21 Great Musicals for High School Productions
Are you searching for a musical that your high school students will get excited about? If so, you’re probably looking for something that will feature your talent, fit the budget, and entertain the audience with the end result. Luckily, Theatre Trip has you covered. Here are some of the best musicals for high school productions, sorted alphabetically.
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All Shook Up
Why: Unique, energetic, fun for the audience/parents, great opportunity for a strong lead
Cast Size: 10+
Be More Chill
Why: Hip, young, relevant, humorous, modern, great opportunities for strong leads
Cast Size: 10+
Bring It On
Why: Hip/popular, great for strong leads and dancers, high-school characters
Cast Size: 12 +
Bye Bye Birdie
Why: Classic, challenging, energetic, perfect for strong leads and ensembles
Cast Size: 40+
Footloose
Why: Edgy, hip, energetic, great opportunities for dancers, good for a strong lead and large casts
Cast Size: 24+
Freaky Friday
Why: Energetic, relevant, humorous, challenging, themes of coming of age
Cast Size: 15+
Grease
Why: Fun, classic, high school characters, opportunity to feature multiple students, large cast
Cast Size: 20+
Hairspray
Why: Classic, challenging, bold, energetic, great for ensembles and strong leads
Cast Size: 13+
Heathers
Why: Edgy, hip/popular, great for strong leads and ensembles, large cast
Cast Size: 17+
Into the Woods
Why: Classic, challenging, humorous, great for strong singers and ensembles, large cast
Cast Size: 18
Legally Blonde
Why: Mature, edgy, humorous, hip, great for strong leads
Cast Size: 10+
Little Shop of Horrors
Why: Fun, edgy, hip, classic, humorous, challenging, great for strong ensembles
Cast Size: 8+
Ride the Cyclone
Why: Edgy, fun for performers and audience, humorous, teenage characters, small cast
Cast Size: 7+
School of Rock
Why: Edgy, youthful, challenging, opportunities for actor/musicians and strong leads, large cast
Cast Size: 26+
Seussical
Why: Fun, energetic, mood-boosting, family friendly, great for strong ensembles
Cast Size: 13+
Spamalot
Why: Challenging, humorous, opportunities for strong leads, large cast, fun for audience
Cast Size: 20+
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Why: Energetic, funny, family friendly, interesting characters, opportunities for strong singers
Cast Size: 9
The Addams Family
Why: Fun, energetic, a bit edgy, a family favorite/classic, great opportunities for budding actors
Cast Size: 10 +
The Drowsy Chaperone
Why: Unique, humorous, hip/classic, fun for actors and audience/parents, great for a strong lead
Cast Size: 14+
Tuck Everlasting
Why: Humorous, family friendly, themes of adolescence/aging, opportunities for strong leads
Cast Size: 23
Zombie Prom
Why: Relevant, edgy, age appropriate, good opportunities for budding singers/actors
Cast Size: 10+
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Want to add to our list of best musicals for high school?
Or have you ever put on any of the above musicals for high school? How did it go? Feel free to share in the comments! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and more!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
