←Recommendations of An After School Special

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!

When I saw this title, I thought to myself, 'I bet that play's funny.' And, you guys, it IS. It's very funny. The theater program at the John Wilkes Booth High School for the Performing Arts (which only does math-related shows) is at risk of being dissolved because theater is offensive (and because they're running out of math-related shows.) Can the drama kids save the program and prevent the drama teacher from being forced to teach only driver's ed (something she's very good at, but not passionate for)? This play is a delightful ride.

A wonderful effort to save the show and continue drama in schools that's also incredibly funny! Well done.

This is a play that will be embraced by both teen actors and teen audiences. It’s so beautifully irreverent while “trying” to be unoffensive. Everyone in the cast has a chance to shine and Kaplan’s characters look like they are going in one direction and then surprise. The play-within-a-play is inspired by every play that ever was. Part loony-tunes and part silly-sweet, Kaplan’s take on the high school stage will send you to the next high school play in your neighborhood and if you are lucky - this will be the play.

Kaplan has created a delightfully absurd world filled with quirky characters and some hilarious lines! This play kind of reminds me of one of my favorite favorite books as a kid, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, in the best way. I imagine this would be an absolute blast for high school students to put on for their parents! Bravo!

Kaplan's script is laugh-out-loud funny. The plot, characters and dialogue all lend to its joyous lunacy: a combination of "Let's put on a show" pluckiness, after-school special melodrama, "The Mystery of Irma Vep" theatricality, and insight into what makes drama students, their parents and teachers oh so special.