For teachers

The best musicals for high schools to perform

If you are choosing a show for your school, start with the size of your cast, your budget, and your audience. Below are 25 musicals that schools stage often, with the company that licenses each one, any edition made for schools, and a quick note on content.

By THEATERLE · Last checked November 3, 2026

Always check the licensor's own page before you plan. Some titles are restricted or have a separate school edition, and licensors can change availability. Apply early, and read the script before you cast so you know exactly what you are putting on stage.

25 musicals that work for high schools

1. Mamma Mia!
The ABBA songs sell tickets, the plot is easy to follow, and the ensemble numbers keep a big group busy. Donna and Sophie need strong leads. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
13 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; sexual references, and the plot turns on which of three past boyfriends is the bride's father
2. The Addams Family
TRW's School Edition is edited for high school groups, with song keys adjusted for teen voices, and the ancestors give a large ensemble real stage time. It topped the EdTA survey for 2022-23.
Licensed by:
Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW)
School edition:
The Addams Family: School Edition
Cast:
4 women, 4 men, 2 any gender, plus an ensemble of Addams ancestors
Content:
Dark comic themes; the School Edition changes some language for high school groups
3. Into the Woods
Sondheim's fairy-tale mashup has many strong parts for actors who can sing and act, a witty script, and a second act that gives older students something to dig into.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
18 roles
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; dark comedy with death, loss and an act of infidelity
4. Little Shop of Horrors
A small cast makes it manageable for smaller programs, and the doo-wop score is fun to sing. The man-eating plant gives the puppet and tech crew a big job. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
8 roles, a small cast
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; characters are eaten by the plant, and Audrey's boyfriend is abusive
5. Mean Girls
Students know the story, and the cast is mostly teenagers. MTI now ships one set of materials with optional pre-approved edits, and productions that use them may bill the show as the High School Version.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
School edition:
Mean Girls High School Version
Cast:
10 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; bullying and sexual humor, with optional pre-approved script edits included
6. Hadestown
Concord's Teen Edition is only for school and youth groups with performers 19 and under. It adjusts keys for teen voices and lets the chorus grow. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals
School edition:
Hadestown: Teen Edition
Cast:
5 women, 2 men, 1 any gender, plus a Workers chorus of at least six
Content:
Themes of death and love; the Teen Edition removes substance abuse and sexual references
7. Chicago
High schools cannot produce the standard version and must apply for the Teen Edition. It runs about 90 minutes, and the dance-heavy ensemble suits programs with strong movers.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals
School edition:
Chicago: Teen Edition
Cast:
10 women, 9 men, plus ensemble
Content:
Murder, infidelity and gunshots; the Teen Edition removes adult language and overtly sexual references
8. Legally Blonde
MTI calls it perfect for high school and community theatre, with a large ensemble and several big song-and-dance numbers. Elle is a star role for a strong singer. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
7 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; innuendo, stereotypes, and a professor who forces a kiss on a student
9. Grease
The 1950s setting, familiar songs, and a large group of named teen roles make it an easy sell. Concord's School Version cuts one song and runs about 90 minutes.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals
School edition:
Grease: School Version
Cast:
8 women, 9 men, plus ensemble
Content:
Teen romance and rebellion; the School Version removes profanity, lewd behavior and Rizzo's pregnancy scare
10. The Music Man
A dependable choice with a barbershop quartet, a big dancing ensemble, and parts for young performers and children. Its small-town story suits families of every age.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
13 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated G by MTI
11. Guys and Dolls
Loesser's score is full of character songs, and the comic gangster roles let actors play big. Many programs like that it has both strong male and female leads.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
12 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG by MTI; gambling and drinking
12. Oklahoma!
A large singing and dancing ensemble suits programs with a deep dance bench. The Rodgers and Hammerstein score is full of standards, and the story offers meaty scenes for older students.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals (R&H Theatricals catalog)
Cast:
4 women, 6 men, plus a large singing and dancing ensemble
Content:
Gunshots, a fatal knife fight, and a song in which Curly goads Jud to picture his own death; Concord lists it as appropriate for all audiences
13. The Sound of Music
It has built-in roles for each age group: seven children, a full group of nuns, and adult leads. Schools with a younger feeder program can often cast the children from it.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals (R&H Theatricals catalog)
Cast:
7 women, 4 men, 5 girls, 2 boys, plus ensemble
Content:
No special cautions listed by Concord; set in Austria in 1938 as the Nazis arrive
14. Seussical
Whimsical and rhyming, with a flexible ensemble that can be as large as the director needs. Its sweet message works well for school audiences of all ages.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
6 roles plus a large flexible ensemble
Content:
Rated G by MTI
15. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Nine actors, a simple set, and room for audience participation make it practical for a smaller program. Teachers should read the script for language and songs before casting.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
9 roles, a small cast, one act
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; candid personal stories and crude puberty humor, including a comic song about an erection
16. Hairspray
MTI calls it ideal for a large cast of strong singers and dancers, and the 1962 Baltimore story opens a talk about civil rights. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
11 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG by MTI; racism and segregation drive the plot, and MTI bans blackface makeup
17. Newsies
A male-heavy dance show built around teenage newsboys, which suits programs with strong young men. The 1899 strike story gives history classes a connection. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
9 roles plus a large ensemble
Content:
Rated PG by MTI; strikebreakers and police beat the striking newsboys
18. Shrek The Musical
The ensemble plays a long list of fairy-tale creatures, so many students get a memorable moment. Costume and makeup teams get a lot to do. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
7 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated G by MTI; fairy-tale humor
19. Les Miserables
MTI's School Edition is abridged to just over two hours and may only be performed by casts aged 18 and under. The sung-through score suits programs with exceptional singers.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
School edition:
Les Miserables School Edition
Cast:
12 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG-13 by MTI; poverty, war, prostitution, death and a suicide
20. Fiddler on the Roof
A lasting classic with roles for several ages, led by Tevye, Golde and their three older daughters. The village scenes need a large chorus and strong dancers. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
14 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG by MTI; a pogrom, an eviction, and family conflict
21. The Drowsy Chaperone
A comedy narrated by a fan of old musicals, who plays a record and watches a 1920s show come to life. MTI points to its many featured roles and accessible script.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
13 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated PG by MTI; light comedy with drinking humor
22. The Little Mermaid
Colorful and familiar, with a big ensemble of sea creatures and a lot of design work for the costume team. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
12 roles plus ensemble
Content:
Rated G by MTI; a menacing sea witch villain
23. Anything Goes
A tap-heavy ocean liner comedy with a big ensemble and a Cole Porter score. Concord lists two full-length versions, so check which one you want before you apply.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals
Cast:
3 women, 4 men principals, plus ensemble
Content:
Alcohol is the only caution Concord lists
24. Annie
The orphan roles are a good fit for younger actors, and the leads fit a wide range of students. Plan ahead and apply early. Check availability: the licensor notes restrictions in some areas.
Licensed by:
Music Theatre International (MTI)
Cast:
8 roles plus ensemble, including a group of orphans
Content:
Rated G by MTI
25. Bye Bye Birdie
A 1950s comedy about a teen idol and a small-town fan club. Concord lists eight teen women and three teen men beside the principals, so many students get named parts.
Licensed by:
Concord Theatricals
Cast:
6 women and 5 men as principals, 8 teen women and 3 teen men, plus adults and chorus
Content:
No special cautions listed by Concord

Licensing details change. Confirm availability, editions, and fees with the licensor before you announce a season.

Choosing a school musical: common questions

What is the most popular high school musical?

It depends on the source. The most recent Educational Theatre Association Play Survey on its site, for 2022-23, ranked The Addams Family first, followed by Mamma Mia!, Into the Woods, and Little Shop of Horrors, based on teacher responses. Playbill's June 2026 report on schools that print programs through its PLAYBILLDER service put Mamma Mia! first among high schools, then Hadestown: Teen Edition and The Addams Family.

What musicals are good for a small cast?

Little Shop of Horrors lists 8 roles and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee lists 9, and MTI lists no ensemble for either, so both work well for small programs. Spelling Bee also runs as a single act on a simple set. Check the licensor's page for exact cast notes before you audition.

What musicals have a big ensemble?

Hairspray, Oklahoma!, Newsies, and Legally Blonde give large groups real stage time. MTI calls Hairspray ideal for a large cast of strong singers and dancers and notes that Legally Blonde features a large ensemble. The Sound of Music and Bye Bye Birdie also have many roles for young performers.

How do you get the rights to perform a musical?

Apply to the company that licenses the show, such as Music Theatre International, Concord Theatricals, or Theatrical Rights Worldwide. You pay a royalty and rent the scripts and music. Some titles have a separate school edition and others are restricted in some areas, so check availability and apply early. It is wise to wait for an approved license before you announce the show or sell tickets.

Resources for your cast

Help students prepare with our audition songs by voice type, explore every show's story and characters in the musical library, or run a class quiz from our resources for teachers.

Sources (36)

25 musicals that work for high schools

1. Mamma Mia!

2. The Addams Family

3. Into the Woods

4. Little Shop of Horrors

5. Mean Girls

6. Hadestown

7. Chicago

8. Legally Blonde

9. Grease

10. The Music Man

11. Guys and Dolls

12. Oklahoma!

13. The Sound of Music

14. Seussical

15. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

16. Hairspray

17. Newsies

18. Shrek The Musical

19. Les Miserables

20. Fiddler on the Roof

21. The Drowsy Chaperone

22. The Little Mermaid

23. Anything Goes

24. Annie

25. Bye Bye Birdie