High school plays - what shows are you doing and have you done?

[Sayen]

Every year it seems like I'm reading through stacks of bad plays looking for something new. I get tired of plays that are over produced, even if they're still new to the students. Really, does anyone need to see Arsenic and Old Lace again? I had a list started on my computer that I was tracking by surfing different school websites, but I seem to have lost it.

Anyone who's tried to plan a high school season knows there isn't a great deal of material out there that is school appropriate, offers decent female roles, is reasonably current, and doesn't stink.

So...what plays did you do in high school? Those of you in high school, what are you doing / have you done? I'm mostly looking for non-musicals, but I'd love to hear some seasons out there. Other theater teachers frequently ask me this as well, so a list might be of value.

[tech2000]

We just did Noises Off last Spring.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by Sayen

...I get tired of plays that are over produced, even if they're still new to the students. Really, does anyone need to see Arsenic and Old Lace again? ...

Yes, they do!--exactly for the reason that they are new to the students and young audiences. You Can't Take It With You, Wait Until Dark, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Harvey, any Neil Simon comedy, any Arthur Miller, Eugene O'Neil, Tennessee Williams have all stood the test of time and many are just as pertinent today, and NOT exposing your students to the Great American Classics, even though YOU'VE seen/done them to death, is a disservice.

[DHSLXOP]

A play that my school did 2 years ago was Rehearsal for Murder which is based on the movie of the same name by Richard Levinson and William Link. It is a very good show, and all of us involved really enjoyed working on it. Its a murder mystery, and has a some-what surprise ending. You can read it on google books. Edit: You can read parts of the play on google books, some pages are missing.

[hhslights]

I am in high school and I have been a part of

High School Musical
The Man Who Corrupted Haddleyburg
Hello Dolly

Going to be doing

Pride and Prejudice
Alice in Wonderland
Beauty and the Beast

Has been done but I have not been a part of

The Legend of Sleepy Hallow
12 Angry Jurors (men)

[Sayen]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Yes, they do!--exactly for the reason that they are new to the students and young audiences. You Can't Take It With You, Wait Until Dark, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Harvey, any Neil Simon comedy, any Arthur Miller, Eugene O'Neil, Tennessee Williams have all stood the test of time and many are just as pertinent today, and NOT exposing your students to the Great American Classics, even though YOU'VE seen/done them to death, is a disservice.

I wouldn't write any of those plays off completely - but when three schools in a local district all did Arsenic in the same year, there's a problem. There are plenty of good playwrights out there, and plenty of modern classics to be explored. We've hit all of the authors you mentioned except Williams, and that's partially due to the limited appropriateness of his works. We read Glass Menagerie, but we owe audiences better than just classics.

Harvey is a potential on my list, if it helps redeem me at all.

[MSLD]

We have done Meet Me in St. Louis

[MillburyAuditorium]

Since I have been in charge of the schools theatre, we have done, in order

Oklahoma
The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree (My favorite!)
The Princess and the Pea (Or I think its called something else...)
Guys and Dolls
The Wizard of Oz
Get Up and Go! (Junior kids did that one.)
Back to the 80's The totally awesome musical! (Was a good one)
Bedside Manor (I have to say was the worst play we have ever done. Not that acting was bad, was actually pretty good, but the plot and the play itself was kind of blah.)

Might be missing one or two.

[Sayen]

I should add some of what I've done. Off the top of my head:

House of Blue Leaves
Get Smart
Curious Savage
Crucible
Arsenic and Old Lace
Importance of Being Ernest - hit a little to close to home with my population
Noises Off - fun, too inappropriate
Macbeth
Midsummer Night's Dream
Steel Magnolias
The Philadelphia
Blyth Spirit
Skin of Our Teeth
Miracle Worker
Crimes of the Heart
Thurber Carnival
2 different Draculas
Cyrano
Tartuffe
12 Angy Jurors/Men
Beauty and the Beast (non musical)
Night of January 16 - Highly recommended, audience loved it


That's without musicals and one acts. At four plays a year though, I'm always looking for more.

[misterm]

i'm enjoying this thread because i'm getting some new ideas for shows for my group!!
some we did in high school/college/current teaching position that were different but good:
Shadowlands
The Curious Savage (or its sequel, The Savage Dilemma, which is actually funnier)
The Right to Remain Silent
The Imaginary Invalid
The King Stag
The Diviners
A Bad Year for Tomatoes
The Boys Next Door

We also do a yearly night of one-acts where we feature 2 to 3 plays, one of which is our competition piece. Lots of fun because you get to work with a lot of new students and find new talent and do some fun short plays without getting burned out.