←Recommendations of Zero

Propulsive and powerful and pulsing with cynicism and hope in equal measure. The sci fi love child of Strange Days at Blake Holsey High and a D.A.R.E. program ran by beyond neglectful adults. Fantastical and heartfelt dialogue and descriptiveness that feels akin to John Hughes and Gregg Araki and tightly paced kids adventures but make it more terrifying and fucked up. Nil, Harrison, and Julia are the trifecta of teen rebellion, resentment, and resilience I never knew I needed to read. Definitely read this play!

I've never read a play like this. It's about a group of teenagers in a reform school for dangerous teens. It's about a giant, gaping, other-worldly hole in the ground. It's about a missing iguana. It's about the concept of nothing, and whether or not nothing actually exists. And when you take it all together.. wow, what a ride. It's hard to write dialogue for teenagers, but Ian August nails it. This play is about so much darkness, and so much hope. It's wonderful.

A moving rollercoaster of a journey through the throws of life and the search for connection. Well done.

"Visceral, gripping, creative, stunning, powerful, thought-provoking, and hopeful." These are responses from Ashland New Plays Festival audiences after seeing this one-of-a-kind storytelling adventure into hope and hopelessness, angst, addiction, apathy, and acceptance. We are excited to support this ANPF 2020 winner and can't wait for a theatre to consider ZERO for full production.

The quick-witted and acerbic first person narration works wonders to propel this forward-moving journey through heightened reality. Very touching moments of real pain and need for connection within the madness.

Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play ZERO, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

This is a ride I'm glad I took. It has so many things I love working together to weave this excellent mystery together. The script gives a sense of urgency that makes it hard to put down and I would LOVE to see this on stage, film, mini-series, etc. because so much of the story would give designers some really cool stuff to do. I'm still trying to find words to convey the emotional journey I just took with this play.

Ian's incredibly theatrical play has a bold beating heart that palpitates and permeates through a propulsive exploration of existing - what we think that means and what it truly means. Are we all nothing? Is nothing more than just nothing? ZERO is ripe with Ian's ability to turn a phrase - utilizing that to access our hearts, to get us to fiercely empathize and connect in a heightened world that isn't so far from our own. And...you'll never think of a can of tomato soup the same way again. Read it. And get to know his other work too.

A fast-paced roller coaster ride of a piece that uses exquisitely theatrical magic and compelling narration to explore mental health, trauma, teen relationships, and the puzzling and eternal questions asking us what are young people supposed to do with the anger and emotional weights that saddle them as they come of age and forge identities for themselves? I'm eager to see how this piece develops and hope to see its unique stage magic and narrative techniques come alive on its feet someday soon!

From the very first word, Ian August grabs his audience and takes them on a breathless ride. Where is the eye of sanity in this hurricane of insanity? This play is rich with overflowing emotions and desires and a desparate search for human connection. With all the emotional upheaval, there is a satisfying ray of hope.