High-school theater departments willing to experiment with something new might try this as an alternative to the same old reruns of Grease and Romeo and Juliet. -Kirkus Reviews

Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman has considered the advice of performers and producers in this refreshed and thoroughly updated edition of a high-school tour de force. When high school drama departments are not dusting off the old classics-over and over-they are constantly in search of new material. But what play could possibly suit the sound bite attention span of kids who flit from text messages to social networks throughout their day? Cue the lights for Zap, a nonstop farce that juxtaposes seven different plays-performed simultaneously-with comic genius. An extensive author’s note provides information and insight on the plays and playwrights spoofed in Zap.