Don’t miss our first play of 2026.

The Julian CAST program invites you to an engaging and thought-provoking production of Explicit Content for Teens, a new play by playwright and New York Times bestselling author Grace Ellis. Check out her website here.

This unique production explores the question: What does “explicit content” really mean—and who gets to define it? The play follows a high school drama club grappling with that debate and invites the audience to take part in the conversation. While the script contains no actual explicit material, the performance includes an audience vote on the central question and features two possible endings, making each performance a little different.

In keeping with the play’s theme—framed as a school board meeting—each performance will be followed by a post-show conversation with the audience. District 97 Board of Education Vice President Jung Kim will join the talkbacks to help facilitate discussion alongside the production team.

Click here to read Jung Kim’s D97 Board Bio.

Playwright Grace Ellis has been working with the CAST program during rehearsals and will attend the performances. She will also lead a special workshop for CAST students on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. The production is directed by Jason Gerace, a CAST parent and Chicago-area theatre director.

Click here to read a Wednesday Journal article about the director, Jason Gerace.

Explicit Content Performance Dates

• Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m.