Honor Student

by Michael Erickson

A student in a college creative writing class writes a story about a student, much like himself, who brings a gun to class and begins shooting his classmates and instructor, much like the actual people in the class. Fearful that the story is a blueprint for a real shooting, the instructor alerts university officials and tries to have the student removed from her class. But the student fights back. He argues she...

A student in a college creative writing class writes a story about a student, much like himself, who brings a gun to class and begins shooting his classmates and instructor, much like the actual people in the class. Fearful that the story is a blueprint for a real shooting, the instructor alerts university officials and tries to have the student removed from her class. But the student fights back. He argues she is trying to censor his freedom of speech, and that she is biased against his gender and race. The instructor is soon on the defensive. Her career and her reputation are on the line. Has she overreacted? Or is there something deeper, more dangerous lurking here?

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Honor Student

Recommended by

  • Kitchen Dog Theater: Honor Student

    We are pleased to support this play! It was a Finalist for the 2016 New Works Festival at Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas.

    We are pleased to support this play! It was a Finalist for the 2016 New Works Festival at Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas.

  • JG Carlson: Honor Student

    Michael Erickson clearly understands the politics of academia, but without banging us over the head about it, he creates an "edge of your seat" experience for the reader/viewer. Full Disclosure: I saw a staged reading of this play about two years ago, and it was outstanding. This play deserves to be seen by a wide audience. It begs the question "what exactly constitutes stalking" and it is smart, engrossing, a little frightening and leaves you with some serious questions about the ethics involved in navigating tricky university relationships, personal and professional.

    Michael Erickson clearly understands the politics of academia, but without banging us over the head about it, he creates an "edge of your seat" experience for the reader/viewer. Full Disclosure: I saw a staged reading of this play about two years ago, and it was outstanding. This play deserves to be seen by a wide audience. It begs the question "what exactly constitutes stalking" and it is smart, engrossing, a little frightening and leaves you with some serious questions about the ethics involved in navigating tricky university relationships, personal and professional.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Midwest Playwriting Competition, Year 2014
  • Type Reading, Organization Coe College, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization Playwrights' First, NYC, Year 2013
  • Type Workshop, Organization Nashville Repertory Theatre, Year 2012
  • Type Reading, Organization Great Plains Theatre Conference, Year 2012