Charles County Public Schools high schools launch their fall play season Oct. 23 with a staging of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” at La Plata High School, kicking off a lineup of seven productions running through Nov. 23 that blend classic tales, comedies and modern adaptations. The shows, drawn from works by Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie and others, draw hundreds of local families each year to auditoriums across the county, offering students hands-on experience in acting, directing and stagecraft while entertaining Southern Maryland audiences.
The season opener at La Plata High runs 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 to 25, placing detective Hercule Poirot on a snowbound luxury train where a despised passenger turns up dead in a locked compartment. Suspects abound among the passengers as Poirot sifts through alibis and motives. Tickets cost $7.18 for students and $12.51 for adults, available at eventbrite.com.
Henry E. Lackey High School follows Oct. 30 with “Fairycakes,” Douglas Carter Beane’s whimsical twist on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at 6:30 p.m., plus a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 1. In this version, woodland fairies grapple with melancholy until Puck deploys a Cupid-touched flower to spark romantic chaos, exploring love, kindness and adaptation. General admission runs $11, with children’s tickets at $6 through gofan.co.
Maurice J. McDonough High School presents an updated “Peter Pan and Wendy” Nov. 14 to 16, with evening shows at 7 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 16. J.M. Barrie’s adventure follows the boy who never grows up as he leads Wendy and the Lost Boys against Captain Hook in Neverland’s perils. Adult tickets are $13.35, with discounts at $11.28 for students, military and seniors, and $10.24 for young children and theater participants, sold via https://mhsdrama303.booktix.com/.
Four productions overlap Nov. 20 to 23, starting with Westlake High School’s “The Bugs: A Greek Comedy” by Don Zolidis at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 to 22. Honeybees rally backyard insects, invoking Greek gods, to sabotage a pool construction and preserve their habitat in this satire on labor and ecology. Ticket details appear closer to dates on www.westlake.ccboe.com.
North Point High School stages “Peter and the Starcatcher” the same evenings, reimagining Peter Pan’s origins from Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s novels. An orphan boy safeguards “star stuff” from pirate Black Stache in a swashbuckling quest. Tickets are at https://nphs7040.ludus.com/.
Thomas Stone High School offers “The Con” by Tracy Wells at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 to 22, a heist comedy unfolding in vignettes at a comic convention over a rare book. Call 301-753-1756 for tickets.
St. Charles High School closes the season Nov. 21 to 23 with “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition” at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22, and 2 p.m. Nov. 23. Nearly two decades post-victory, Harry Potter navigates Hogwarts anew as his son bonds with Draco Malfoy’s child. Purchase at https://schsspartanplaymakers.ludus.com/index.php.
These annual productions stem from Charles County Public Schools’ fine and performing arts curriculum, which includes theatre electives fostering collaboration and creativity from ninth through 12th grade. Students build skills in acting, resume preparation, stage makeup, theatre history and play analysis, often through after-school rehearsals that mirror professional workflows. At Maurice J. McDonough High School, a dedicated theatre pathway launched in the 2023-2024 school year immerses participants in a four-year sequence covering acting, technical theatre and industry preparation, open to incoming eighth graders countywide.
Participation in such programs yields measurable gains for students. Theatre education correlates with higher SAT verbal scores by an average of 55 points and math scores by 26 points, alongside improved reading comprehension and self-esteem. It also enhances attendance and communication, equipping teens with tools for college and careers beyond the stage.
The county’s theatre scene extends beyond high schools, with groups like Port Tobacco Players marking 77 seasons of community productions in La Plata since 1947, often drawing CCPS alumni. Yet school stages remain central, especially post-2021 when pandemic restrictions lifted, allowing full-scale revivals like La Plata’s early return to live shows. Educators emphasize theatre’s role in diverse learning: It accommodates varied styles, from kinesthetic performers to analytical directors, while promoting empathy through character immersion.
For the 2025-2026 school year, CCPS anticipates steady involvement, with productions budgeted under fine arts allocations that prioritize accessibility—many venues offer senior discounts or free staff entry. As rehearsals wrap, directors report robust casts, blending veterans and newcomers in roles that demand quick adaptation, much like the season’s themes of mystery and metamorphosis.
Parents and patrons can plan visits with this schedule:
- Murder on the Orient Express, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 24 and 25 at La Plata High School.
- Fairycakes, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at Henry E. Lackey High School.
- Peter Pan and Wendy, 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15, and 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at Maurice J. McDonough High School.
- The Bugs: A Greek Comedy, 7 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at Westlake High School.
- Peter and the Starcatcher, 7 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at North Point High School.
- The Con, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at Thomas Stone High School.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition, 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22, and 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at St. Charles High School.
