Finding Good Musicals and Plays for Schools: Key Considerations for Your Program

For drama teachers and theatre directors, selecting your school’s play or musical can be one of the most exciting parts of the job—but let’s be honest, it can also be overwhelming. Your choice sets the tone for the entire season. It affects:

• Your budget
  

• Your schedule
  

• Your audience turnout
  

• And your students' overall experience
  

So how do you make the right decision?

Here are some key questions and practical tips to help you choose a production that fits your program and sets you up for success.

Want a step-by-step worksheet to help you decide:

📬 Free Play Selection Worksheet – Narrow down your choices with pointed questions and a score card.

1. What Are Your Resources?

Start by looking at what you actually have access to—financially, physically, and creatively.

Consider:

• Budget – Are you working with funds already in place, or do you have to earn every dollar through ticket sales and fundraisers?
  

• Set Requirements – Could you choose a show that uses a unit set or stock scenery?
  

• Costume Inventory – Do you have costumes on hand? If not, pick a show where students can wear simple, base-layer costumes with add-ons.
  

• Music/Orchestra Needs – If you’re selecting a musical, do you have the musicians or tracks to support it?
  

💡 Example: If your program has little to no tech or set budget, you might opt for a one-set play or a minimalist musical like Godspell or The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

2. How Much Time Do You Have?

Time is one of your biggest resources, and it often gets underestimated. Think realistically about:

• Rehearsal time available each week
  

• Number of weeks before tech week or opening night
  

• Time needed for set builds, costume pulls, and student training
  

🎭 Industry tip: In a professional setting, directors estimate 1 hour of rehearsal per 1 minute of stage time. That means a two-hour show ideally requires around 120 hours of rehearsal. While school schedules are rarely that generous, it’s a helpful rule of thumb when you’re assessing what’s possible.

❌ Example: Don’t pick a two-hour musical if you only have two hours of rehearsal time per week for eight weeks.

3. What Are the Needs and Goals of Your Program?

Every program is different. Consider what you're trying to accomplish this year.

Questions to ask:

• How many students are currently involved? How many do you want to involve?
  

• Are you trying to grow your program or deepen the skills of a smaller, experienced group?
  

• Do you need a name-brand show to help drive participation and ticket sales?
  

• What is your audience expecting? (Family-friendly? Edgy? Classic?)
  

🎯 Example: At one school, I knew our spring musical was a “bring-the-kids” community event—so we looked at shows like* Mary Poppins* and* The Wizard of Oz* over darker or more niche options.

4. Create a List of Parameters

Once you’ve considered all the above, write out your production criteria. This will help narrow your choices and keep things objective.

Things to list:

• ✅ Ideal cast size
  

• ✅ Number of featured roles
  

• ✅ Gender balance (if applicable)
  

• ✅ Tech demands (simple, medium, advanced)
  

• ✅ Costuming needs
  

• ✅ Set limitations
  

• ✅ Time available
  

• ✅ Age-appropriateness for cast and audience
  

• ✅ License availability (some shows may be restricted)
  

📝 Bonus Tip: Join local or online drama teacher groups to see what others are doing. They might offer advice, scripts, or even let you borrow or rent their sets and costumes.

Want Help Managing the Production Process?

If you’re looking for support as you move from show selection into auditions and rehearsals, check out my:

🎭 Audition & Rehearsal Resource Bundle on TPT
📬 Free Drama Teacher Toolkit – Join the email list to get ongoing resources, tips, and exclusive content.

📬 Free Play Selection Worksheet – Narrow down your choices with pointed questions and a score card.

Final Thoughts

Choosing your play or musical is more than picking a title you love—it’s about selecting a show that fits your students, your schedule, and your program’s growth. When done thoughtfully, it sets you up for a strong, successful production season.

Happy directing—and break a leg!