Best Plays for High Schools

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Published on: Jul 24, 2024
By: Lindsey Melrost

Every year high schoolers across America are given the opportunity to participate in plays and musicals as part of their school’s theater program. High school theater plays an important role in exposing young people to the performing arts. Whether they audition for performing roles or get involved backstage, teens may discover a passion for theater that will last beyond their school years.

We’ve previously discussed how theater teachers select and produce a high school musical. Teachers give equally careful consideration to choosing plays for their students. They look for plays with large casts that will give the most students the chance to participate, as well as material that will be engaging, educational, appropriate and fun for teens. Like in the world of musicals, you can find high school editions of many popular and classic plays, which include adjustments to the content and technical requirements with young audiences and school budgets in mind. These are a great option for drama teachers looking for manageable plays.

We’ve compiled a list of the most popular plays for high schools, taking into account the latest survey from the Educational Theatre Association, to help you find the perfect play for your school. Comedies tend to be popular as well as action and adventure stories. Some theater teachers may prioritize creating a fun experience with theater for their students, while others may prefer more educational, classic dramas. Shakespeare is an essential part of any theater education, and we’ve included a section on the best Shakespeare plays for high schools.

Scroll to the end for Frequently Asked Questions about high school plays.

Most Popular Plays for High Schools

Clue: High School Edition

Cast: 10 roles

Based on the 1985 film inspired by the classic board game, Clue is a comedy whodunit that will keep audiences guessing (and laughing!).

Info: Created by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price, and Sandy Rusti. Clue premiered in 2017 in Pennsylvania and began a national tour in 2024.

License Clue Watch the 1985 Film

Puffs (Two Act for Young Wizards)

Cast: 11 roles

This is not the story of the Wizard School you know. Follow the least likely heroes on their magical adventures in this parody of a certain mega-franchise that shall-not-be-named.

Info: Created by Matt Cox. Puffs premiered Off-Off Broadway in New York in 2015 and moved Off-Broadway to New World Stages in 2016.

Note: There is also a one act version with a shorter runtime.

License Puffs

The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition

Cast: 8 roles

A murder mystery farce where every possible thing goes wrong. A riotous play-within-a-play that will leave young audiences in stitches.

Info: Created by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. The Play that Goes Wrong premiered in London in 2012 and is still running in theWest End today. A Broadway production ran from 2017 – 2019 and received the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play. The show is currently playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages.

License The Play That Goes Wrong

Radium Girls

Cast: 9 roles

Based on the true story of the women in 1926 who became ill while painting the dials of luminous watches with radium, the play follows Grace Fryer, who stood up against the U.S. Radium Corporation in her fight for justice. This David and Goliath story (plus female empowerment) will undoubtedly inspire teens.

Info: Created by D.W. Gregory. This play is typically performed by high schools and universities.

License Radium Girls

Almost, Maine

Cast: 19 roles

Nine short plays, all are set in the remote, fictional town of Almost, Maine, and all take place on one winter night. High schoolers will easily fall for these touching stories about love, from the hilarious to the heart-breaking.

Info: Created by John Cariani. The play premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine in 2004 and has since become one of the most produced plays in the U.S.

License Almost, Maine

Peter and the Starcatcher

Cast: 12 roles plus ensemble

Who was Peter before he was Peter Pan? How did he get to Neverland? Why did he never grow up? Peter and the Starcatcher is the prequel to J.M. Barry’s Peter and Wendy and Disney’s Peter Pan.

Info: Created by Rick Elice and Wayne Barker. Based on the children’s novel Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The play premiered in 2009 and opened on Broadway in 2012. It was nominated for Best Play and won six Tony Awards including Best Performance by a Featured Actor, and Best Sound, Lighting, Costume, and Scenic design.

License Peter and the Starcatcher Watch Disney's Peter Pan (1953)

She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition

Cast: 9

In this high-octane dramedy that takes place between a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy world and reality, Agnes embarks on a journey of discovery and healing in the wake of her mother and sister’s deaths.

Info: Created by Qui Nguyen. She Kills Monsters premiered in 2011 Off-Off-Broadway at The Flea Theater in New York. It subsequently ran in Chicago and Boston and has been performed hundreds of times in high schools across America.

License She Kills Monsters

Alice in Wonderland

Cast: 30

Based on Lewis Carroll’s books Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, teens will enjoy taking a tumble down the rabbit hole and discovering the fantastical world of Wonderland.

Info: Created by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus. Originally performed in New York in 1932. Revived on Broadway in 1947 and again in 1982.

Note: There have been a large number of stage adaptations of Alice in Wonderland. While many of them are geared toward children (elementary school and middle school), the story is richly layered and thought-provoking, and finds great success with older audiences. For high schools, we suggest this Broadway version by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus.

License Alice in Wonderland Watch the 1951 Disney Film

Twelve Angry Jurors

Cast: 13

Eleven jurors agree the man on trial for murder is guilty; one does not. Arguments get heated in this pressure cooker play that questions assumptions, exposes prejudices, and unravels the truth. Teens will appreciate this suspense drama with a positive message.

Info: Based on the 1954 teleplay Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose and adapted by Sherman L. Sergel. The play was first staged in San Francisco in 1955 but did not premiere on Broadway until 2004. The famous film adaptation was released in 1957.

Note: The available scripts are for Twelve Angry Men and Twelve Angry Women (a version adapted for a female cast). When the cast is mixed gender, the play may be called Twelve Angry Jurors. When licensing the show, ask for more information on staging a mixed-gender cast.

License 12 Angry Men Watch 12 Angry Men

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Cast: 10

Step into the extraordinary world of Christopher, a math genius who perceives the world differently from most 15-year-olds. Christopher doesn’t normally break his routines, but when the neighbor’s dog is murdered, he sets out to find answers.

Info: Based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens. The play opened in the West End in 2013 and transferred to Broadway in 2014 and won five Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Note: There is a full-length or 90-minute version of the play.

License The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Sherlock Holmes

Cast: 20

There are few characters more widely enjoyed than Sherlock Holmes. High schoolers will love solving mysteries, and taking on the infamous Moriarity, with the world’s favorite detective.

Info: Created by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle, based on Doyle’s novels. The play premiered on Broadway in 1899 and has been revived several times, including a Royal Shakespeare Company production in 1973 which transferred to Broadway in 1974.

Note: There are many stage adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels. We suggest the classic version written by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle himself.

License Sherlock Holmes Watch The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) Watch Sherlock (2010)

A Streetcar Named Desire

Cast: 12

One of the greatest plays of all time, this explosive drama by Tennessee Williams will leave a lasting impression.

Info: Created by Tennessee Williams. A Streetcar Named Desire was first performed on Broadway in 1946 and won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The show has been revived and adapted many times, including the famous 1951 film starring Marlon Brando. The play is considered a classic American drama.

License A Streetcar Named Desire Watch A Streetcar Named Desire

The Outsiders

This classic coming-of-age story about rival teen gangs that explores the bonds of friendship, and the value of found family, is one that has resonated strongly with teens for over fifty years.

Info: Based on the 1967 book by S.E. Hinton and adapted by Christopher Sergel. Francis Ford Coppola adapted the story as a film in 1983 starring Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe.

Note: This play is typically performed by high schools and universities. It is not connected to the 2023 The Outsiders musical created by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance currently running on Broadway. However, the musical’s win of the 2024 Tony Award for Best Musical may boost interest in this play for high schools.

License The Outsiders Watch The Outsiders (1983)

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is often studied as part of the high school English curriculum. Many of his stories will be familiar to high schoolers (as cultural touchstones and thanks to countless adaptations). Because Shakespeare plays contain universal themes and often feature young protagonists, they are a popular choice for theater teachers who want to supplement students’ education and to provide them with challenging roles within classic stories.

Here are some of the most popular Shakespeare plays for high schools.

Romeo and Juliet

This classic story of teen love, angst, and disapproving parents will undoubtedly resonate with high schoolers. There are a wealth of films and other plays based on or related to the story of Romeo and Juliet that you can use to help immerse students in the story.

Check out Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo + Juliet starring Leonard DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg’s 2021 West Side Story, and even the musical & Juliet currently running on Broadway.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Shakespeare is king of the love triangle, and this story of mixed-up lovers that’s all about “who likes who” will be familiar territory for teens. They’ll also enjoy the fantasy realm of mischievous fairies and the play-within-a-play comedy. Creative costumes that students will enjoy designing and wearing are another plus for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Check out the 2001 teen film Get Over It with Kirsten Dunst and Mila Kunis for a modern retelling set in high school.

Hamlet

For the original story of teen angst, look no further than Hamlet. You get a broody, acerbically witty teenager, a mom who doesn’t understand him, and a difficult stepdad (to say the least). Throw in ghosts, swordplay, doomed love, and what more could you want in a high school play?

Check out Franco Zeffirelli's1990 Hamlet starring Mel Gibson, or for a modern retelling try New York-set Hamlet (2000) starring Ethan Hawk. Don’t forget Disney’s The Lion King is also based on the story of Hamlet.

Julius Cesar

While political or historical plays might not seem like the obvious choice for a high school play, students find Julius Cesar to be one of the more engaging Shakespeare plays. With conspiracy, manipulation, betrayal, and assassination, the play is full of action and intrigue, enough even to get teens to pay attention to history.

Check out Julius Caesar (1953) starring Marlon Brando, or for something slightly left field, try Mean Girls (2004) (or the 2024 musical version) as a translation of power politics from the Roman Senate to a modern high school.

Macbeth

One of the fastest-paced Shakespeare plays, shorter scenes keep this play moving and can be more accessible for teen readers. With witches, prophecies, regicide, and war, Macbeth’s action-packed story will keep high schoolers engaged.

Check out Macbeth (2015) starring Michael Fassbender for an intense action-thriller adaptation of the play.

Twelfth Night

Particularly relevant to modern teens, this comedy of disguises, mistaken identities, and mixed-up lovers includes gender-switching and plenty of LGBTQ+ undertones. Twelfth Night is a fun choice for high schoolers, and LGBTQ+ teens will find plenty to connect to in the pages.

For a faithful version check out Twelfth Night (1996) starring Helena Bonham Carter, and for a modern teen adaptation check out She’s the Man (2006) starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Bynes.

FAQs

What is the most performed high school play?

In 2023 Clue was the most performed high school play for the fourth year in a row. If you’re curious to learn more, take a look at this article that discusses the changing popularity of plays and musicals in high schools over the years, from the 1940s to the present day.

What makes a play good for high schoolers?

Look for plays with large casts. You want as many students as possible to be able to participate in the show. Take into account the play’s runtime, your school’s budget, and the gender identities of your actors. Choose material that is appropriate for teenagers with stories young people can relate to.

Also, consider the priorities: Is the goal to supplement your students’ coursework by giving them the opportunity to perform the authors they’re studying (Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Conan Doyle)? Is the goal to create an experience with theater that’s as fun as possible for your students (Clue, The Play that Goes Wrong, Peter and the Starcatcher)? Are you looking for a modern play more in line with current tastes and contemporary issues (Puffs, She Kills Monsters, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)?

Where Can I Find Scripts for High School Plays?

Play scripts are available at the websites of theater licensing companies. Some sites have catalogues of high school editions of plays and musicals, and some provide filters that allow you to search based on the play’s target audience. At Dramatists Play Service (DPS) you can browse the “schools” page and see their top produced plays by schools, and Playscripts has a page specifically for high school theater. On Concord Theatricals’ search page, in the search criteria under “Production Details” there’s a filter for “Target Audience” where you can select “Teen (Age 14 – 18).” Be sure to also filter for plays so it doesn’t show you musicals, monologues, etc. The Dramatic Publishing Company (DPC) also allows you to search plays by “Target Audience” where you can select “High School.” Theatrical Rights Worldwide allows you to search for plays in the genre “TYA” which stands for Theater for Young Audiences.

How do I put on a school play?

Unless the play is old enough to no longer be under copyright (a Shakespeare play, for example) you’ll need a license to put on a school play. Because the copyright to any play or musical belongs to its authors, a license is required for professional, amateur, and educational organizations to perform any show that isn’t their own original work. Licenses cost a fee, which cover royalties for the creators, rental of performance materials (such as scripts and scores), and more. Once you choose the play you want to produce, you can apply for a license, and pay the licensing fees, through the company’s website.

The major theatrical licensing companies include Concord Theatricals, Broadway Licensing (which comprises DPS and Playscripts), Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and Music Theatre International which specializes in musicals. The Dramatic Publishing Company also has a large catalogue of plays for high schools.

Best High School Musicals

Check out our article on the Best Musicals for High Schools for more information about popular shows like The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown as well as more information on licensing and how to find the perfect musical for your high schooler. And if you're in New York, check out our article on the Best Broadway Shows for Teens!

Lindsey Melrost

Contributing Writer

Lindsey Melrost has recently relocated to New York after seven years working in entertainment in London. She worked in TV development at BBC Studios broadcaster UKTV, and is a former Olivier Awards panelist. She is excited to transfer her passion for theater from the West End to Broadway.

Education: Tulane University, Master of Arts (M.A.), English Language and Literature
Knowledge: Theater, Literary, Production

Published

Jul 24, 2024

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