“True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country,” Kurt Vonnegut wrote in “Man Without a Country.”

“Promposal,” Port Townsend High School graduate Ian Coates’ comedic new play, blurs the line between the daily grind of high school and contemporary American politics with a good dose of dark humor. The play is about an ineffective student government that, when given the task of organizing a prom, is hindered by ambition, ineptitude and power dynamics, Coates said, noting that while there are obvious political undertones, the show is more about the personalities of kids in the associated student body (ASB) and his own experience in high school.

Written, directed, produced and acted entirely by Port Townsend youths, the play is part of Key City Public Theatre’s 2017 teen initiative program.

Written by Coates and directed by Noah Phillips, “Promposal” features actors Caleb Lumbard, Austin Kreig, Jacob Pedersen, Miranda McClave, Kiera DeLuna, Rowan Gallagher, Ciara Halligan, Sadie Palatnick and Joey Gallegos.

The show is performed July 7-15, Wednesday through Sunday, at 7:30 p.m., with 2:30 p.m. matinees on July 8-9. Tickets are $12, with pay-what-you-wish performances on July 9 and 13. Visit

keycitypublictheatre.org.