"Into the Woods," with music by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, weaves the plots of well-known fairy tales with the tale of a baker and his wife who want to have a child of their own. The characters are within the realm of experience and understanding for teens. Teenagers are also familiar with most of the players, so they have a jumping off point to start character development and have freedom to make their own choices as well. This show has at least 12 major singing roles and 12 more featured speaking roles, so everyone has a chance in the spotlight.
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is an early Sondheim musical, so the music is less complex than his later work and is therefore easier to learn. This slightly raunchy comedy is a good choice because it has a large ensemble and a large range of roles. It's a very funny script and can be performed on a fairly simple set.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," with music by William Finn, is a funny look at spelling bee culture, competition and growing up. All of the characters are individuals and offer a lot of freedom for kids to explore. You may also include an ensemble of other spellers. This a true ensemble piece and the music is beautiful and fun to learn.
"Urinetown" is an ensemble piece filled with fun and quirky characters. It examines a world in which water has become so scarce that residents are forced to pay to use the bathroom. Most of the characters are featured singing roles and you can bolster most of the scenes with a large ensemble.
If you're looking for a traditional musical, "Les Miserables" is a classic. The music is exquisite, and the script contains many featured roles. This show requires a group of strong singers, but the music is not too complicated for anyone willing to learn. Encourage students to read the original novel by Victor Hugo and learn the history behind the story.
"South Pacific" is a classic. Rodgers and Hammerstein's score include famous songs such as "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" and, of course, "Some Enchanted Evening." South Pacific offers high schoolers the opportunity to learn about classic musical theater while telling a story that is in many ways relevant in today's world. You'll recognize nearly every song in the score.
"Children of Eden" tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the Flood. Although it deals with stories from Old Testament, this is not a religious musical, and it takes liberty with details and perspective. Stephen Schwartz's score breathes life into the story, with popular songs like "The Spark of Creation," "Stranger to the Rain" and "In Whatever Time We Have." This show lends itself to larger cast.