The Giver

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

May 22, 2025 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

When I was a young child, I spent many an hour playing in the forsythia bush on the side of our home. To me, it was the perfect place to hide away–just close enough so my mother could see me from the kitchen window and just far enough away that I could pretend anything my heart desired. Today, let’s talk about The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics.

Picture this: a group of five-year-old’s flapping their arms like birds, pretending to soar through a jungle canopy. To an outsider, it might look like simple and unimportant play—but to a drama educator, it’s the beginning of something profound. Creative dramatics, or informal, process-centered dramatic play, is a powerful tool in the early childhood classroom. It supports developmental milestones in ways that worksheets and structured lessons simply can’t.

So why should we encourage young learners to step into someone else’s shoes—literally and figuratively? Here’s why creative dramatics deserves a starring role in every early childhood curriculum. Looking for superhero creative dramatics lessons? Go to: Super Hero Lesson Bundle

The Power of Play: Teaching Children Through Creative Dramatics

1. Builds Language and Communication Skills

When children act out stories, they’re not just having fun—they’re expanding their vocabulary, practicing sentence structure, and learning how to listen and respond. Additionally, if they are like me they pick up accents they hear in movies and television and use them without being aware. Or they imitate a person’s vocal inflection (remember “E Gods!” in The Music Man?) Whether it’s a spontaneous pirate adventure or a dramatized retelling of The Three Little Pigs, drama provides a low-pressure environment to explore language.

Bonus: Shy children often feel more comfortable speaking through a character, which helps build confidence.

2. Encourages Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Perhaps the most important aspect of creative dramatics is that it invites children to be someone else—an important exercise in empathy. What does it feel like to be the Big Bad Wolf? Or the lost kitten? Children begin to understand and name emotions. Thereby recognizing how others might feel in different situations. This is a gigantic skill! Plus, they can learn the early foundations of kindness and perspective-taking. Read my blog post for my reasons to direct The Diary of Anne Frank: The Most Important Play I’ve Directed

Teamwork in Action: Building Social Skills Through Shared Stories

3. Supports Social Development and Collaboration

Drama is almost never a solo activity. In fact, when young children create scenes together, they learn to naturally take turns, listen actively, negotiate roles, and solve conflicts. Who wouldn’t agree that learning to solve conflicts is a vital skill we all need to work on? It’s teamwork in its most joyful form. And for students still developing their interpersonal skills, creative dramatics offers a safe, playful setting to practice.

Although I enjoy directing production because I get the chance to see my vision come to fruition. I’m also aware that I couldn’t have had a successful production without the cast, crew and creative staff. To learn more about my directing experiences, check out: The Reasons I Love the Giver

4. Stimulates Imagination and Critical Thinking

Pretend play is the root of innovation. Through dramatics, children learn to invent, problem-solve, and think outside the box. A single scarf becomes a crown, a blanket turns into a mountain, and suddenly—there’s a kingdom to save! This kind of flexible thinking fuels creativity across subjects, from storytelling to science. Personally, I find that pretending is very relaxing. Download this wonderful exercise if you are in need of something to boost your students creativity: Wax Museum

5. Promotes Physical Coordination and Motor Skills

Young children need to move—and drama gives them a purpose to do so. Acting out actions like climbing, sneaking, galloping, or twirling engages the imagination. Do you teach about verbs? Use creative movement to teach it! Consequently, it also strengthens gross motor skills and body awareness. Add in props and costume pieces, and you’ve also got fine motor practice at your fingertips. Need a lesson to teach creative movement? Check out: Drama Lesson Creative Movement

6. Fosters a Love of Stories and Literacy

Many drama lessons stem from beloved books and folktales. Children who act out a story become more engaged readers and listeners. When they act out a story, they begin to understand narrative structure, identify characters and settings, and retell events in sequence. It’s one of the most powerful ways to nurture pre-literacy skills. Here’s a FREE Japanese folk tale which is all told through movement and narration: Ojisan and the Grateful Statues

Needing a book of ideas? Pick up Viola Spolin’s book, Theater Games for the Classroom. It’s chock full of exercises with side coaching advice and clear procedures.

My Final Thoughts

As I mentioned, I have fond memories of playing under the forsythia bushes in our backyard when I was a child. Between them and the upstairs porch in our home, I had plenty of time to hone my imagination. It is one of my abilities of which I am most proud. Check out my directing resume and see what I mean–About Me

Creative dramatics may look like play—and that’s exactly the point. It’s learning through joy, movement, voice, and imagination. As educators and parents, we owe it to our youngest learners to offer them opportunities to express themselves freely and learn through doing. Trust me, if you introduce them to pretend play they will join you with open arms.

Whether it’s a simple “pretend we’re animals” warm-up or a more structured story reenactment, every moment of creative drama helps a child grow. So grab a scarf, a hat, or just an idea, and let the story begin!

Needing a book of ideas? Pick up Viola Spolin’s book, Theater Games for the Classroom. It’s chock full of exercises with side coaching advice and clear procedures.

What book are you go-tos? I’d love to hear about them. Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com.

Exploring Social Issues Through Plays: A Guide for Middle School

November 19, 2024 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

Exploring Social Issues Through Plays: A Guide for Middle School

Today, I want to reflect on the my blog post title, exploring social issues through plays: a guide for middle School. Theater is a powerful tool for middle school students to explore and discuss social issues. By stepping into the shoes of characters dealing with real-world challenges, students develop empathy, critical thinking, and teamwork. Plays such as The Yellow Boat, Ama and the White Cranes, and The Third Wave provide age-appropriate ways to delve into complex topics, making them ideal for young performers.

The Power of Theater in the Classroom: Inspiring Change Through Stories

I believe one of our missions as teachers is to make the world a better place. As theater teachers, we have an incredibly useful tool at our fingertips–plays or musicals. No other art form can do what theater can do! I think you’d agree with me that the best way to reach people is through a story. Theater is non-confrontational and provides important universal themes.

In our classrooms, students can read or perform plays just for the sure fun or experience of it. Consequently, students can experience diverse perspectives and learn to understand others’ emotions and struggles. Plus, plays can structure an environment for discussing sensitive topics. Additionally, theater challenges students to examine societal issues in-depth and consider their roles in creating change.

Exploring Social Issues Through Plays: A Guide for Middle School

Here are a few plays I recommend to you. Your students could read one of these plays in your class or better yet, produce it for the public. (That’s the real elixir.)

My Recommendations for Middle School Reading

1. Peer Pressure, Authority, and Group Dynamics

—The Third Wave Based on a true story, this gripping play explores the dangers of groupthink and authoritarianism. It recounts a high school teacher’s experiment to demonstrate how easily individuals can be drawn into totalitarian systems. The Wave provides a thought-provoking look at peer pressure and critical thinking, making it highly relevant for middle schoolers.

2. Illness, Resilience, and Family

– The Yellow Boat by David Saar. This deeply moving play is based on the true story of Benjamin Saar, a young boy born with congenital hemophilia. Through his vivid imagination and artistic talent, Benjamin navigates the joys and struggles of his life, including his battle with HIV/AIDS, contracted from a blood transfusion. His journey, filled with creativity, resilience, and love, celebrates the power of art and human connection. The play is a poignant exploration of hope, loss, and the enduring spirit of a child, offering audiences a heartfelt and uplifting experience. A heartwarming and imaginative story about a young boy living with a terminal illness. This play offers an opportunity for students to explore themes of resilience, creativity, and the bonds of family.

3. Cultural Identity and Environmental Awareness

– Ama and the White Cranes This is a poignant play that blends Japanese folklore with contemporary themes of resilience and tradition. It follows Ama, a skilled pearl diver, who finds herself at odds with her village’s changing ways. When a mysterious white crane begins appearing during her dives, Ama discovers it is the spirit of her late mother, guiding her to protect the ocean and its treasures from exploitation. Ama struggles to reconcile her personal desires with her duty to her heritage. The story unfolds into a beautiful tale of sacrifice, love, and the enduring bond between humanity and nature. This is a beautiful play that introduces Japanese culture while exploring themes of courage, family, and environmental responsibility.

Timeless Stories: Exploring Empathy and Justice Through Adapted Plays

4. Bullying and Kindness

–The Hundred Dresses: This play adapted from the book of the same name, centers on Wanda Petronski, a Polish-American girl who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress daily. In response to the teasing, Wanda claims to own one hundred beautiful dresses at home, a statement that becomes a focal point of the narrative. The book explores themes of bullying, empathy, and the consequences of prejudice. First published in 1944, this book and story survive the test of time.

-Holes– by Louis Sachar. This play adaptation of the book of the same name, is the story of Stanley Yelnats who is wrongly accused of theft. Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, where boys dig holes daily as part of their punishment. As Stanley uncovers secrets about the camp, his family’s past, and the outlaw Kissin’ Kate Barlow, themes of justice, fate, and friendship come to light. (It seems to be out of printing as of this writing, but do check back to see if it’s re-appeared.)

5. Leadership and Community

– The Giver: Based on Lois Lowry’s novel, this play encourages students to reflect on freedom, individuality, and the responsibilities of leadership. Set in a seemingly utopian society where pain, conflict, and choice are eliminated. Jonas, a 12-year-old boy, is chosen to inherit the role of the Receiver of Memories. The Receiver is the only individual who holds the truth of the world’s past. As he learns from The Giver, Jonas begins to see the dark truths behind his community’s controlled existence. Confronted with the weight of memory and emotion, Jonas questions whether to accept the status quo or risk everything to bring freedom and individuality back to his world. For more information, read my post–The Reasons I Love The Giver Play

Cultivating Community and Resilience: Plays That Inspire Connection

– Seedfolks: This is a touching play adaptation of Paul Fleischman’s novel, weaving together the stories of diverse individuals in a struggling urban neighborhood. When a young girl plants a handful of beans in a vacant lot, her small act inspires others to transform the space into a thriving community garden. Each character contributes their unique voice, sharing personal struggles. Most importantly, while they share cultural perspectives, unexpected connections arise. As the garden grows, so does the sense of hope, unity, and understanding among the neighbors. This poignant story celebrates the power of small acts to foster change and build community.

-Esperanza Rising– This play is a heartfelt adaptation of Pam Muñoz Ryan’s acclaimed novel, following Esperanza Ortega, a privileged young girl in 1930s Mexico. When her family’s fortunes are shattered by tragedy, Esperanza and her mother are forced to flee to California. There they work as migrant laborers. Facing the hardship of poverty, prejudice, and back-breaking labor, Esperanza learns the value of resilience, community, and hope. This powerful coming-of-age story celebrates the strength of the human spirit and the importance of staying rooted in love and compassion during times of great change.

Discussing Social Issues in the Middle School Classroom

6. Diversity and Acceptance

—The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963: Ten-year-old Kenny narrates a life-changing summer for his family. Hoping to reform troublemaking Byron, the Watsons travel to Birmingham, Alabama. They face the tragic 1963 church bombing. This moving and humorous story, based on Christopher Paul Curtis’ novel, explores family and resilience during a pivotal moment in history.

—Bud Not Buddy–-Set in 1930s Michigan, 10-year-old Bud Caldwell, an orphan fleeing abusive foster homes, embarks on a journey to find his father. Guided by a flier for a jazz band, Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, Bud travels to Grand Rapids. He believes Calloway to be his father. Along the way, Bud encounters trouble, humor, and wisdom, using his “Rules and Things” to navigate a challenging world.

The Third Wave: A Powerful Lesson in Authority and Responsibility

At this point in our country’s history, it is vitally important that we dramatize stories whose themes are especially powerful to our students. We are at a real crossroads. It is up to us to stand and be counted.

The Third Wave is particularly impactful for middle school students. Foremost, it dives into the issues they can relate to, such as peer pressure, the influence of authority figures, and the need to belong. The play demonstrates how quickly groupthink can take over. Additionally, it encourages students to think critically about their choices and the importance of standing up for what’s right.

By dramatizing this real-life experiment, The Third Wave helps middle school students understand the dangers of blindly following authority or succumbing to social pressures. It’s a powerful conversation starter about history, psychology, and personal responsibility. Lastly, I challenge you to select this play for production at your school–you won’t regret it!

Incorporating These Plays into the Classroom

Wondering how to introduce students to the themes and moments in history or cultural contexts? If you’re using the play in your middle school classroom, encourage students to write reflections. For example, they could be written from their characters’ perspectives to deepen their engagement. Additionally, you can facilitate a discussion about the play’s messages and how they relate to students’ lives.

Ready to inspire your students and tackle these critical topics? The stage is waiting!

What plays do you read aloud in your middle school classroom or have staged that held important themes and messages? I’d love to learn about them.

Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Timeless Triumphs: 8 Unforgettable High School Plays

April 28, 2024 By dhcbaldwin Leave a Comment

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.

Why 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.

Critical Steps in Choosing a Play or Musical: Stage Properties

August 30, 2016 By dhcbaldwin 5 Comments

Stephens College Theatre Department

Let’s talk about the critical steps in choosing a play or musical stage properties next.

I have something to admit. I knew very little about the workings of a play production until I attended college, Stephens College to be exact. I was aware of this about myself, but you know, I had NO IDEA how much I didn’t know, you know? Enter required technical theater hours.

I very gleefully signed up for crew positions as I was expected to do. In the theater department, at least at the time, we were not allowed to audition for productions until our second year of school there. It was part of the process of this solid program that continues to be excellent.

A Christmas Story Performing Arts in Children’s Education December 2004

I’m an over achiever. It’s terrible how much of an over achiever I can be at times. Anyway, we were required to have 100 hours. I finished with 200. See? Truthfully, I found I loved crewing backstage.

My first backstage crewing experience occurred when I worked on the stage properties crew and I’ll never forget it. I enjoyed it so much that one summer I served as prop mistress at the Okoboji Summer Theater, Stephens’ summer theater venue.

Now, I’m virtually an expert (because I’ve been around since dirt was invented) on stage properties. A combination of art and theater, using one’s imagination and ingenuity, stage properties are important to the overall effect of the production. Think about it. What is an important prop used in Into the Woods? The milk cow. How about in Seussical? The clover!

Critical Steps in a Play or Musical: Stage Properties

In my very long career in theater, I have:

found two identical Afghan dogs
discovered and was loaned Venetian glass in the middle of Iowa
borrowed a baby grand piano
needlepointed an alphabet sampler (I didn’t know how to needle point when I began)
made a fake cheese ball complete with Mickey Mouse ears plopped on top for a chip bowl (I know you are impressed!)

and a gazillion more cool things…

The Giver Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies 2013

Properties Master

If it’s your job to fill out your staff, then look for a volunteer who is very crafty and clever and draft them to be in charge of your props. Or, if you are working for a theater, they should provide you with someone. I would advise you to stay out of their way and merely accept what they bring in if at all possible.

Volunteers do become very possessive of their things, especially when they “searched all weekend to find a pair of wooden knitting needles”. I rarely decline props, because I held a very specific discussion at my prop meeting and preplanned for my needs (including a LIST). Yet, even with the preparation, I need props that I hadn’t thought of or my actors require personally as they develop their characters or we discover spontaneously as we rehearse.

Into the Woods Performing Arts in Children’s Education 2004

(The cow was created by a volunteer–wow!)

Back to Budget

Again, you will want to check and see what was allotted in your budget for props. Props can be created –Gandalf’s staff for The Hobbit, a smoking cauldron for Macbeth, fake meat pies for Sweeney Todd or…a really inexpensive smoke machine you can create with dry ice and a plastic garbage can. No joke!

You can purchase props on line from theatre supply companies such as RubiesCostumes.com. They have an excellent inventory, broad and detailed, so if you are looking something historically accurate, I’d start there. Of course, there are other suppliers, but I usually go to them first. I have been a customer of theirs for over thirty years.

Many props can be borrowed–a Victorian love seat for Arsenic and Old Lace, a hand water pump for The Miracle Worker, a Tesla coil for a mad scientist or even the smoke machine I mentioned previously.

I’ve asked many people if I could borrow a particular prop for them. Usually, people are happy to loan something to you. You should sweeten the request by offering a pair of complimentary tickets and a listing in the program in exchange for their loan. It’s standard protocol. Or place a sign in the lobby that acknowledges the business or person who helped you out. That’s nice, too!

Balance of Production Value

I do have one gripe, however. It just really annoys me when the props in a production are uneven, for lack of a better phrase. I mean, some are authentic looking, but others in the show are not. I like for my entire “production package” to be equal from the set design to the lights, the costumes to the program.

If one piece is lacking (for instance, the sound equipment is inadequate and unable to amplify the actor’s voices over the orchestra who is full and loud), then the whole thing feels odd.

Perhaps it’s the director in me, but that’s what I notice when I attending a production–whether the show is comprehensive, balanced components. I like to be a good role model and representative of the arts. Anything I can do to attract a person to attend or participate in another production is my primary goal. To me, it is lifeblood of the art.

People laugh when I say, “When I direct in any theater, I think of myself as a cruise director. I want the people to have such a wonderful, meaningful evening that they will be overcome with emotion and tell everyone they know about the experience. Then I smile and nod.” (An old teaching technique to persuade people to agree with you…)

If you are looking for particular lessons about stage properties, I have several available in my Teacherspayteachers.com store. You can find them here:

Stage Properties Lesson

Stage Properties Holiday Theme

Next, I’ll give you some great tips on costumes. Look for them soon!

Got a question? Ask me.

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Timeless Triumphs: 8 Unforgettable High School Plays

Timeless Triumphs: 8 Unforgettable High School Plays