Trama

Lou is brought down to earth when his production budget is slashed, Coach Strickland vindictively monopolizes Robbie's time, and he has a conflict with Tracey. Lilette finds herself starting to fall for Robbie, while Simon contends with conflicting feelings about his role in the show. As Michael finds support within the theater troupe, Gwen acts out in rehearsals in response to tensions at home.

Despite the students - including Robbie - and Tracey defiantly supporting Lou as head of the Theater Program and his choice of "Spring Awakening" as the school's production, Lou continues to have problem after problem in getting this show to opening night the way he wants. On the administrative side, Evan, still against the show, literally makes Lou and Tracey work with no money for production costs. Lou and Tracey have differing opinions not only in how to handle the direction of the cast, but how to approach the Board of Education about the production and the fact of having no money. And Sam lords football's higher status at the school in having first priority on Robbie's time regardless of the schedule to which Sam agreed. With the cast, Gwen appears out of sorts at not getting the lead as she always does, that on the surface appearance which hides some deeper problems. Despite saying otherwise, Simon is not opening himself up to portraying a gay character fearing that others will think he's gay, while his parents still continue to do whatever they can to ensure he doesn't appear in the production. Robbie is having problems remembering his lines, and while he wants to place more effort into the show, he finds that there is more than just pressure from Coach Strickland to place that focus on football. And Michael has to find where he fits logistically into the whole scheme of things, not only for himself but within his peer group. Within all these issues, Lou and Gail have to contend with Gordy, who they fear is still drinking despite his assertions to the contrary. That issue within the Mazzuchelli home is only exacerbated by Maashous' presence, Maashous who Gordy feels is the son Lou wishes he had. Meanwhile, Lilette is basking in this new experience and getting a chance to get to know Robbie. While she wants them to be more than just co-leads in the show, she doesn't want to be seen as a carbon copy of her mother in the process.—Huggo