#TheaterKidsUnite with Speech & Debate this Weekend

With The 71st Annual Tony Awards just around the corner, excitement is mounting among theatre fans from all over the globe and viewing parties are popping up left, right and centre. The New York Theatre Guide would like to take this opporti=unity to encourage all our readers to come together for a special social media viewing party of Sycamore Pictures musical theatre-centric film Speech & Debate. From tomorrow, June 8 through to Sunday, June 11, a whole host of celebrities and fans will join in a live online conversation about the world of theatre by using the hashtag #TheaterKidsUnite.

Why do we wish to promote this social media campaign in particular? Well, a portion of all rentals and film purchases made between June 8 and 11 will go towards a great cause and it goes by the name of The Trevor Project - the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youths between the ages of 13 and 24.

Speech & Debate began life as a play written by Stephen Karam, who won a Tony Award at last year's awards ceremony for The Humans. Its Off-Broadway premiere was staged as part of the Roundabout Underground series, running from October 2007 through to February 2008, and was directed by Jason Moore. More recently, the UK premiere of Speech & Debate was held at the Trafalgar Studios in London from February to April 2017.

Karam adapted his play into a film, starring Sarah Steele (who also performed off-Broadway), Austin P. McKenzie, and Liam James and directed by Dan Harris, which was released in April of this year, just after its London premiere. The cast also features Roger Bart, Janeane Garofalo, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kal Penn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Skylar Astin, with special appearances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kristin Chenoweth and Darren Criss.

Synopsis: "The teen comedy follows three young people brought together by a series of mishaps. Frustrated by the hypocrisy they see in their parents, teachers, and the entire school board, the unlikely trio set out to find a common truth and make their voices heard as they revive a defunct school club and take on the world. Blogging, blackmail, and Broadway belting drive the trio's bond in this outrageous comedy."

Click HERE to rent or purchase the film on iTunes and remember to use #TheaterKidsUnite to connect on social media.