Common High School Play Productions?

Hey, I have a question for my fellow high school theater enthusiasts. What are the most produced high school plays around? Which ones are the go-tos for most high schools? Would love to hear your thoughts.

In my experience, there are several plays frequently produced by high school theater departments due to their timeless appeal, easy-to-relate-to characters, and themes accessible to high school-age actors and audiences.

1. "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder: The universal themes of daily life, love, marriage, death, and our place in the cosmos are enduring and relatable, irrespective of the age group. Since this play is a minimalistic production, it doesn't require elaborate props or costumes, making it easier to stage for high schools.

2. "You Can't Take It with You" by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman: An entertaining comedy that's often a hit with high school audiences for its sweet, family-centric storyline and humor.

3. "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" by William Shakespeare: It is one of Shakespeare's comedies that's often produced because of its playful and magical elements. It's appealing to high schoolers as it deals with themes of love, mischief, and confusion.

4. "12 Angry Men" by Reginald Rose: This courtroom drama with a limited cast and single set makes it relatively easy to produce. Its themes of justice and prejudice elicit engaging discussions as well.

5. "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller: Although heavy, it's chosen by many high school theaters because the story is compelling and provides students with rich roles to delve into. It's also often a part of the high school literature curriculum, which can lend itself to cross-curricular collaboration.

6. The numerous adaptations of classic fairytales and children's stories (like "Little Women," "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," etc.) also are common because they are family-friendly and attract wider audiences, including families with younger children.

Remember, the right play for a high school production depends on the specific group of students, the resources at hand, the interests of the director, and the tastes of the local audience. So while these are common choices, the best play can vary greatly from one high school to the next.