Overlapping Overtures in High School Musicals Month

Fans of talented teens singing and dancing in school versions of Broadway musicals rejoice this time of spring, as each of the major public high schools mounts their big musicals of the year. Hadestown, which winds up its run at Santa Barbara High May 1-3, has already had two productions by teen companies in town earlier this year as both Lights Up! and the Adderley School took on the teen version of Anaïs Mitchell’s still-running Tony-topping Broadway smash. But Anaïs Mitchell’s take on the Greek myth and class struggles has plenty enough parallels to today’s world to make it worth repeat visits. 

San Marcos’ spring show Urinetown is not nearly as well-known, but the musical about a revolution in the fictional town where a corrupt government actually charges people to pee in public facilities might also ring true in present-day America, although the current administration hasn’t taken things that far in the urination arena. Urinetown plays May 1-3 and 15-17. Back in the big boffo show arena, Dos Pueblos High’s Mamma Mia! moves in for the middle weekend, with a massive production of the ABBA-hits soundtrack-fueled story of the daughter of a single mother inviting all three potential fathers to her wedding week on an actual Greek island, with a tale that reveals itself as more deeply charming and humorous than that synopsis may suggest. Mamma Mia! performs May 8-10 & 15-27.