The First Day of School

1812 Productions, Philadelphia's all-comedy theater company, workshopped and produced the shared world premiere of The First Day of School, a "soccer-mom sex farce" by Billy Aronson, a writer for MTV's Beavis and Butthead. Though modeled on a classic bedroom farce, the play represents a hybrid of comedic styles also including character-driven and realistic comedy. New for the organization was the chance to work actively on a production with a playwright from outside the region. This exchange helped to enhance 1812's nascent reputation as a place where new comedies are nurtured and developed. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote of the production, "Aronson isn't afraid to tackle thorny issues; he just does it with a wink." Aronson was present throughout the extended rehearsal period. Pete Pryor, Jennifer Childs, Chris Faith, Susan Riley Stevens, and Karen Peakes starred in the piece. The First Day of School premiered concurrently at the San Francisco Playhouse.