Maybe a guitar-shredding rock musical? What about a cult-classic movie turned musical? Or a show with an emotional score that will leave the audience wanting more? The following are part of a curated list of the some of the best musicals for any high school.
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When I was in high school about what musicals we (high school students) should and should not do. I definitely believe that there are better shows for high schools to do than others. I say this for a wide variety of reasons. When I really think about it boils down to three things: (1) opportunities for students, (2) subject matter, and (3) level of being fun. A high school musical should be diverse enough that it has plenty of opportunities for students to play a wide variety of roles. I think that the subject matter of certain shows (for example rent, miss siagon, etc.)are just not appropriate for high schoolers to be doing scenes from. Finally high school musicals are supposed to be fun! This is an extra circular activity for them that should allow them to take some stress off of their plate. High school musicals should just not be taken as seriously has a Broadway musical.
I did not go to a school with a drama club, thespian troupe, or functional theater program, high-powered or otherwise. During my time there, the only musical we put on was an exhaustively rehearsed "Little Shop of Horrors," which went well, but was truly the last of its kind in that the teacher responsible for that piece quit/was forced to resign at the end of that year. To see musicals like these recommended for high school performers truly makes me wonder "what if?". What if i had gone to an arts magnet high school, like the one I couldn't get into when I was in 8th grade (I was applying for a visual, not a performing arts spot.)? What if either of my tech mentors hadn't been involved in my life, to afford me the opportunities I had been given? What if I had gone to a different school, instead of the sickly one I went to, with the ailing arts budget, but the brand-new theater? What if? Thinking about all the ways my college path could have gone truly makes my head whirl, and distracts a bit from the realty that I am in fact here, at Carnegie Mellon, part of an incredible program, full of incredible people, that I will certainly gain from. The angst of high school is over, thank god, and musicals or no musicals, I managed to make my way to this venerable educational institution, where I can certainly make up for lost time.
What's funny to me is that all of these shows are very upbeat and have a similar type of music. At least five of the musicals listed are either set in the 50s or 60s, and are described as "comic" "fun" or "inspiring". It makes me wonder why Hairspray isn't on this list (which actually is confusing because I'm pretty sure every high school with a performing arts program has put on Hairspray.) My high school was a little different, our drama department was very intent on doing what they deemed "serious" theatre, so many of our shows bled into darker territory. Notably I worked on Dead Man Walking, Chicago, and Urinetown all within one year. Do I think these were bad choices? Not really, as the shows went over very well, except maybe Dead Man Walking, which in case you don't know it, is about the death row sentence of a white supremacist who raped and murdered two teenagers. Not a very "fun" play. But I think high school musicals should have a degree of accessibility to them, and I think that they should be fun for the kids working on them. In high school, theater isn't a job, it's a hobby, and with the dredgery of school and home life, theater should be a fun escape from all that. A time to hang out with your friends, listen to fun music, and home your craft.
It’s strange reading about high school theatre and no longer being a part of it. But I think that what show a high school does is one of the most debated and controversial topics. Because there are so many factors which limit the decision making. Casting pool is everything; because you can’t do a show which requires 9 males if only four audition for the show. Additionally there are design limitations, because not every high school has the ability to create a two story high rotating house for Noises Off. Then of course, is the battle between create a conversation the school needs and hitting on conversations the school board does NOT want you to have. The Heathers; with its school shootings and suicide trends? Not going to fly at many schools. And then finally, no one wants to audition for, be in, or go to see, a show they’ve never heard of. Why do we think Guys and Dolls and Grease get done every four years like clockwork? All of these factors come in to play when choosing a high school show. It’s no wonder high school theatre directors always seem so stressed.
Well first, I'm feeling a little musical theater inept because I haven't heard of some of these shows. But something I've noticed is that a lot of them have a majority of rolls that are young people. I love this, because I have gone to see A LOT of high school theater, and there is nothing that bugs my more than a cast full of high schoolers pretending to be in their 50's. It doesn't matter how fantastic you are, no one is buying it, and your grandma is in the audience taking pictures (probably with the flash on) so I would imagine that makes it hard to stay in character. This isn't to say that High School theater is bad. For a lot of people, myself included, it is the best part of their day. But I've always been a believer that theater should reflect where you are in the world, and who you are working with. My junior year my high school did Spring Awakening. The only thing we changed was the sex scene, all the words and other actions were exactly the same. And for the first time at my school it really felt like we were doing something raw, and emotionally connected. Because no one had to pretend to know what it was like to be an angsty teenager. I think I like this list so much because for the most part it is fun, young shows, and I think thats what High School theater should be. It should reflect it's students, not try and make them into something they are not.
Most of these recommended musicals have a very upbeat nature to them. I definitely think that is a perfect idea of what a musical has to be when the actors are in high school. The high school that I attended did Miss Saigon the year after I graduated. When such serious topics are taken on in a high school drama department, it isn't always as successful as just going full out in a happy, campy musical. I was introduced to theater through very upbeat, iconic, traditional musicals and that is definitely a way to get young actors interested and entertained. Sure, there may be many great musicals with a deep and interesting, serious message, but when it comes to high school students, a full blown production of Grease is more likely to be successful than a deeper, more serious show.
Also high school theater is a very strange world of theater and it is unlike any other theater company that exists. Picking great plays to keep the actors motivated is the number one way to keep that company successful.
Really interesting choices for high school drama. I don't know a lot of those musicals on the list but the one that I do pretty well is Heathers. That is a pretty dark musical based around murder and love. I am surprised that high schools would do something like that because the main girl and her boyfriend go around killing off other students in the school. It does have a great take on bullying and finding who you are but I don't know if parents would be happy seeing their kids play this out at their schools. I am not saying that I don't like this musical because I love the music and think it is really funny and hope to see it one day but I just don't know if it is the best choice for high school students when they are so vulnerable and influence each other so much and the idea that they could get away with all these murders like the main girl does in the end could be bad.
Since I come from a conservative high school which would only perform shows that were family friendly, the question of appropriate works for children under 18 is always a question. As a rule, I think the shows need to contain experiences that students can empathize with, explore, and have a fun and challenging time working with. Does this mean that Les Miz shouldn't be attempted since no 21st century high school students have undergone societal upheaval in 19th century France? Not necessarily, as the themes are not only universal but appropriate for all audiences, even though it may be difficult for younger students to understand. I think it is a tendency for some schools to only do "safe" shows, the tried and true few that explore shallow themes with very little substance--in order for students to fully experience what the industry is like, it is important to address more challenging, complex, and darker themes. Not to say that more lighthearted shows do not have their merit and challenges, but I feel to get a more well rounded experience it is important to challenge yourself in different ways while remaining under the confines of the high school experience.
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