Broadway’s Best High School-Set Shows

By Madison Harman

Throughout the history of Broadway, the school setting has been a very popular background for stories about young people to thrive. Shows with kid characters, such as School of Rock and Matilda, have hit Broadway and been major successes, and others that focus on slightly older students and take place within the chaos of high school are exceedingly popular as well. Catching the attention of many younger viewers, these shows have captured the hearts of many as they reflect universal themes of growing up and finding your way among your peers. Let’s take a look at some of Broadway’s Best Shows that take place in high school. 

Mean Girls 

Mean Girls opened on Broadway in 2017. Written by Tina Fey based on her 2005 movie of the same name, the plot follows a young girl when she moves from Africa, having to navigate American high school and finding herself when she joins the mean girls clique. Originally starring Erika Henningsen as Cady, Taylor Louderman as Regina, and Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis, the show was nominated for twelve Tonys.In 2024, a movie musical adaptation was made starring Angourie Rice, Renee Rapp and Auli’i Cravalho. 

Hairspray

Hairspray opened in 2002, written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Based on the 1988 John Waters movie, the show follows Tracy Turnblad, a highschooler in Baltimore in the 1960s, as she works to achieve her dream of being on the Corny Collins Show. Starring Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tracy (who won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Laura Bell Bundy as Amber, Kerry Butler as Penny, Harvey Fierstein as Mrs. Turnblad (Best Actor in a Musical winner), Matthew Morrison as Link and Dick Latessa as Mr. Turnblad (Best Featured Actor in a Musical winner). The new musical won eight Tonys in total that year, including Best Musical. A 2007 movie musical starred John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky and Zack Effron. In 2016, NBC broadcasted Hairspray Live, which starred Ariana Grande, Harvey Fierstein, Maddie Baillis, Dove Cameron, Garett Clayton and Kristin Chenoweth. Hairspray is enduring as a modern classic musical over two decades later!

Grease

Grease opened on Broadway in 1972. Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the show, taking place in the 1950s, follows Sandy, an Australian exchange student and Danny, as their romance causes issues amongst the high school cliques. Starring Barry Bostwick and Carole Demas, the show had seven Tony nominations. In 1978, the creators made the movie Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, which is the iconic version known best to audiences around the world. The musical has had two Broadway revivals, the most recent in 2007, starring Max Crumm and Laura Osnes. 

Be More Chill

Written by Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz, Be More Chill premiered off Broadway in 2018 and opened on Broadway in 2019. Based on the 2004 Novel by Ned Vizzini, the show follows a high school outcast, Jeremy Heere as he signs up for the school play in order to be with his crush. Wanting to be cooler to gain her attention, he takes a SQUIP pill. This show starred Will Roland, Stephanie Hsu, Jason Tam, George Salazar and Gerard Canonico, and was a catalyst for welcoming young audiences into the theatre.

The Prom

Written by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, The Prom premiered on Broadway in 2018. The musical follows four Broadway actors as they make it their mission to help a high school girl in Indiana bring her girlfriend to prom, after same sex coupling at the event is banned. Starring Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, Angie Schworer, Caitlin Kinnunen and Christopher Sieber, the show was nominated for six Tony awards and won the Drama Desk award for Outstanding Musical. A starry Netflix film adaptation featuring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Ariana DeBose, and Andrew Rannells was released in 2020 following the show’s Broadway run. 

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway in 2016. With a book by Steven Levenson and music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, the show follows a high school boy, Evan Hansen, as he struggles with what to do when a letter he wrote to himself is found in the hands of a couple who have just lost their son due to him taking his own life. Starring Ben Platt as Evan, who won a Tony Award for the performance, Will Roland, Mike Feist, Laura Dreyfuss and Rachel Bay Jones, who also won a Tony for her role. The show won a total of six Tonys including Best Musical and in 2021 it was made into a movie musical with Ben Platt reprising his role as Evan. 

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening opened on Broadway in 2006. Written by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik as an adaptation of the original German play, it’s a coming of age rock musical that takes place in 1800s Germany, following a group of students and their journey to find themselves. It starred Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, Skylar Astin, Lilli Cooper, John Gallagher,. The show won eight Tonys including Best Musical. It was revived in 2015 in a new production directed by Michael Arden, which featured both Deaf and hearing actors.

Heathers

Written by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, Heathers premiered off Broadway in 2014 and has yet to make its Broadway debut. Based on the 1989 cult classic movie by the same name, it follows high school student Veronica when she is invited to join the Heathers, the most popular girls in the school, but with a dark twist. The show starred Barrett Wilbert Weed as Veronica, Ryan McCarten as JD, and Alice Lee, Jessica Keenen Wynn and Elle McLemore as the Heathers. The Original Cast Recording became wildly popular amongst younger viewers, and the musical has been staged several times across the pond in London.