Gideon Glick stars as a gay teen in Speech & Debate

Recently a new play opened in New York that is handling themes of gay adolescence and predatory authority figures with wit and class. Speech & Debate, the first production in the Roundabout Theater Company's Roundabout Underground initiative, stars out Broadway vet Gideon Glick (Spring Awakening) as a gay teen who bands together with two other misfit students to expose a sexually predatory drama teacher ... by putting on a musical about a time-traveling witch and a gay Abe Lincoln.

The play opened recently to some stellar reviews, and with Avenue Q's Jason Moore at the helm it's not surprising that it's earning raves for its sharp wit and energy. The play was written by Stephen Karam and is the first in the Roundabout's initiative to give emerging playwrights professional productions of their work.

This is not the first time at bat as a singing/dancing gay teen for Gideon Glick (who still has the best name I've heard in years); his character in the runaway smash Spring Awakening fell in love with a fellow student and had one of the most touching scenes in the show.

Speech & Debate runs through December 16th at the Roundabout Theater Black Box. (t/y Wayman for the tip!)