Me and Orson Welles

In the autumn of 1937, Richard Samuels, a 17-year-old high school student, finds himself swept up in the whirlwind of creativity when Orson Welles (Orson Welles), the charismatic director of Mercury Theatre repertory company, unexpectedly offers him the role of Lucius in Caesar. As rehearsals intensify at the Broadway theater, Richard becomes entranced by Welles' passion and learns that behind the scenes, the mastermind is secretly entwined with the leading actress, while his own wife awaits the arrival of their child.

Meanwhile, production assistant Sonja Jones (Sonja Jones) harbors a romantic interest in Richard. As the premiere approaches, Welles confides in Richard about his growing unease, fearing that his recent streak of good fortune will ultimately culminate in disaster on opening night. His concerns are eerily foreshadowed when Richard inadvertently triggers the sprinkler system, drenching the entire theater during rehearsals. When confronted by Welles, Richard denies any involvement, instead suggesting that the mishap was the manifestation of Welles' long-awaited bad luck.

In an attempt to boost morale and inject a sense of camaraderie into the production team, Welles proposes a coupling game. Richard seizes this opportunity to secure Sonja as his partner, but his joy is short-lived as he becomes envious when she chooses to spend the following night with Welles. A heated confrontation ensues, during which Richard mentions his wife's pregnancy and is subsequently fired from the production.

Despite the initial success of Caesar on opening night, Richard soon discovers that he was merely a pawn in Welles' strategy to ensure a successful premiere, and once again finds himself without a role. As the curtain closes on this chapter of his life, Richard rebounds by reciting poignant lines from Julius Caesar during his high school English class, earning applause from his peers.

Seeking solace, Richard rekindles an earlier connection with Gretta Adler (Gretta Adler), a young aspiring playwright he had met at a music store. With Sonja's assistance, Adler secures publication in The New Yorker and invites Richard to help her celebrate this milestone. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Richard has emerged from his experiences wiser, more resilient, and poised to embark on a new chapter of creative collaboration with Adler.