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!
- Recommended plays for a high school cultural festival: popular, crowd-pleasing ideas
- Classic plays performed by elementary school students: recommended works roundup
- Stage performance ideas to excite a cultural or school festival
- Ideas for stage events and attractions that will liven up a school festival
- Ideas for Performances That Inspire Laughter and Tears: Perfect for Upper Grades at School Arts and Learning Showcases
- [For High School Students] A roundup of recommended attractions for the school festival
- Cultural Festival: Ranking of Popular Booth Ideas
- [For Elementary Schools] Recommended Exhibits and Recreational Activities for a Cultural Festival
- [Short Movie] A collection of video project ideas you can use for cultural and school festivals
- Recommended performance ideas for elementary school (middle grades) cultural festivals and learning presentations
- [By Genre] Cultural Festival / School Festival Booth Catalog [2026]
- A roundup of recreational activities to liven up cultural and school festivals
- Better than a theme park! Attractions perfect for school cultural festivals
Disney & Famous Fairy Tales Musical (1–10)
Annie
Premiering as a Broadway musical in 1977, it has since been adapted into film three times and was successfully revived on Broadway in 2012—a major hit musical.
Its theme song, “Tomorrow,” is likely one that everyone has heard at least once.
Set in New York during the Great Depression in 1933, the story is somewhat serious, but if performed at a school festival, the rousing chorus of “Tomorrow” at the end is sure to move the audience.
Why not take on the challenge of staging it?
Toy Story
Toy Story, a Disney production and one of Pixar’s flagship works, portrays beloved toys and the worries they carry.
It’s a story in which toys with diverse personalities work together to accomplish something, conveying a strong sense of unity.
The costumes—with clear, vivid colors that reflect each toy’s individuality—are also key, as they help communicate the characters through movement.
While referencing the original in the script, it may be best to focus on bringing out the characters’ appeal.
The Little Mermaid
A classic Disney film from the 1990s, it was adapted for the stage in 2008 and has also been performed as a musical on Broadway.
Since the protagonist is clearly “The Little Mermaid,” it’s easy for the audience to follow the story.
The quality of the singing and dancing will likely determine the overall impact of the production, so do your best!
Disney & Famous Fairy Tales Musical (11–20)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Disney’s classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which has also been adapted into a stage musical.
Set in 15th-century Paris, it tells the heartrending love story of Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Pay special attention to the variety of songs—from Esmeralda the gypsy’s beautiful solos to the lively numbers that energize the city’s quirky festival.
While the story is serious and at times a bit dark, it teaches many important life lessons: accepting others, the many forms happiness can take, and more.
Watch the story closely, and do your best to bring your role to life!
Alice in Wonderland
It’s a fairy tale everyone has heard of, and it’s even been remade as a Hollywood film.
Since many of the characters have strong, unique personalities, it would probably be fun to perform.
It might also be interesting to add more whimsical characters to suit your class’s particular style.
Peter Pan
For a Disney piece that’s great for a stage production, I recommend Peter Pan.
Even people who aren’t Disney fans are likely to know it.
I think many of us dream of performing a Disney work on stage—getting a taste of that magical world, even if only during the play.
The costumes are adorable, so it’s perfect not only for coed schools but also for all-girls schools.
It’s a show everyone can enjoy—not just the performers, but the crew as well.
When the cast and crew join forces to bring the production to life, it really deepens the sense of unity.
Rapunzel on the Tower
Tangled, well known as a Disney movie, is based on a Grimm fairy tale.
Because the story hinges on the magical power contained in Rapunzel’s long hair, how that long hair is portrayed is crucial.
As a Disney work, it also firmly incorporates musical elements, so we should be careful to convey the songs well.
In particular, “Mother Knows Best,” which appears early in the story, is memorable for the way it gradually transitions from dialogue into song, making it a piece that showcases both acting and singing effectively.