If you are looking for something to do this spring, why not support the arts? Local community and high school theatre companies around the Raleigh area are putting on shows primarily during the months of April and May this year. With lots of different shows to choose from, there is a show for everyone.

If you’re looking for a play or musical to go see, consider starting right here at Leesville. Pride Productions is performing a school edition of the comedic hit musical The Addams Family from April 15-18. If musicals aren’t your thing, and you’d prefer to go see a play, the LRHS Theatre Ensemble class is performing Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone on May 27 and 28.

Other high schools in the Raleigh area also have upcoming shows. Enloe Magnet High School is performing Mary Poppins from April 15-18, Green Level High School is performing the play The Laramie Project on April 17 and 18, and Wakefield High School is performing Mamma Mia! from April 16-18, to name a few. Sanderson High School is also performing its own production of The Addams Family from April 22-25.

More high schools with upcoming productions include Wake Forest High School’s production of Something Rotten! from April 23-25 and Apex Peak Players’ production of the play Still Life with Iris from May 7-9.

Middle Creek High School is performing the new 2024 musical Suffs from April 23-25. Middle Creek is one of 12 schools nationwide that were selected to perform this musical and is the first high school in North Carolina. Some cast members from the show even performed one of the numbers from the musical at the NC Thesfest at East Carolina University in March.

Upcoming community theatre shows in the Raleigh area include Raleigh Little Theatre’s productions of 1776 from March 27 to April 19 and The Hobbit from May 5-10. Starbright Youth Theatre is performing Shrek the Musical Jr. from April 24-26 and the teen edition of Hadestown from May 15-17.

The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is known for its performances of traveling Broadway shows. Musicals coming to DPAC soon include The Great Gatsby from May 5-10 and the popular return of Hamilton from May 20 until June 14.

Theatre Raleigh has recently partnered with Raleigh ACT, a local community theatre company, and they have a large lineup for this spring with three upcoming shows. Theatre Raleigh is performing the hit musicals Come From Away until April 19, Ride the Cyclone from April 23-25, and Matilda from May 14-16.

Kirk Baron, a sophomore, is a cast member of Theatre Raleigh’s Ride the Cyclone, where he plays the character Mischa Bachinski. Baron said, “What I enjoy most about theatre is how encouraging and engaging an environment it is.” Baron loves doing character work and learning how to improve and develop his skills as an actor.

He also enjoys creating relationships and making memories with people. Baron said, “I think it is important for people to experience live theatre because it provides a personal experience through watching everything happen in real time as well as giving you an emotional connection to a character or aspect that you can relate to.”

This spring is chock full of theatre productions ranging from local high schools to community productions to traveling Broadway shows. You can find more information about ticket sales on the school and theatre company websites.