Great plays for a high school?

I'm looking around for great plays for our high school to do (non-musical). Especially ones that have lots of parts, particularly for female. Please let me know if you can think of any! 

NPR and Dramatics Magazine compile an annual list of the most popular productions. Probably nothing very original or revelatory, but everything on the list is obviously tried and tested. How about bringing back the old favorite "Arsenic And Old Lace"?

 

Over the past 76 years, the most popular plays have consistently been Our Town andYou Can't Take It With You, according to our analysis.

"Most high school teachers need a big cast, lots of female roles, and something that won't scare your grandma," says Corathers, who's been with Dramatics since 1979.

For both plays: check, check and check.

 

Link

Inherit the Wind.

 

Lots of parts and some of the minor (and even major) roles could probably be played by women.

August Osage County and Lettice and Lovage  (in my opinion) are not appropriate for any high school I've ever directed in, and I have directed in dozens of them.   Changing parts from male to female in any play is rarely a good idea, and as noted.. You would need permission to do that.

I would stick with the plays on those lists.  Also, check  Playscripts.com  They have tons of new great plays for high schools.
 

There are.lots of schools that would allow it.  Mine did and I know we weren't alone.

 

And it was pretty glorious.

dramamama611 said: "There are.lots of schools that would allow it.  Mine did and I know we weren't alone.

 

And it was pretty glorious.

 

"

Which play?

I think August Osage is  inappropriate and a bad choice for high schools. The content makes it inappropriate and  students in high school don't have the life experience to even truly understand  the relationships or the situations presented in that play. Even if some of the actors do, most of the audience of high school kids will not. Yes, they know what a drug addict is but they don't really understand what addiction is about.  They can't possible understand what is going on in Violet' mind. As an acting teacher of all ages for several years I find that high school actors and even college aged actors don't even know what the words they are saying mean. A three and a half hour play with the content of August is a bad choice for young actors. Another play I saw on the list from DC was Streetcar. I think that is another really bad choice for high school. Acting is an art form. You don't start at a level ten when you are really a level one.

• Animal Farm
• Candide

Up The Down Staircase

I know that one of the most popular plays performed in high schools is Almost, Maine.  It has quite a large cast as well.

Don't forget the request for lots of females....that usually means disproportionately to the parts available for boys.  Almost Maine is 50/50 and every version of Spring Awakening is male dominated.

The OP asked for non musicals 

Still looking for large cast plays? 

Check out www.taunyapage.com