It’s May and theater teachers are chatting about high school plays they are thinking of directing in the next school. Oh, gosh. I remember those times. Today let’s discuss timeless triumphs: 8 unforgettable high school plays.
As much as you consider and make predictions concerning your student body (how many males, how many females) for future productions, it’s still a crap shoot. For instance, students who have always been ardent theater lovers suddenly decide they want to play soccer in the fall and track in the spring. Sometimes it is difficult to keep a balanced perspective concerning our students’ choices. It is my opinion that a teacher must remind themself that primarily our job is to introduce theater to students who may not have ever considered it before. Hopefully those theater loving students will return to participate in the near future. Looking for the Stella Adler Acting Unit? Go here.
Timeless Triumphs: 8 Unforgettable High School Plays
Every high school drama department seeks that perfect play: the one that captivates audiences, challenges actors, and leaves a lasting impression long after the final curtain call. In the realm of high school theater, certain plays have stood the test of time, earning their place as perennial favorites. Let’s explore eight such masterpieces that continue to enchant audiences and inspire young actors around the world.
1. The Crucible by Arthur Miller:
- Drama
- Two hours
- 10 M, 10 F (plus extras)
Set during the Salem witch trials, The Crucible explores themes of hysteria, suspicion, and the consequences of unchecked power. This play tells the story of a village that becomes embroiled in a witch hunt. The people of Salem live in a constant state of fear as more and more people are accused of witchcraft. It is my belief that The Crucible is a perfect high school play, primarily because it offers many students an opportunity to participate. High school productions of Miller’s masterpiece often resonate deeply with audiences, sparking discussions about morality, justice, and the dangers of groupthink.
2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare:
- Comedy
- Two hours
- 20 characters, equally male and female
Credit: Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh
Timeless Triumphs: 8 Unforgettable High School Plays
3. Our Town by Thornton Wilder:
- Drama
- Full-Length Play
- 7w, 17m
This Pulitzer Prize-winning play offers a poignant exploration of small-town life and the passage of time. Narrated by a stage manager, the production is performed with minimal props and sets. However, don’t be swayed by its simplicity. The play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry. The most poignant moment is eventually – in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre – death.
Thornton Wilder’s final word on how he wanted his play performed is an invaluable addition to the American stage and to the libraries of theatre lovers internationally. With its minimalist staging and universal themes, Our Town provides high school students with a profound theatrical experience that resonates with audiences of all ages.
How about a comedy?
4. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde:
- Full-length Play
- Comedy
- 5m., 4w. (1 extra.)
Wilde’s razor-sharp wit and biting satire take center stage in this delightful comedy of manners. Set in England during the late 19th century, the play follows the lives of two young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who adopt fictional identities to escape social obligations. Jack invents a brother named Ernest, while Algernon creates an invalid friend named Bunbury.
Not surprisingly, high school productions of The Importance of Being Earnest allow students to revel in the absurdities of Victorian society while honing their comedic timing and delivery. Note: This is a costume heavy show, but I still recommend it to directors because it’s worth the extra money to costume the students appropriately.
Dramatic Play, Anyone?
5. Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee:
- Drama
- Two Hours
- 21 men, 6 women, 2 boys, 1 girl, extras Many of the parts can be doubled
Inspired by the Scopes Monkey Trial, Inherit the Wind is a powerful courtroom drama that explores the clash between science and religion, freedom of thought, and the pursuit of truth. This story centers around a Tennessee teacher was tried for teaching the theory of evolution. As you might expect, two persuasive attorneys argue the case in an effort to determine the balance of church and state. High school productions of this play encourage critical thinking and foster discussions about education, censorship, and intellectual freedom.
6. The Giver adapted by Eric Coble from the novel by Lois Lowry:
- Drama
- 4m., 4w., extras as desired or 4m., 2w. with doubling, extras as desired.
- 90 minutes
Based on Lois Lowry’s dystopian novel, The Giver offers a thought-provoking exploration of a society that suppresses individuality and emotion in pursuit of stability. To begin with, the story follows Jonas, a boy living in a community based on Sameness. During the Ceremony of Twelve, he is selected as the community’s new Receiver of Memory. The old Receiver, who Jonas calls The Giver, transmits generational memories to the young boy by placing his hands on Jonas’s bare back.
High school productions of The Giver allow students to delve into themes of identity, freedom, and the consequences of conformity, sparking important conversations about societal norms and individuality. I directed The Giver for a the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies community theater in Colorado. It was sensational having a mixed age cast, but high school students can excel with it as well. For more information about The Giver, check out: The Reasons I Love The Giver Play
Historical Plays Worth Producing
7. The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett:
- Drama
- Full Length
5 men, 5 women (3 extras)
Based on the real-life diary of Anne Frank, this powerful play chronicles the experiences of a Jewish family hiding from the Nazis during World War II. High school productions of The Diary of Anne Frank offer students the opportunity to explore themes of resilience, hope, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. I directed The Diary of Anne Frank with a community theater. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone concerned. However, one challenge for us was that the stage was the shape of an octagon. Looking for more information about this high school play? Check out: The Most Important Play I’ve Directed in My 38 Year Career
8. The Miracle Worker by William Gibson:
- Drama
- Two hours
- 7 M, 7F (with extras)
Inspired by the true story of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan, “The Miracle Worker” is a compelling exploration of perseverance, communication, and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. William Gibson’s drama chronicles the relationship between the real-life Helen Keller, a young girl from Alabama who was blind and deaf, and her teacher, the Irish, headstrong Annie Sullivan from Boston. It’s sensational theater.
Without a doubt, high school plays such as The Miracle Worker provide students with the opportunity to portray iconic historical figures while delving into themes of empathy, determination, and the transformative power of education.
Me directing The Miracle WorkerWhy do I select older plays to direct?
When you are a purist as I am concerning high school plays, you stick close to tried and true material. That doesn’t mean I haven’t done my share of more modern plays. I’ve directed a few. However, I think it’s important that our students broaden their knowledge base and ultimately, their resume by participating in the classics. You simply can’t go wrong with them.
In the world of high school theater, these eight high school plays stand out as enduring classics or at the very least of the classic nature.. They continue to captivate audiences and inspire young actors. From thought-provoking dramas to poignant historical narratives, each play offers students the opportunity to delve into complex characters.
These Plays are Winners for High School
As I stated previously, by exploring universal themes students can learn what it takes to create unforgettable theatrical experiences. In short, these high school plays demand it of them. As high school drama departments continue to stage these masterpieces, they ensure that the magic of theater lives on for generations to come.
Do you have a high school play which you would add to this list? I’d love to know about it. Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.
Directing students in Aladdin, Jr.
