**What if being picked last wasn’t the end of the story, but the beginning of something bigger?**
It's the playground at recess. Teams are being selected and stakes are high. And Chavonne has decided to change the trajectory of the game.
*Pick Me Last* is a smart, funny, and deeply humane play that transforms an everyday playground ritual into a theatrical exploration of fairness, choice, and the ripple effects of small decisions. Blending science, humor, and youthful wit, the play invites audiences to look closely at how systems shape who gets seen, who gets chosen, and who gets left behind. Playwright Idris Goodwin has created an imaginative ensemble structure and a fearless young protagonist that speak directly to the emotional intelligence of those young enough to spend time on the playground, as well as those old enough to be a little fuzzy on those playground game rules.
\*\*Speaking of games, *Pick Me Last* ends with an invitation for the audience to join the cast on stage and play an actual game.
Chavonne has just learned about the Butterfly Effect and now she is terrified that if her best friend Wes keeps being picked last for recess teams, it will doom him to a life of crime or worse. Determined to save him, Chavonne plots a complex, high-stakes scheme, leveraging rumors of a school-ground betting ring to force the predictable team captains to pick Wes sooner.
As historical figures like Edward Lorenz and Grace Hopper interrupt the action to debate fate and free will, the play charts Chavonne's frantic struggle to control destiny. When Wes rejects her manipulation, Chavonne must rethink her approach. The play ultimately explores the power of equity and student agency as Chavonne, Wes, and the New Kid abandon the old, broken system to establish a new, inclusive game, making it an excellent resource for educational discussions on social justice and leadership.
