Fresh off a five-star sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run, THE SECOND BEST SCHOOL SHOOTING follows two best friends struggling to process surviving a school shooting that is overshadowed by a much worse school shooting on the same day. A dark comedy about America’s traumatized, despondent, yet somehow hilarious youth. Developed with hundreds of students, teachers–with community partnership from March For Our Lives. Written by Alice Stanley Jr. and directed by Riley Rose Critchlow. Starring Rachael BeBoer and Shaylaren Hilton.

“Captivating, provocative, inspiring.” - Executive Producer Adam McKay (All the Empty Rooms, The Big Short, Stepbrothers)

“A breathtaking tightrope act… beautifully nuanced… note-perfect”. - Rolling Stone UK, 5 stars

“An unflinching yet deeply human perspective on how young people process fear and trauma. Through sharp satire and unexpected humour, it creates space for dialogue around an issue that is too often avoided.” - Theatre Weekly

“Stanley Jr’s play is an indictment of gun violence, a portrait of how social media has pressure-cooked young people’s priorities, and, ultimately, a study of how true friendship can survive through it all.” - The Scotsman

“A whip smart study of adolescence, friendship and survival in the face of tragedy.” “fearless performances.” - The Herald

“Perhaps the strongest piece of writing at this year’s Fringe.” - Adventures in Theatreland

“The Second Best School Shooting is incredibly sharp and funny in a way that stays uncomfortable in the right places. It captures something real about how young people process violence and grief, and the strange, public ways those experiences unfold.” – Jaclyn Corin, Executive Director of March For Our Lives

"As a school shooting survivor, you carry emotions that are often too overwhelming, complicated, and isolating to put into words. This play captured those feelings and it gave language to the fear, anger, numbness, and confusion that so many of us live with every day. Watching it felt like being seen, like someone finally understood what’s so hard to explain." - Olivia, school shooting survivor

“Alice Stanley Jr.’s The Second Best School Shooting gives voice to the victims of America's gun epidemic: the children. It is as powerful as it is funny.” – Kristen Schaal, writer/actor

“In 50 years time, this will be the play they study in drama schools to understand how we used theatre to address the troubles of our time.” – Tony Loves the Fringe, 5 star review