The Educational Theatre Association's 81st annual survey of over 3,000 American high schools has revealed the top ten most performed musicals and plays of 2018-2019.

Two of ORiGiN Theatrical's most popular musicals were featured again in the top ten list of musicals. The Addams Family reclaimed its number one slot for most-produced musical and The Wizard of Oz, celebrating 80 years since the film premiere, came in at number 10.

Our Town remains a favourite year after year of the most performed full-length plays with this year’s notable top 10 newcomers including She Kills Monsters and Clue.

Playwright Don Zolidis and Jonathan Rand dominated the top 10 short plays. While Rand’s Check Please consistently tops the list, his Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit made an appearance at number eight, and three works by Zolidis earned top spots, including second (10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse), third (The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon), and fifth (The Audition).

All of the top 10 most performed short plays are available to licence by ORiGiN Theatrical.

1. The Addams Family (Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice), TRW 

2. Mamma Mia! (Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Catherine Johnson), MTI

3. The Little Mermaid (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater, Doug Wright), MTI

4. Beauty and the Beast (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, Linda Woolverton), MTI

5. Mary Poppins (Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Julian Fellowes), MTI

6. Newsies (Alan Menken, Jack Feldman, Harvey Fierstein), MTI

7. Little Shop of Horrors (Howard Ashman, Alan Menken), MTI

8. Seussical (Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Eric Idle), MTI

9. Into the Woods (Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine), MTI

10. (tie) Shrek (Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire), MTI

10. (tie) The Wizard of Oz (various) 

 

1. Almost, Maine (John Cariani), Dramatists Play Service

2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (William Shakespeare), public domain

3. Peter and the Starcatcher (Wayne Barker, Rick Elice), MTI

4. Our Town (Thornton Wilder), Samuel French 

5. Alice in Wonderland (various) 

6. Clue (Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price, Sandy Rustin), Playscripts 

7. She Kills Monsters (Qui Nguyen), Samuel French 

8. Radium Girls (D.W. Gregory), Dramatic Publishing 

9. (tie) The Crucible (Arthur Miller), Dramatists Play Service

9.     (tie) 12 Angry Jurors (Reginald Rose), Dramatic Publishing 

1. Check Please (Jonathan Rand), Playscripts 

2. 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse (Don Zolidis), Playscripts 

3. The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (Don Zolidis), Playscripts 

4. This Is a Test (Stephen Gregg), Dramatic Publishing 

5. The Audition (Don Zolidis), Playscripts 

6. (tie) Bad Auditions by Bad Actors (Ian McWethy), Playscripts 

6      (tie) Lockdown (Douglas Craven), Playscripts 

8. Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit (Jonathan Rand), Playscripts 

9. 30 Reasons Not to Be in a Play (Alan Haehnel), Playscripts 

10. Tracks (Peter Tarsi), Dramatic Publishing 

https://www.schooltheatre.org/blogs/edta-news/2019/08/01/81st-annual-edta-high-school-play-survey