Exit Strategy by Ike Holter

(3)
Productions (26)
Drama
|
90 - 100 minutes
3 W, 4 M, 
Set: An office, a teachers' lounge, and outside of the school.

The teachers of Tumbldn High School don't live in an inspirational teacher movie. They bring mousetraps from home, they make the toilet paper last, and they show up for the kids nobody else shows up for. So when the school is slated for closure at the end of the year, and the weight of the inevitable bears down on the community, students and teachers alike discover their breaking points. Ricky, the vice principal, has stayed firmly on the sidelines for all of the teachers' previous battles, but now in the eleventh hour, he's compelled to step up with a plan to save the school. Some risk their futures to follow his lead-- But does he actually have any idea what he's doing? Spiked with humor and brimming with fury, Exit Strategy is an exhilarating call to arms about what we owe each other.

The 2nd play in Ike Holter's Rightlynd Saga.

Play Details

The teachers of Tumbldn High School don't live in an inspirational teacher movie. They bring mousetraps from home, they make the toilet paper last, and they show up for the kids nobody else shows up for. So when the school is slated for closure at the end of the year, and the weight of the inevitable bears down on the community, students and teachers alike discover their breaking points. Ricky, the vice principal, has stayed firmly on the sidelines for all of the teachers' previous battles, but now in the eleventh hour, he's compelled to step up with a plan to save the school. Some risk their futures to follow his lead-- But does he actually have any idea what he's doing? Spiked with humor and brimming with fury, Exit Strategy is an exhilarating call to arms about what we owe each other.

The 2nd play in Ike Holter's Rightlynd Saga.

“Each character in “Exit Strategy” comes quickly into clear focus. And while the play serves as a stinging indictment of the state of public schools in Chicago and, more broadly, the country, Mr. Holter deftly embeds his finger-pointing in the drama itself. We see beyond the surface dysfunction to the toll it takes on the lives, and careers, of the teachers, whose dedication to their students comes across movingly, even when they are complaining about them.” -Review: In ‘Exit Strategy,’ Scrambling Before School’s Out Forever — New York Times

  • Drama
  • |
  • 90 - 100 minutes
  • 3 W, 4 M, 
  • Set: An office, a teachers' lounge, and outside of the school.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-908-5

Published Reviews

"[Holter] has a gift for sharp characterization and crisply funny dialogue with jagged edges. . . . Each character in Exit Strategy comes quickly into clear focus. And while the play serves as a stinging indictment of the state of public schools in Chicago and, more broadly, the country, Mr. Holter deftly embeds his finger-pointing in the drama itself. We see beyond the surface dysfunction to the toll it takes on the lives, and careers, of the teachers."

Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

"At once poetic, political, sad, funny, timely, complex and compassionate, Ike Holter's thrilling, beautiful new play Exit Strategy is the story of the desperate final days of a condemned, crumbling Chicago public school. . . . Holter has forged a riveting 90 minutes."

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

"Exit Strategy avoids the Hollywoodization of the decay of America's public school systems . . . It is charged with anger, demanding justice . . . Holter's dialogue is fresh, hilarious, and contemporary as can be."

Joshua Millhouse, Philadelphia Indie

"Ike Holter's new play is by turns energetic, optimistic, and bittersweet . . . There's a wide range of tone here--from raw desolation to high comedy, and Holter manages it masterfully."

David Fox, Philly Mag

"Ike Holter's Exit Strategy is a powerful play whose critical messages about the state of public education could not be more timely . . . Holter's dialogue is snappy, funny, and impressively authentic."

Rebecca Rendell, Talkin' Broadway

"It's a rare play that can entertain you and outrage you simultaneously, but that's just what Exit Strategy does. Fierce and funny . . . terrific."

Toby Zinman, Philadelphia Inquirer

"A call to arms . . . Beautifully dangerous, deeply felt in each shocking discovery . . . Exit Strategy challenges and inspires, questioning what's worth fighting for and how to lead that fight."

Megan Diehl, DC Metro Theatre Arts

Production History

OCT 20, 2023 - OCT 22, 2023
Face Off Theatre
Kalamazoo, MI United States
Face Off Theatre Kalamazoo, MI United States
JUL 29, 2023 - JUL 30, 2023
Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts
Evanston IL, IL United States
Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts Evanston IL, IL United States
APR 21, 2023 - APR 23, 2023
Echo Theater Collective
Maywood, IL United States
Echo Theater Collective Maywood, IL United States
MAR 02, 2023 - MAR 05, 2023
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA United States
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA United States
JAN 26, 2023 - FEB 04, 2023
Temple Theaters
Philadelphia, PA United States
Temple Theaters Philadelphia, PA United States
JUN 16, 2022 - JUN 25, 2022
Harbinger Theatre
Albany, NY United States
Harbinger Theatre Albany, NY United States
MAR 16, 2022 - MAR 26, 2022
college
Chicago, IL United States
college Chicago, IL United States
SEP 16, 2021 - SEP 18, 2021
Bush Theatrical Ensemble
Richmond, TX United States
Bush Theatrical Ensemble Richmond, TX United States
JUN 04, 2021 - JUN 13, 2021
Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Des Moines, IA United States
Iowa Stage Theatre Company Des Moines, IA United States
JAN 29, 2021 - FEB 28, 2021
Victory Gardens Theater
Chicago, IL United States
Victory Gardens Theater Chicago, IL United States
OCT 03, 2020 - OCT 03, 2020
Phase Eight Theater Company
Jacksonville, FL United States
Phase Eight Theater Company Jacksonville, FL United States
NOV 15, 2019 - NOV 24, 2019
LMC Performing Arts
Benton Harbor, MI United States
LMC Performing Arts Benton Harbor, MI United States
AUG 30, 2019 - SEP 29, 2019
Aurora Theatre Company
Berkeley, CA United States
Aurora Theatre Company Berkeley, CA United States
MAR 01, 2019 - MAY 03, 2019
Purchase College
Purchase, NY United States
Purchase College Purchase, NY United States
NOV 20, 2018 - NOV 21, 2018
Cooperative Arts High School
New Haven, CT United States
Cooperative Arts High School New Haven, CT United States
OCT 10, 2018 - OCT 27, 2018
Rec Room
Houston, TX
Rec Room Houston, TX
APR 05, 2018 - APR 07, 2018
Mirrorbox Theatre, CSPS Hall
Cedar Rapids, IA United States
Mirrorbox Theatre, CSPS Hall Cedar Rapids, IA United States
JAN 18, 2018 - FEB 04, 2018
Forward Theatre Company
Madison, WI United States
Forward Theatre Company Madison, WI United States
SEP 26, 2017 - NOV 05, 2017
LA LGBT Center
Los Angeles, CA United States
LA LGBT Center Los Angeles, CA United States
APR 06, 2017 - APR 23, 2017
The Theater Project
Maplewood, NJ United States
The Theater Project Maplewood, NJ United States
FEB 23, 2017 - MAR 11, 2017
Rec Room
Houston, TX United States
Rec Room Houston, TX United States
FEB 17, 2017 - MAR 11, 2017
Zeitgeist Stage Company
Boston, MA United States
Zeitgeist Stage Company Boston, MA United States
FEB 14, 2017 - MAR 12, 2017
True Colors Theatre Co.
Atlanta, GA United States
True Colors Theatre Co. Atlanta, GA United States
APR 01, 2016 - APR 30, 2016
Primary Stages
New York, NY United States
Primary Stages New York, NY United States
FEB 01, 2016 - MAR 31, 2016
Philadelphia Theater Company
Philadelphia, PA United States
Philadelphia Theater Company Philadelphia, PA United States
MAY 01, 2014 - AUG 31, 2014
Jackalope Theater
Chicago, IL United States
Jackalope Theater Chicago, IL United States
No upcoming productions.
JAN 29, 2021 - FEB 28, 2021
Victory Gardens Theater
Chicago, IL United States
Victory Gardens Theater Chicago, IL United States
AUG 30, 2019 - SEP 29, 2019
Aurora Theatre Company
Berkeley, CA United States
Aurora Theatre Company Berkeley, CA United States
OCT 10, 2018 - OCT 27, 2018
Rec Room
Houston, TX
Rec Room Houston, TX
JAN 18, 2018 - FEB 04, 2018
Forward Theatre Company
Madison, WI United States
Forward Theatre Company Madison, WI United States
APR 06, 2017 - APR 23, 2017
The Theater Project
Maplewood, NJ United States
The Theater Project Maplewood, NJ United States
FEB 23, 2017 - MAR 11, 2017
Rec Room
Houston, TX United States
Rec Room Houston, TX United States
FEB 17, 2017 - MAR 11, 2017
Zeitgeist Stage Company
Boston, MA United States
Zeitgeist Stage Company Boston, MA United States
FEB 14, 2017 - MAR 12, 2017
True Colors Theatre Co.
Atlanta, GA United States
True Colors Theatre Co. Atlanta, GA United States
APR 01, 2016 - APR 30, 2016
Primary Stages
New York, NY United States
Primary Stages New York, NY United States
FEB 01, 2016 - MAR 31, 2016
Philadelphia Theater Company
Philadelphia, PA United States
Philadelphia Theater Company Philadelphia, PA United States
MAY 01, 2014 - AUG 31, 2014
Jackalope Theater
Chicago, IL United States
Jackalope Theater Chicago, IL United States

Awards (1)

Best New Play - Off Broadway Alliance Awards 2016

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