Recommended plays for a high school cultural festival: popular, crowd-pleasing ideas
When it comes time to put on a play for your high school cultural festival, the choice of work can dramatically change the feel of the stage.
From moving fantasies to relatable comedies and heartfelt musicals, each has its own unique appeal and key directing points.
Because it’s a production everyone in the class creates together, you’ll want to pick something that’s fun for the cast to make and a joy for the audience to watch.
Here, we introduce a wide range of plays that are perfect for high school cultural festivals.
Find the one that fits your class!
- Recommended Plays and Musicals for Cultural Festivals, School Festivals, and School Performances
- Cultural Festival: Ranking of Popular Booth Ideas
- Classic plays performed by elementary school students: recommended works roundup
- [For High School Students] A roundup of recommended attractions for the 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
- Stage performance ideas to excite a cultural or school festival
- [Middle School] Cultural Festival Attractions: A roundup of popular exhibits, games, and stage performances
- [Short Movie] A collection of video project ideas you can use for cultural and school festivals
- [Cultural Festival / School Festival Theme] Carefully Selected High-Impact Recommended Phrases!
- I want to adapt these for the school festival! A roundup of comedians’ manzai, sketch comedy, and one-liner gags
- [Hilarious] One-Liner Gags That Kill at Parties and Events
- Ideas for exhibits recommended for school culture festivals. Film screenings, too.
Disney, Fairy Tales, and Fantasy Works Special (11–20)
The Wizard of Oz
A work by L.
Frank Baum, who had achieved success as a children’s author.
Also known for its film and musical adaptations, it became so popular that reprints could hardly keep up, thanks to its fantasy-filled story that captures children’s hearts.
With a story everyone knows and striking characters, its entertainment value—sure to bring out the child in every viewer—makes it perfect for a school festival stage production.
Including the costumes, it’s an immortal classic that lets everyone feel the joy of creating something together.
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro is an animated film that depicts the interactions between children who have moved to the countryside and the mysterious creature Totoro.
Because the characters and setting are so clearly defined, it’s perfect for a play where the whole class can work together.
Prepare costumes that match the vibe of the characters, starting with the sisters Satsuki and Mei! If someone is good at drawing, it’s also recommended to put care into the backgrounds, such as mountains and rivers.
It could be fun to develop an original story in the scenes where Totoro and the children interact.
You can make it a moving tale, or fill it with gags and end it with a punchline—either approach works well.
Anastasia
An inspiring story based on the legend of Anastasia, daughter of the Russian emperor, will add sparkle to a high school cultural festival.
The journey of a girl who has lost her memory as she searches for her roots, meets companions, and grows will leave the audience deeply moved.
Luxurious palace-style costumes and sets are also easy to recreate by hand, and their classic atmosphere brings a fresh touch to the school stage.
The protagonist’s courage and hope make it easy for performers to put their hearts into the roles and will help foster a positive class atmosphere.
This blend of history and fantasy is highly recommended for a cultural festival stage.
Sleeping Beauty
Known as a classic fairy tale, this story brings a dreamlike world to the school festival stage.
The tale of a princess put to sleep by a witch’s curse and the prince who saves her is simple, easy to perform, and enjoyable and clear for the audience.
With many characters such as fairies and a king, it’s easy to divide roles among the whole class, and everyone can express individuality through costumes and set design.
Adding music and dance brings movement and rhythm to the play, making the production even more dazzling.
While preserving its enchanting atmosphere, this is a piece that invites creative and inventive staging.
Little Red Riding Hood
The famous fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood might be an easy choice for a play.
There aren’t many characters, and the story is short, so even members who aren’t in the drama club should find it approachable.
If you make the exchanges between Red Riding Hood and the Wolf more humorous, it could be even more fun! It might also be interesting to try various adaptations, such as using an animal other than the wolf or reversing the genders in the casting.
Wicked
How about trying a full-scale musical? If you don’t want to overlap with other classes, I recommend Wicked.
It’s a famous show based on The Wizard of Oz and is frequently performed by Shiki Theatre Company, so I think many people will know it.
If you have classmates confident in their singing, Wicked is the perfect choice! A world that captivates with song and acting is wonderful, isn’t it? Please try to create that world at your school festival.
It’s sure to be the talk of the entire school.
Anime, Manga, and Contemporary School-Set & Variety Works (1–10)
Detective Conan
Detective Conan is a mystery manga in which the protagonist, turned into a child, solves cases.
It unfolds a unique story that blends elements of mystery and romance.
Since Shinichi Kudo—the original form of Conan before he became a child—and the heroine, Ran Mouri, are set as high school students, it’s easy to get into character.
It can be fun to set the crime scenes at school or liken the characters to classmates.
During the case-solving scenes, spotlight the person playing Conan and amp up the excitement with dynamic sound effects.
How about giving the audience surprises like, “It was this unexpected person who was the culprit!”?