Highland Community School plays with fire, gets burned in ‘The Pyromaniacs’

In 1953, Swiss novelist and playwright Max Frisch wrote The Arsonists, a dark comedy about the rise of Nazism and fascism. In the play, a businessman named Biedermann invites a group of undercover arsonists into his attic. As the arsonists reveal their intentions and fill the attic with explosives, Biedermann finds himself aghast while still dutifully helping them along. The play asks big questions: How does evil take hold? Why do we invite evil into our homes and then express dismay when it asserts itself?

In 2026, Highland Community School‘s Performing Arts Director Barry Weber has written The Pyromaniacs, a school-age update of Frisch’s play. In it, a school director named Biederman invites charismatic-but-shady new teachers into the school, along with some fast-talking marketers and tech CEOs. As the malevolent outsiders fill the school with explosives, Biedermann and the faculty find themselves aghast while still dutifully helping them along. The play asks big questions: What do we owe our children? Why do we give them access to potentially harmful technologies—phones, tablets, social media, boxes of TNT—only to wag our fingers when they use them?

And, more importantly: Is Def Leppard’s 1983 album Pyromania “far superior” to 1987’s Hysteria, as the program for The Pyromaniacs so boldly states?

“I feel all my plays have a running theme of adults letting kids down in some way,” Weber says. “And this is, I think, an example of letting kids down by giving them exactly what they seem to want.” (Weber’s thoughts on Pyromania vs. Hysteria are clear from the program, and are correct.)

The Pyromaniacs is Weber’s 18th original production for Highland, a parent-directed Montessori school on the outskirts of downtown. Weber’s casts? An ever-changing group of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. His inspirations? Past plays have taken cues from filmmakers like David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch, as well as ’80s and ’90s pop-culture like Nickelodeon and Nintendo. His themes? Everything from groupthink and co-opted activism to, well, wondering why we keep letting ourselves get burned.

“I think now more than ever there seems to be a sense of alarm about kids and young people,” Weber explains. “What I’m hoping to explore with this production is this: What are those big red buttons that we’re presenting to children and then being dismayed when they actually push them?”

Photo: Kat Schleicher

Not that The Pyromaniacs is overly serious or preachy. The large pre-teen casts (two of them this year, with 23 kids each) clearly have a blast with the material (no pun intended), gleefully skewering both desperate-for-love school administrators and busy-body group-chat parents. There are jokes, gags, and multiple opportunities for kids to flex their acting chops and unleash their inner goofballs.

“I really like this play because it has serious themes but it’s also very funny,” says 6th grader Roland Schleicher, who plays one of the arsonist teachers. “I really like my character because he’s a pyromanic, but he’s also just a guy. He’s just a guy who walks in and somehow gets a job teaching children how to start fires.”

“I really like this play because it’s very deep in a way, and also because all the characters are so stupid,” says 6th grader Quintin Johnstone. “What kind of person would accept a teacher whose former school burned down?”

“I love how chaotic everything is,” adds 4th grader Willa Klinkner, who is making her acting debut as a Highland Community Player.

Photo: Kat Schleicher

Amidst all the chaos, there’s plenty to keep adults entertained. The ’80s hair metal soundtrack is a hoot, the jabs at an education system infected by marketing-speak and big tech are timely, and the depiction of the “Online Parent Community”—brought to life by kid actors wielding cardboard emojis—is simply inspired.

It’s also a blast to watch the backstage action. The lights, music cues, and sound effects are all handled by students. (When asked their thoughts on the ’80s-tastic Def Leppard soundtrack, one crew member admits the music is “kind of boring.”)

“These are kids just working their hearts out,” Weber says. “There’s so much to love about these groups.”

Photo: Kat Schleicher

That love goes both ways. After nearly two decades of writing, directing and wrangling, Weber says his annual productions have become an important part of Highland Community School.

“The longer this goes, the more it’s built into our school culture,” he says. “Kids have come up with memories of watching their older brothers or sisters, knowing that one day they’ll be a part of this. They grow up and have other experiences—they move on to high school, college, and adulthood—but you never know where they’ll take this.”

The public is invited to see The Pyromaniacs at Highland Community School on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. (Cast A), and Friday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. (Cast B). Tickets can be purchased HERE.