Recommended Plays and Musicals for Cultural Festivals, School Festivals, and School Performances
Want to make unforgettable memories with your school festival play? We’ve got you covered with a variety of works, from fairy tales and musicals to anime and trending hits.
Disney titles, Studio Ghibli films, and beloved classic stories—each one is full of charm that will captivate your audience.
There are plenty that are fun to perform, too, so bring your class together to create a moving stage filled with acting, dance, and music.
It’s sure to become a memory you’ll cherish for life.
You’re bound to find the perfect piece for your class!
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Fairy Tale / Picture Book Parody Play (11–20)
Urashima Taro
Old folktales are back in the spotlight thanks to AU’s commercials, and one of the most iconic among them is surely Urashima Taro.
Everyone knows the plot: Urashima Taro rescues a turtle, is taken by it to the Dragon Palace where he enjoys a delightful time, and when he returns to his world, many years have passed and no one he knows remains.
He opens the forbidden treasure box and instantly turns into an old man.
Still, a play that blends fantasy with a moral is enjoyable no matter how many times you see it.
Youth/School Drama Works (1–10)
Your name is.
How about having the whole class recreate the 2016 film “Your Name.”? Since the story is about a boy and a girl swapping bodies, it’s sure to be a hit with boys acting in a girlish way and girls acting in a boyish way.
Depending on how you write the script, you could make it a comedy or a tearjerker.
Les Misérables
If you want to create a truly professional production that stands out from other classes, we recommend Les Misérables.
While it’s common to stage plays based on Japanese works, we encourage you to try performing a French piece.
Many people know this story from its film adaptation.
It’s a work that both children seeing it for the first time and adults who already know it can enjoy.
Why not put on a full-fledged musical for your school festival? With singing, dancing, and acting, let’s create a production that will become a lifelong memory.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a staple stage production.
As one of Shakespeare’s most famous works, it’s widely known, and there are many adaptations in various forms, making it an easy choice to perform at a school festival.
From deciding who will play Romeo and Juliet to planning the costumes, it’s sure to be an enjoyable project from the planning stages and become a memorable production.
La La Land
La La Land is a jazz-themed film directed by Damien Chazelle, who made waves with Whiplash.
It’s a love story centered on two dreamers: a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress.
The music is, of course, wonderful—and if you can play the piano, you’re sure to attract even more attention! Let’s also do a good job of recreating the story, which is said to hide a big twist.