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Musicals

A man in black, his arms crossed, stands in an empty theater with red seats

A PASSION FOR THEATER

Pete Kramer's coverage has celebrated high school theater in the Lower Hudson Valley for the better part of 20 years, capturing the excitement of the season. In fact, his coverage makes it a season, with photo galleries, videos, articles, and insight only he can deliver. His wall-to-wall coverage, now on substack, Instagram and his new Lights Up podcast, are a must-follow for musical fans.
And his new gear shop will have theater kids looking the part.

Download the complete 2025-26 high school musical calendar >>

PETE'S LATEST SUBSTACK

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A Must-Follow

A MUST-FOLLOW

Pete's a must-follow as he follows theater kids.
In 2025 alone, he:

Visited 80 schools

Wrote 75 articles about school plays and musicals

Created 194 Instagram reels

Published 1,274 photos

Generated 610,371 video views

TWENTY MUSICALS THIS WEEK. My run-down of the 20(!) musicals on high school stages this week. How can I choose which musical to see? If your show gets the most comments below, I’ll be there. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

The closing of opening night for GUYS & DOLLS at Pleasantville High School. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

BREAK LEGS! Wishing broken limbs all around for @ryeneck_theatre @rhspsp @hhsfootlightplayers @briarclifftheater @phsfopa @northsalemschools @nrhs.drama as they share their musicals with audiences this weekend. #theater #highschoolmusicals

HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE: Ten shows open this week (you must check out petekramer.substack.com for details) and I’ve already started working on some of the TWENTY shows that run next weekend. Where I’ve been, where I’ll be. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

ONE DAY MORE: Harrison presents “Les Miserables” at 7 p.m., March 6 and 7, and at 2 p.m., March 8. $10, $5 for students and seniors at https://hhs.harrisoncsd.org/arts/hhs-footlight-players. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

WILL YOU JOIN IN OUR CRUSADE? The cast of LES MISERABLES at Rye HS sings a bit of the finale for me. Rye presents “Les Miserables” at 7 p.m., March 6, and at 2 and 7 p.m., March 7. $15, $10 for students, seniors optional donation. At the door. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

THE GUY’S ONLY DOIN’ IT FOR SOME DOLL: The company of Pleasantville’s GUYS AND DOLLS sings a bit of the finale for me. Pleasantville presents “Guys and Dolls” at 7 p.m., March 6, 7, 13, and 14, and at 2 p.m., March 8. $18 at www.ludus.com #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

RUNNING LINES AT CINDERELLA: They’re off book and ready to share their favorite lines in RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA in Armonk. Byram Hills presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at 7 p.m., March 5 and 6, and at 2 and 7 p.m., March 7. $10 in advance at https://cur8.com/ByramHills/hub. $15 at the door. #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

DOWNTOWN (SKID ROW): The kids at North Rockland turned a cafeteria into a Skid Row strip, simply by raising their voices. (And you gotta see the show to hear Audrey II, freshman Ava Tuciarone, who blew me away.) North Rockland presents “Little Shop of Horrors” at 7 p.m., March 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14. $15; $12 students, seniors. https://onthestage.tickets/north-rockland-drama-society/season #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

SPREAD THE LOVE AROUND. The cast of SISTER ACT performs the show’s finale. North Salem Middle/High School presents “Sister Act” at 6 p.m., March 5, at 7 p.m., March 6, and at 2 p.m., March 7. $20; $15 seniors; $10 faculty, staff; $5 students, children at https://our.show/sisteract26 #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

Check out a bit of “Madrid My Mama,” the opening number of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, making its Westchester high school debut March 6 and 7 at Briarcliff HS. Read all about it — and see Senior Moment videos and a photo gallery I call “The Many Faces of Candela” at petekramer.substack.com. (Also, how a @officialnystea class is coming in handy.) #theater #highschoolmusicals #musicalsseason

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'LIGHTS UP' PODCAST

Essential conversations with theater makers

For whatever success I might be lucky enough to achieve within the acting industry, I wonder if any publicity or article will ever feel as special to me as what you have written. Thank you for shining a light on my journey. On behalf of myself and my peers, your dedication to sharing the stories of young artists never goes unnoticed.

K.S.

OUT & ABOUT

A high school actress dressed as Mary Poppins laughs while talking with a man in a tuxedo

Two high school students, one of whom is future film and stage star Rachel Zegler, speak with a tuxedoed reporter

Metro Awards

With a practically perfect Tessa Marsico (Harrison HS) as Mary Poppins.

With future Broadway and film star Rachel Zegler (Immaculate Conception HS) and her friend Alex Birchwale (St. Joseph).

A group of giggling high school girls talk to a man in a tuxedo

With Silly Girls from Sleepy Hollow HS's production of "Beauty & the Beast."

Pedro's Open Mic

Two men smile at the camera after a musical performance

A man in black speaks from behind a podium

A young singer leans in to smile for a selfie with a man

Hosting the annual celebration of musicals at Harrison HS.

With my perennial partner in crime, Michael Mastroianni, the Maestro and essential man at the keyboard for every Open Mic.

With Ari Arocho, Brewster's belter, who sang from "Once On This Island."

Pedro's Musical Reveal Party

Hosting a kick-off event for the 2026 musical season, a night of music, games and theater-kid camaraderie at Sleepy Hollow High School.

A group of dozens of kids pose for a photo in front of a high school stage

Your coverage has encouraged these kids to get out of their own towns and find each other across communities. They connect across high schools, towns and grade levels, and stay connected long after the curtains fall on their high school careers.

E.G.