About the Play:

This is a Test is a one-act comedy by Stephen Gregg. A dark comedy about the pressures of school, tests, college acceptance, competitive classmates and general teenage angst. You stayed up all night struggling to prepare for a very important test with no review sheets. On testing day the nightmare begins: you don't know any answers and it feels like the world is working against you… or is it real? Especially recommended for school and contest use.

This is A Test is a very high-stress comedy about the worst nightmare of a stressed out sleep deprived student taking a brutal test at school. As the ticking clock reminds you, you have only 60 minutes to complete this oh-so-important predictor of your future. But you didn't get the review sheets, the teacher doesn't seem to like you, and your classmates are blatantly cheating! Time is passing and the voices in your head keep reminding you that though you may be having trouble with the test, your personal life is far, far worse. Then you reach the essay question. The good news – it's an opinion essay. The bad news – it's in several different languages! And things aren't going to get better! This is A Test is a proven contest winner that depicts something to which we all can relate: taking a test!

This is a Test, helped define a genre of large-cast one-acts when it appeared in 1988. Since then, it has been one of the most-produced one-act titles in High School Theatres for more than 25 years. The follow-up, This Is a Text is a battle against an exam, waged during the age of distraction. Both are an ideal choice for one-act festivals. The plays may be presented separately or as a double bill to create a full evening of entertainment.

Cast: 13 to 15 actors, any gender

What people say:

"This Is a Test is a play that begs to be messed with." Stephen Gregg (any changes are acceptable per the author)

"This play remains a perennial favorite with audiences of all ages! Who can't relate to the idea of a killer test, and we've all had 'that teacher' - the one who seems to dislike you no matter what. The levels of humor and subtle shifts in time and place make this play entertaining and fun to produce." Jennifer Pasko, Solanco High School, Quarryville, Pennsylvania

About the Playwright:

Stephen Gregg grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and graduated from Stanford University. He is the recipient of a Jerome Fellowship from the Playwright's Center of Minneapolis; Actors Theatre of Louisville's Heideman Award for best 10-minute play; the International Thespian Society's Founders' Award for service to youth and theatre; and a residency from the William Inge Center for the Arts.