What's Wrong With You

by Jan Rosenberg

When troubled student Caden sees his classmate have a seizure on a train, it sets off an increasingly dangerous chain of events as he and his new friends embark on a sick game that's based on shock value.

When troubled student Caden sees his classmate have a seizure on a train, it sets off an increasingly dangerous chain of events as he and his new friends embark on a sick game that's based on shock value.

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What's Wrong With You

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: What's Wrong With You

    A real look inside the experience of being a teen in a social media culture with a plethora of struggles. Well done.

    A real look inside the experience of being a teen in a social media culture with a plethora of struggles. Well done.

  • David Hansen: What's Wrong With You

    I love smart play scripts about modern teenagers so much. I love them even more when they feature drop dead, whip-smart dialogue while also communicating deeply felt character and emotion.

    Rosenberg’s story of a Gen Z cohort who engage in outrageous dares, faking injuries for social media, is thrilling, moving, and very, very real. There is an almost complete absence of adults, highlighting the extent to which these kids have been made to be self-reliant, but also the chilling degree to which they are on their own to manage their many emotional challenges. Highly recommended!

    I love smart play scripts about modern teenagers so much. I love them even more when they feature drop dead, whip-smart dialogue while also communicating deeply felt character and emotion.

    Rosenberg’s story of a Gen Z cohort who engage in outrageous dares, faking injuries for social media, is thrilling, moving, and very, very real. There is an almost complete absence of adults, highlighting the extent to which these kids have been made to be self-reliant, but also the chilling degree to which they are on their own to manage their many emotional challenges. Highly recommended!

  • Shaun Leisher: What's Wrong With You

    There are very few plays I’ve that captures the confusion and pain of being a teenager as well as this one. Yes these are children but Rosenberg forces us to take them and their problems deadly serious and sit with them through it. Excellent use of multiple forms of media and I’m excited to see this fully realized with projection design I hope this play gets in the hands of young people and they’ll know someone sees their struggles and thinks they deserve to be heard.

    There are very few plays I’ve that captures the confusion and pain of being a teenager as well as this one. Yes these are children but Rosenberg forces us to take them and their problems deadly serious and sit with them through it. Excellent use of multiple forms of media and I’m excited to see this fully realized with projection design I hope this play gets in the hands of young people and they’ll know someone sees their struggles and thinks they deserve to be heard.

View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

Please cast these roles keeping body diversity in mind. All bodies are beautiful.
  • JONAH
    Wild, manic, and unfiltered. CADEN’s best friend.
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    African American / Black
  • WENDY
    WENDY and MAE should look similar, enough to be mistaken for sisters.
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Hispanic/Latina
  • EVIE
    CADEN’s sister. No filter.
    Character Age
    12
  • RENA
    CADEN’s mother. She carries a quiet sadness and shame.
    Character Age
    40-55
  • CADEN
    A sensitive kid with quiet rage.
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
  • MAE
    She radiates something that makes you kind of hate her and want to be her best friend at the same time.
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Latina

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Stella Adler Studio, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Less Than Rent Theatre, Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization Barefoot Theater Company, Year 2016

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Stella Adler Academy of Acting, Year 2019
  • Type Professional, Organization Stella Adler Studio, Year 2018

Awards