IN DEVELOPMENT

AMERICAN TEENAGER

written and directed by Monty Cole

In the midst of another new natural disaster, six teenagers are stuck underground, doing their best to forget about the recurring phenomenon. A modern Breakfast Club, American Teenager is a thrilling teen comedy that examines how we become who we are and how long we can survive. In a suburban landscape, how does a group of teenagers dance through the sirens, America's constant barrage of tragedies?

Monty says, “This play first started off with a curiosity about Gen Z. After a school shooting near Santa Clarita, two young students went on CNN and when asked about whether the tragic events surprised them - they answered no. In fact, most students are trained for a school shooting, trained for a tragedy to strike at any moment. Despite that, they dance, make Tiktoks, find themselves, laugh, drink, push through and find their own sanity. And while that all might be hightened in them as they grow through this specific time in their lives, I realized that all of us are finding our own ways to push through tragedies constantly.

With every production and reading of this play, I’ve re-written and re-created it with the ensemble into something unique that represents that group of artists. Strangely started before Covid-19, it’s become my Pandemic Anthem.”

WORKSHOP PRODUCTION

California Institute of the Arts (pictures above)
February 28 - March 3, 2020

ENSEMBLE: Carolyn Avenger, Garrett Gallego, Khalil Lowry, Danesh Taylor Naghibzad, Jonas Roush, Juice Wood

PRODUCTION TEAM
Scenic Designer: Kendall Smith
Lighting Designer: Leslie Crapster-Pregont
Sound Designer: Hayden Bearden
Costume Designer: Maria Laura Sandoval

Stage Manager: Jillian A. Lindner
Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Adzua Amoa

WORKSHOP FILM

DePaul University
January 26 - 31, 2021

ENSEMBLE: Antonio Banks, Emilie Hanson, TJ Harris, Trey Harris, Bryant Hindsman, Kaitlin Piotroski, Jennifer Young

PRODUCTION TEAM
Sound Designer: Ethan Korvne
Stage Managers: Zoe Sotores, SaVaughn McClaine,

ZOOM READING

National High School Institute - Theatre (“Cherubs”)
July 17, 2021

ENSEMBLE: Haley Bart, Lydia Blaisdell, Jadah Clay, Addie Fairbanks, Evan Holt, Zoe Lai, Lizzie Matlock, Sarah Novak, George Peacock, Tristan Riley, Oliver Tam, Cassie Watt (Design Student)