Speech and Debate Trailer 2

In this funny and dark comedy, which incorporates music, three teens in Salem, Oregon, — a nerd, a wannabe actress, and an openly gay guy — all know a dark secret and come together to find a way to expose it.

By displaying the teens' instant messaging to the audience and using speech club categories like "Extemporaneous," "Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation" and "Lincoln-Douglas Debate" to introduce action and give insight into the characters, the town's secrets and hypocrisy are revealed.

The comedy portrays these young people at a time in their lives when, between late adolescence and adulthood, they grapple with weighty topics such as free speech and homophobia. The dialogue has been applauded for its naturalness and lack of cliché, which may be due to the youth of the playwright, Stephen Karam, who was 26 when he penned the play.

Directing for American Theatre Company is Robert Walters, with scenery designed by Richard Ellis.

Recommended for mature audiences: age 18 and up.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• speech and debate
• teenagers
• gay
• homosexual
• abortion
• sex
• harassment
• teachers
• school
• class
• npr
• newspaper
• undercover
• gaybraham lincoln
• funny
• dark comedy
• trailer
• tulsa performing arts center
• march
• tulsa
• robert walters
• seventummy
• mondo tulsa