Showmance

Noah Adams’s career as a playwright is circling the drain, thanks to a scorching New York Times review of his first Broadway musical. So when a family emergency sends him back to his Podunk hometown of Plainview, Illinois, he figures he’ll hide out for a day or two and lick his wounds.  But to Noah’s absolute horror, his agent has secretly arranged for him to stage an amateur version of the career-ruining musical at the Plainview community theater. As though trying to work with a bunch of unsophisticated amateurs on his high-art production wasn’t enough, Noah seems to run into Luke, the bully from his high school years, everywhere he goes. Even worse, Luke has grown up to be downright gorgeous and beloved by all. But as rehearsals begin, Noah is surprised by the cast and crew’s insightful suggestions, the deep care and warmth of the town he’d dismissed, and the reality of what happened with Luke all those years ago.

Mandy Graul