nice musicals for prime faculties to carry out.
Anastasia is a more moderen musical a few princess who runs away to be able to additional uncover herself and her values. The musical presents alternatives for beautiful units and costumes and has many lovely songs that set it other than different musicals. As well as, Anastasia has a number of twists and turns that may have audiences on the sting of their seats.
Zombie Promenade is a hilarious and thrilling musical that’s not like the rest audiences are used to. The musical accommodates enjoyable rock ’n’ roll music and a comedic storyline that options zombies. … What extra would excessive schoolers be searching for in a musical?
This musical is an effective alternative for a highschool musical if this system has a low finances or is extra strapped for time. Whereas the songs are nonetheless catchy and tons of enjoyable, this storyline is easier than different musicals and positively simple to observe, whereas remaining entertaining all through.
Meet Me In St. Louis is a few household who has to face the choice of leaving their beloved hometown simply in time to overlook the World’s Honest. This musical is beloved by many, with iconic songs akin to “Have Your self a Merry Little Christmas” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Audiences will giggle and cry!
Jekyll and Hyde is an interesting, energetic musical a few man who has a second identification that simply so occurs to be a sociopathic assassin. Dr. Jekyll should try and silence Mr. Hyde and stay a functioning member of society, however issues get difficult when a feminine love curiosity turns into concerned. This musical is extremely entertaining, and excessive schoolers will love its suspense.
Fame is thought for its catchy pop numbers and follows a category of highschool graduates by their school commencement. This story accommodates the ups and downs of submit–highschool, together with the triumphs and the fears. This musical is nice for a solid of highschool seniors to check their performing talents.
Urinetown is a satirical musical that may have audiences laughing for a lot of the efficiency. Nonetheless, it additionally has highly effective messages and social commentary that debate themes of energy, corruption, and activism. This is without doubt one of the nice musicals for prime faculties to advertise standing up for what you imagine in.
This musical is ideal to placed on in case you are underneath a strict finances, because it lies underneath public area so no licensing buy is required! The Pirates of Penzance is entertaining and permits for super-fun costuming and units because it takes place on the excessive seas.
Solid: 11 leads
Licensing: Public area
68. The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks is a timeless, charming musical that accommodates a easy and concurrently profound story with themes of affection and the journey of life. Moreover, the musical rating permits for sturdy results in showcase their abilities on the stage.
Fortunate Stiff is a fast-paced, comedic musical that may take highschool audiences on a wild experience. The musical accommodates tons of zany characters, witty dialogue, and unbelievable catchy songs. The theatergoing expertise will certainly be memorable.
One thing’s Afoot is an exhilarating homicide thriller expertise and comedic musical multi functional. Highschool audiences will love the characters and will likely be engaged whereas following together with the actors to resolve the thriller.
On this musical adaptation of the basic story, Alice encounters all the iconic characters that audiences have come to like, together with the ever-tardy White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat, a cool Caterpillar, the wacky Mad Hatter, and the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts.
72. Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida College Version
This musical is customized from the four-time Tony Award–profitable hit. The musical revolves round Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her nation, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they each love. This musical is unquestionably a contemporary crowd-pleaser.
This musical has not too long ago turn into a box-office favourite on Broadway. & Juliet is a jukebox musical, bringing songs akin to “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Child One Extra Time,” “Bigger Than Life,” “That’s the Method It Is,” and “Can’t Cease the Feeling!” to life in a post-Romeo world.
This musical is hilarious and holds up in its highschool adaptation. Avenue Q makes use of puppets to inform the story of a latest school grad named Princeton, who strikes right into a shabby New York house on Avenue Q. He discovers that, though the residents appear good, it’s clear that this isn’t your odd neighborhood.
Do you’ve a celebrity triple-threat male at your directorial disposal? Look no additional than Billy Elliot the Musical. The musical revolves round a younger boy struggling to depart boxing lessons and chase his dream of changing into a dancer.
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