The Why, a provocative drama about school shootings by 19-year-old Philadelphia playwright Victor Kaufold, will have its world premiere at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre on Aug. 12. The play stars Fred Savage (best known for his TV series "The Wonder Years") and is directed and produced by Daniel Henning, artistic director of the Blank Theatre Co. BTC presented a reading of The Why, last spring as part of its Eighth Annual Young Playwrights Festival. Reactions were so positive that BTC decided to bring back The Why for a special limited engagement through Aug. 28.

Kaufold's view of school shootings is darkly comic, even as he attempts to dig deeply into the question of why these events happen. He has written 26 different roles which will be portrayed by four actors. In addition to Savage, the cast includes James Marsters (Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"); Steve Lipinsky, who has appeared in many Blank Theatre productions, including the musical Starr Struck; and Antoinette Spolar, who played Marcia Brady in the national tour of The Real Live Brady Bunch.

BTC through its Young Playwright Festivals has produced over 90 plays by playwrights 19 and younger in the past decade. The company won an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for its production of Breaking the Code.

Hudson Mainstage Theatre is located at 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets and information call (323) 661-9827 or visit www.theblank.com

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent