Can anyone share what are the most common plays produced in colleges?

Hey! I am a junior in high school with a serious interest in theatre. I was wondering, what are some of the most frequently produced plays on college campuses? Want to get a head start on familiarizing myself with the materials before I audition for college drama clubs.

Sure, it's a great idea to get familiar with plays that are commonly produced in colleges. Dramatic literature is vast and varied, so programs will often choose works that enable their students to explore a range of styles and time periods.

For contemporary plays, you'll find that works by David Mamet like "Glengarry Glen Ross", Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", and "The Shape of Things" by Neil LaBute are frequently produced because they offer meaty roles for young actors and tackle complex issues.

For classical plays, works by William Shakespeare, notably "Hamlet", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "Romeo and Juliet", are often used within education for their rich character study opportunities and enduring themes. Greek dramas such as "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" are commonly produced as well.

American classics like "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller, "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, and "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder are also typically part of the rotation, due to their iconic status and the historical and social contexts they offer.

Don't forget to check into modern offerings as well, such as "August: Osage County" by Tracy Letts or "Doubt: A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley. Many colleges also introduce students to newer dramatic works or original student-written plays.

Just keep in mind that every college theatre program will differ, and the selection of plays can vary drastically based on the department's focus, the professors' interests, and opportunities for student-directed pieces. Happy reading!