Hamlet 1991

Dana Marschz is a recovering alcoholic who has grappled with his identity as a once-aspiring actor, now turned high school drama teacher in the sunny setting of Tucson, Arizona. Rather than realizing his dream within the sparkly lights of Hollywood, he finds himself navigating the tumultuous waters of high school education, grappling with a mere two enthusiastic students, Rand Posin and Epiphany Sellars, as they attempt to bring the world of theater to life. His attempts to inspire passion through school productions are met with indifference, producing mediocre adaptations of popular films, with his latest venture being a rather lackluster rendition of Erin Brockovich. As a new semester dawns, an influx of unmotivated students are thrust into his class — the sole arts elective available following severe budget cuts that drained the school’s resources.

The tides of Dana’s teaching life shift dramatically when Principal Rocker delivers the crushing news that the drama program is facing imminent closure at term’s end. In response to this bleak revelation, Dana takes on the ambitious task of crafting an original play. His wildly imaginative idea is to write a sequel to Hamlet that incorporates elements of time travel, allowing characters to escape their tragic fates. But Dana’s creativity doesn’t stop there; he introduces new and provocative elements, including the audacious decision to add Jesus Christ as a character, accompanied by a flashy musical number titled “Rock Me Sexy Jesus”. While the initial reception to his project is tepid, especially from rival student Octavio who steals the spotlight as Hamlet, the anticipation builds as the students gradually begin to embrace Dana’s visionary play.

However, turmoil brews as personal strife complicates Dana’s journey. His wife, Brie, leaves him for the uninspiring but quietly fertile border, Gary, creating a cascade of despair as he also learns of his own infertility. This crushing revelation sends him spiraling back into his old habits, as he briefly abandons the play. Yet, in a moment of redemption, his students rally behind him, arranging resources including a venue hidden in an abandoned warehouse, some much-needed technical support, and logistical backing from the school’s ever-reliable football and wrestling teams. The stakes raise even higher when activist Cricket Feldstein draws attention to the play, framing the cancellation as a pressing civil liberties issue, igniting a buzz around Dana’s endeavor that even attracts a New York Times critic.

As the curtain rises on opening night, the play faces a divided reception due to its unorthodox content, which humorously references the estrangements between fathers and sons pretty consistently. The title characters, Hamlet and Jesus, ultimately showcase a journey of forgiveness, culminating in a powerful reconciliation. Initially met with protests, the performance begins to charm the audience, converting skepticism into applause as the narrative unfolds. In a turn of fate, Rand Posin returns to the fold, extending an olive branch to Dana and reclaiming the role of Laertes. As Dana prepares for a potential Broadway opening, a newfound relationship with his favorite actress, Elisabeth Shue, brings hope, illustrating that even the most tumultuous journeys can lead to the brightest of destinations in the world of theater. Their collaboration with the students promises an original and thrilling experience on stage, poised to leave an indelible mark on the audience and perhaps even rescue Dana’s own aspirations along the way.