Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize John Wilkes Booth High School for the Performing Arts Presents... as a Semi-Finalist in the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. The play rose through a competitive process conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the humor and casting choices within the play. Our congratulations and thanks to Stephen.

I had the pleasure of seeing the premiere of this satire vibrating with joyous wacky energy, which (as a previous recommender suggested) is indeed reminiscent of the energy emanating from Louis Sachar's "Wayside School" series. However, beneath that hilarious energy lies serious contemplation of the nature of censorship in the arts and our schools. The play-within-a-play (or, to be more accurate, feelsical-within-a play) is definitely a highlight!

WOW! This play is hilarious and timely. Having taught and directed high school theatre for 20 years, I know all too well the ludicrous attempts to water down, censor and flat out condemn anything that may be deemed remotely provocative. Stephen Kaplan clearly knows this too. He captures the drama of the drama kids, the desperation of their teacher and the madness of the principal and parents who do everything they can to ensure that every performance is comfortable for literally everybody. This is satire at its finest!