Fun Ways to Reveal Your Next Show

A surprise show title reveal can be a super fun, memorable moment for theatre students. It builds anticipation and excitement, and sets the tone for the upcoming production. Here are 10 show reveal ideas to consider, whether you want something elaborate or simple, silly or sentimental, or anything in between. You’ll find five additional ideas in the giveaway below.

1. Print out logos for various shows (including the one you’re going to be doing) and post them on a board, tournament bracket style. Each day, move one of the logos forward into the next round, until you’re left with the final logo.

2. Have your graduating seniors perform a scene or song from the show for the returning students.

3. Hide clues around the drama classroom and have students do a scavenger hunt to find the title on the last clue. You could include tasks for students to complete that relate to the show in a vague or indirect way, such as doing a kickline for A Chorus Line or miming sweeping the floor for Cinderella.

4. Create an empty display area in a photo showcase or corner of your classroom. Each day for a week, add a key prop or costume item to the display. On Friday, add the show poster or logo.

5. Hand out a scene from the script with character names and the show title blacked out. Have students read the script aloud and try to figure out what the show is.

6. Print the show poster or logo in a large format (poster-sized) and cut it into puzzle pieces. Give each student a piece and have them solve the puzzle together.

7. Write the show title on a small piece of paper or confetti. Add it to a pile of similarly-shaped papers or confetti. Put the confetti into a piñata or a bunch of balloons. Have students try to break the piñata/balloons and search for the confetti with the show title on it.

8. Come to class dressed as one of the characters from the show.

9. Play Wordle Reveal with the show title, plot, or keywords from the show. Write the correct number of blanks on the whiteboard and have students guess one letter at a time.

10. If your school allows sharing food, place a small themed food item on each student’s desk or chair before class. For example, fuzzy peach candies for James and the Giant Peach, packages of Corn Nuts for Heathers: High School Edition, or mini pies for Lord of the Pies. If you can’t do food, consider tiny trinket-sized items such as poker chips for Guys & Dolls or coins/pieces of eight for any pirate-themed show such as The Pirates of Penzance or Treasure Island.

Be sure to take photos or videos of your students’ reactions to the show title reveal, and share them on your school’s social media channels to get your audience hyped up for the show as well.