With so many fantastic plays available, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your students. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 30 best theater plays for high school students.
These plays are guaranteed to captivate and delight your students, from start to finish. So, let’s dive in and find the perfect play for your classroom!
1. Peter and the Starcatcher
First on the list is “Peter and the Starcatcher”. This play is perfect for high school students who are looking for a fast-paced, action-packed adventure.
The play follows the story of Peter Pan before he ever went to Neverland. Students will love the costume and set design in this play, as well as the characters they’ve known since their childhood.
2. Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Next on the list is “Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”. This play is a more light-hearted take on the wizarding world. The characters will be dressed as their favorite Harry Potter characters and the set will be designed to look like Hogwarts.
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is a play that will challenge your students to think outside the box. The main character, Christopher, is autistic and his view of the world is very different from everyone else’s. Make sure to choose the student that can pull off heavy drama and comedy for this role, as it is a very demanding play.
4. Our Town
“Our Town” is a classic American play that takes place in the early 1900s. The play follows the lives of the residents of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire.
This play will teach the students and the viewers what it was like to live in a small town during that period. Students who will participate in the play will wear old-fashioned clothes like their grandparents or great-grandparents might have worn.
5. The Crucible
Another classic play, “The Crucible” is set during the Salem witch trials and follows the story of John Proctor, a man who is accused of being a witch. It has quite a several roles so a lot of students can participate. The dialogues between the characters are very intense, so choose students who can handle that kind of pressure.
6. Alice in Wonderland
This play will relive the classic story of “Alice in Wonderland”. Students will love getting to wear the iconic costumes and play the memorable characters like the Queen of Hearts and Alice herself. The set design for this play can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
7. Noises Off
“Noises Off” follows the backstage drama of a theater troupe as they try to put on a production of “Nothing On”. This play is perfect for high school students because it’s full of comedy and chaos. The set design for this play should be fairly simple, as most of the action takes place backstage.
8. Romeo and Juliet
Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet, but watching it come to life on stage is a whole other experience. High school students will love getting to play the iconic roles of Romeo and Juliet, as well as the other characters in the play. Costumes for this play can be either period-accurate or modernized, depending on your preference.
9. Pygmalion
“Pygmalion” is a play about the Greek mythological character Pygmalion. This play will teach your students about Greek mythology and the power of love.
The dialogue in this play is very witty, so choose students who are quick on their feet. The costumes for this play should be inspired by Ancient Greece.
10. Clue
“Clue: The Musical” is a musical adaptation of the popular board game. High school students who love to sing and dance will love doing this play. The costumes and set design can be as simple or as extravagant as you want them to be.
11. Almost, Maine
“Almost, Maine” is a play made up of nine short scenes, each taking place at the same time in the fictional town of Almost, Maine. This play is a mixture of comedy and drama which makes it doable for high school students. The set design can be very simple, as the focus is on the characters and their interactions with each other.
12. Radium Girls
This play is based on a true story about the girls who worked in the radium factories in the early 1900s. This play will teach your students about the history and the importance of fighting for what’s right. The costumes for this play should be inspired by the clothing of that period which is mostly trench coats and long skirts.
13. Run for Your Wife
“Run for Your Wife” is a farce about a man who has two wives and is trying to keep them from finding out about each other. This play is full of laughter and chaos and the set design is not that difficult to pull off. What is important are the props, which should be plentiful.
14. The Man Who Came to Dinner
Another comedy, “The Man Who Came to Dinner”, is about a man who overstays his welcome in a small town. This play will have your audience laughing from beginning to end. HIgh school students will have a blast playing the various roles in this play.
15. And Then There Were None
“And Then There Were None” is a murder mystery play based on the book by Agatha Christie. It’s a rather long play, but it’s full of suspense and excitement. The costumes for this play should be period-accurate as it is set in the 1930s.
16. The Women of Lockerbie
Next on the list is “The Women of Lockerbie”. It is a play about the aftermath of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. It is a heart-wrenching play and the lead roles should be played by emotionally mature high school students.
17. Twelve Angry Jurors
“Twelve Angry Jurors” is a play about, you guessed it, twelve jurors who are tasked with deliberating the fate of a man on trial for murder. This play requires characters who can think critically and argue their points convincingly. The set design for this play is very simple as most of the action takes place in one room.
18. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
High school students will love performing in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. It is a classic play with a lot of comedy and romance. The set design can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Just make sure there is a lot of greenery to create an enchanted forest feel.
19. The Wolves
“The Wolves” is a play about a girls’ soccer team. It focuses on the relationships between the teammates and how they deal with success and failure.
This play requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm from the cast. Most characters will be wearing soccer varsity sets that can easily be purchased online.
20. Sense and Sensibility
This play is based on the book by Jane Austen. The costumes for this play should be inspired by the 1800s period, which means lots of petticoats and bonnets for the ladies. High school students will enjoy dressing up for this play.
21. Macbeth
This is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays and a lot of high-school students have enjoyed performing it. The play is full of action, suspense, and tragedy.
Macbeth is a complex character and the lead role should be played by a student who can understand his motivations. The costume and set for the play should be inspired by medieval times.
22. A Christmas Carol
“A Christmas Carol” is a classic holiday play that tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation from a grouchy old man to a kind-hearted one. This play has a long list of characters, including ghosts, so it’s perfect for the whole class to participate in. The set design can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be.
23. She Kills Monsters
“She Kills Monsters” is a play about a woman who discovers her late sister’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook. She then embarks on an adventure to defeat the monsters in her sister’s game. This play is full of action and requires some special effects for the monsters.
24. The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
The next play on the list is “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”. It’s a mix of the famous fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm.
This play is perfect for high school students because it’s full of comedy and many small roles can be played by multiple students. There are ready-made costumes for the famous characters that they can order online.
25. The Laramie Project
“The Laramie Project” is a play about the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard. It is based on interviews with real people who knew him.
This play requires emotionally mature high school students as it deals with heavy topics such as homophobia and hate crimes. It can be an eye-opener both for the cast and the viewers.
26. Check Please
“Check Please” is about two people who go on a blind date. It’s a light-hearted play that will make the audience laugh.
The set design can be very simple as most of the action takes place in one restaurant. High school students can easily pull this off with the help of some props and costumes.
27. Twelfth Night
Next, we have “Twelfth Night”. This is another one of Shakespeare’s popular plays. It’s a romantic comedy about mistaken identity and love.
The play has many iconic characters such as Viola, Olivia, and Sir Toby Belch. High school students will enjoy dressing up in the costumes for this play as it is set in the Elizabethan era.
28. Middletown
“Middletown” is about the everyday lives of the people who live in the small town of Middletown. It’s a slice-of-life play that will give audiences a glimpse into the mundane lives of its characters. The set design can be very simple and the costume can be found in the students’ closets.
29. The Importance of Being Earnest
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is about two men who pretend to be someone they’re not to win the affection of the women they love. This play is full of wit and humor and high school students will enjoy performing it. The costumes for this play should be inspired by the Victorian era.
30. Night of January 16th
Last but not the least, we have “Night of January 16th”. This is a courtroom drama about the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife. The play has a twist ending that will surprise the audience. The set can be very simple as most of the action takes place in one room.
Final Thoughts
And that’s the end of the list! I hope you enjoyed reading it and found some inspiration for your next high school theater production. These plays vary in genre, length, and difficulty so there’s something for everyone. With the help of the entire class, you’re sure to put on a great show! Thanks for reading!
