Dark Comedy / Characters: 5m, 1f / Interior
In The Faculty Room, Bridget Carpenter explores the darker side of high school life from the inside of that mythic room, the teacher's lounge. English teacher Adam, Drama teacher Zoe and Ethics teacher Bill, along with mysterious new World History teacher Carver, are all taunted by the disembodied voice of Principal Dennis on the P.A. system. Dedicated yet desperate, inspired yet burnt out, hateful yet loving - the teachers of Madison Feury High are a bundle of contradictions in Carpenter's rich portrait. A funny and caustic look at how truly f*cked up the relationships between teachers and students can get, The Faculty Room erupts with gunshots, desperate longing, and a growing wave of spiritual fanaticism. Our education system may never recover.
Winner of the Kesselring Prize for Playwriting.
"Lively black comedy...A rollercoaster course...Shalwitz gives the evening a snappy, agitated flair. The design supports the script intelligently." - City Paper
"The three lead actors [Bowen, Anderson & Russotto] bring a lot of humor to their roles. The dialogue is sharp." - Washingtonian
"A delightful madhouse [of] over-the-edge teachers...A riot" - Arlington Weekly News
"Witty dialogue & fine acting [in] this engaging play" - The Economist.com/Cities Guide
"Outrageous circumstances. Howard Shalwitz's good-looking production strikes the right tone. Underplayed pretty much to perfection by Michael Willis...Megan Anderson is an appealing presence." - Washington Post
"Cutthroat portrayals by Bowen & Anderson...Woolly should be commended for their unwavering commitment to new work" - Washington Times
"Clever one-liners abound... a biting, caustic vision" - DCist.com
"Woolly Mammoth's usual excellence characterizes the design team - refreshing & funny" - DC Theatre Reviews