Students Bring Heart, Humor and History to the Stage with Fall Plays

As the lights dim and the curtains rise in auditoriums across Madison, scores of MMSD students are stepping into roles they’ve been preparing for since the first weeks of school. Some will speak lines first written in ancient Greece. Others will chase laughs, heartbreak or revelation under bright stage lights. All are finding their voices, and their confidence, through the art of performance.

This fall, each of Madison’s four comprehensive high schools is staging a unique production that showcases the creativity and dedication of its student-performers, directors and crews.

At La Follette High School, students will take on “Antigone,” Sophocles’ timeless story of loyalty, justice and moral courage. In this modern translation by Anne Carson, a young woman defies authority to honor her family, asking questions that still resonate thousands of years later. 

Over at Vel Phillips Memorial High School, laughter takes center stage in “Out of the Frying Pan” by Francis Swann, a fast-paced comedy about six aspiring actors sharing a cramped New York apartment and the chaos that ensues when their landlord discovers their secret rehearsal plans. 

At West High School, the cast is diving into Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” a joyful and witty tale of disguise, love and transformation set in the Forest of Arden. 

And at East High School, students will journey through myth and memory in Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” following Odysseus’s perilous voyage home. 

For the students involved, these performances are more than after-school activities—they’re opportunities to collaborate, take risks and grow.

“Theatre helps students collaborate, solve problems, be creative, develop resilience and adaptability, and build confidence and communication skills,” said Dan Davidson, MMSD’s director of fine arts. “Our students and directors put in an incredible amount of effort, and it’s really inspiring to see.”

Research backs that up: students who participate in the arts often show stronger academic performance, higher attendance and greater engagement in school. But Davidson says the benefits go beyond grades.

“The arts connect us to one another,” he said. “When our students tell stories on stage, they help us see and understand the world in new ways.”

Several of the district’s high school auditoriums, including those at La Follette, Memorial and West, now feature upgraded lighting, seating and sound systems, thanks to the 2020 facilities referendum.

Community members are invited to experience these spaces, and the extraordinary creativity of MMSD’s student-artists, throughout the season. For a full listing of upcoming arts events, visit the Arts Events and Information page on the MMSD website.

Performance Info

La Follette

Show dates: Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: lafollette.ludus.com
Location: La Follette High – Auditorium, 702 Pflaum Rd., Madison, WI 53716

Memorial

Show dates: Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: memorial.ludus.com
Location: Memorial High – Auditorium, 201 S Gammon Rd., Madison, WI 53717

West

Show dates: Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: gofan.co
Location: West High – Auditorium, 30 Ash St., Madison, WI 53726

East

Show dates: Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: madisoneast.ludus.com
Location: La Follette High – Margaret Williams Theater, 2222 E Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53704