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THE SECOND BEST SCHOOL SHOOTING
September 17-October 11, 2026
A U.S. Premiere Play by Alice Stanley Jr.
Directed by Heather Lanza
Honorary Executive Producer: Adam McKay
NextStop Theatre only sells tickets using our ticketing platform Ovationtix.
Tickets should not be purchased using any other platform.
About the Show
A U.S. Premiere dark comedy about grief, friendship, and what happens when one tragedy is eclipsed by another. As two best friends try to make sense of surviving a school shooting, they confront the brutally absurd and deeply human question: how do you grieve when the world has already moved on?
Audience Advisories:
discussions of gun violence and self-harm, strong adult language, shotgun sound effects
Special Events:
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Sunday, September 20th after the 2pm performance: Artist Talkback with the Playwright, Alice Stanley Jr. and Director, Heather Lanza. Facilitated by Dramaturg, Ynika Yuag.
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Sunday, September 27th matinee: This will be a mask required performance. Please bring a mask or one will be provided to you.
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Friday, October 2nd: $30 Under 40 Happy Hour starting at 7pm. Grab a drink on us, bring your friends, and kick off your weekend with the best live performance in town!
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Sunday, October 4th after the 2pm performance: Topical Talkback with Delegates Garrett McGuire and Irene Shin, Senator Jennifer Boysko, and March for Our Lives Associate Director of Advocacy and Partnerships, Payton Ziegler. Facilitated by Dramaturg, Ynika Yuag.
Meet the Artists
Alice Stanley Jr., Playwright
Alice Stanley Jr. writes dark bubblegum. Following her sold-out Edinburgh Fringe World Premiere of The Second Best School Shooting (EP Adam McKay), she is penning a horror comedy with actor/director Alison Brie and a climate comic with Todd McFarlane. Previous writing credits include Moxie (dir. Amy Poehler), Busy Tonight (EP Tina Fey), The GLAAD Awards, 18 animated Barbie series (including the viral hit Barbie Camp Sister Switch), and the pop mystery novella Gay Lore, sold exclusively at Skylight Books. Alice's play Hello, Stacey! was a finalist for the Relentless Award, honoring Philip Seymour Hoffman's relentless pursuit of truth in theatre. She also regularly performs with the improvised musical Baby Wants Candy at UCB and Edinburgh Fringe, and occasionally on Dropout.tv (Play It By Ear and Dirty Laundry). Before moving to LA, Alice was a Chicago public school teacher, disability resource advocate, and touring member of The Second City. Her hobbies include climate activism and scarfing pastries.
Heather Lanza, Director
Heather Lanza is proud to be the Producing Artistic Director at NextStop Theater in Herndon, VA. Directorialy, Heather focuses on new play development and the devising of original new works. Her work has been premiered and workshoped at Juilliard, HERE Arts Center, Epic Theater Ensemble, Keen Company, Waterwell, The Gallery Players, The Davenport, NY International Fringe Festival, Access Theater, The Kraine, Theater for a New City, The Players Theater, Bleecker Street Theater, Magic Future Box, Berkshire Fringe, Virginia Children’s Theater, Redhouse Arts Center, and many others. Heather is currently serving as the Producing Artistic Director of NextStop Theatre in Herndon, VA. Additionally, Heather is also the co-founder of the NYC based Making it Happen Productions, which focuses on emerging artists voices who seek to use theater as a way to engage dialogue and promote change. Heather previously served as the Education Director/Artistic Director of the Waterwell Drama Program for Waterwell. Heather holds a BA in Directing from Fordham University and a MA in Applied Theater from CUNY School of Professional Studies. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union www.heatherlanza.com
Sadie Koopman, Ava
Sadie is thrilled to be back at NextStop after having worked on DreamHou$e last season. DC AREA: Olney Theatre Center: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Phoebe); Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), The Rover (Lucetta/Band Member). REGIONAL: Quintessence Theatre Group: The Pirates of Penzance (Edith/Pirate/Mabel u/s), Rare Accidents: Henry IV pts 1 & 2 (Lady Percy/Doll Tearsheet/others). Sadie wouldn’t be where she is today without her family of storytellers. She dedicates this performance (and every performance) to them, and to every kid who learned early on that growing up can be tough, but stories and music can be their own kind of home. EDUCATION: MFA in Classical Acting from The Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy; BMs in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance from Oklahoma City University. Instagram: @sadie.koopman Website: sadiekoopman.com
Alexandra López, Parker
Alexandra (she/her) is thrilled to be back at NextStop! REGIONAL: Theatre West Virginia: Honey in the Rock, Shrek; Iron Crow Theatre: Next to Normal; Clear Space Theatre: 9 to 5, Grease, Joseph…DreamCoat. DC AREA: Olney Theatre Center: I & You: The Musical; Imagination Stage: The Snowman and the Snowdog; Monumental Theatre Co: The Rocky Horror Show, Built For This (reading); Adventure Theatre: The Lightning Thief; NextStop Theatre: Footloose, Reefer Madness, In the Heights. EDUCATION: B.M. in Musical Theatre and Master’s of Science in Business from Catholic University. Love to Ma, Pa, Andres, and Frankie!
Hope Blahusch, Ava Understudy
Hope (she/her) is thrilled to be debuting at NextStop in this incredible show! Recent credits include REGIONAL: The Riverside Center for Performing Arts: Guys And Dolls, The Donna Summer Musical, White Christmas, and Heartbreak Hotel. ARTfactory Actors Theatre: Cabaret, Kinky Boots. She is a graduate of The Catholic University of America where she received her BM in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance. There she performed in shows such as Pippin, Carrie, and She Kills Monsters. She would like to thank the cast, crew, playwright, and creative team for their amazing work on this incredibly important piece of art. She would also like to express her gratitude to her family, friends, and mentors without whom none of this would be possible! Instagram: @hope_b8
Megan Kempton, Parker Understudy
Megan (she/her) is thrilled to be back at NextStop after previously participating in the NextDraft workshop of The Second Best School Shooting. Other selected acting credits include Cheryl in Evil Dead the Musical (Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical—Helen); Workhouse Arts Center: Songs of the Acropolis; Glass Cannon, Ashlee in Dance Nation; American University, and Pilar in Legally Blonde; The Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Some directing and choreography credits include The Addams Family; Encore Stage and Studio, The Two “Gentlemen” of Verona; American University, Madeline’s Christmas; Encore Stage and Studio, and Come From Away; Quince Orchard High School. Megan is a graduate of American University BA Musical Theatre ‘25. Instagram: @megankemptonn