Drama High

The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater

By: Michael Sokolove

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

The inspiration for the NBC TV series "Rise," starring Josh Radnor, Auli'i Cravalho, and Rosie Perez — the incredible and true story of an extraordinary drama teacher who has changed the lives of thousands of students and inspired a town. By the author of The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino.

Why would the multimillionaire producer of Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon take his limo from Manhattan to the struggling former steel town of Levittown, Pennsylvania, to see a high school production of Les Misérables?

To see the show performed by the astoundingly successful theater company at Harry S Truman High School, run by its legendary director, Lou Volpe. Broadway turns to Truman High when trying out controversial shows such as Rent and Spring Awakening before they move on to high school theater programs across the nation. Volpe’s students from this blue-collar town go on to become Emmy-winning producers, entertainment executives, newscasters, and community-theater founders.

Michael Sokolove, a Levittown native and former student of Volpe’s, chronicles the drama director’s last school years and follows a group of student actors as they work through riveting dramas both on and off the stage. This is a story of an economically depressed but proud town finding hope in a gifted teacher and the magic of theater.

©2017 Michael Sokolove (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A good reporter can make almost any story interesting. A great reporter makes it blossom. With the kind of diligent, thorough and imaginative reporting not seen enough these days, Sokolove not only brings a teacher, his students and their community to life, he also opens the story to larger matters." (The Washington Post)

"Poignant...Captivating...[Sokolove] shines a heartening light on how one of those passionate heros devoted himself...to educating, rather than training, young people." (The New York Times Book Review)

“Imagine if all of Glee sustained the level of quality and heart that characterized the story lines between Kurt and his dad, and you'll get a closer approximation of what Drama High achieves…It immediately becomes required reading: for young people who can learn more about the challenge and rewards of theatre, for parents who may well need the same background, for anyone who doubts the value of theatre as an educational and character-building activity not only for those who would become professionals, for those who want to spark reveries of their own experiences in high school drama.” (The Huffington Post)

Terrific Story

After watching the TV series Rise, I was pleasantly surprised at how closely they followed the book. I thouroghly enjoyed this story.

A must read book for anyone with H S Theatre

This is my 5th time through this book. It remains my favorite and Continues to be an inspiration.

Driven to read this, after seeing the TV series "Rise"

Well written and narrated piece of non-fiction. So remarkable, it would be a stretch to buy-in if fictional! As someone who had a similar experience in high school drama (if not the accolades of Truman) ... a life-changing experience ... I was immersed in the story. I met my wife in high school drama. We went on to help charter and run a community theatre company for about 40 years after high school. We also ran/coached our daughter's high school group for seven years ... staying after she graduated ... and using the same principles of learning by doing that we learned from our coaches; it's easily one of the best and rewarding experiences of my life.
I'm sorry to have only learned of Lou Volpe and Truman stage shows years after he retired. I would have enjoyed traveling to see them. The book held my interest beyond the production details, in large part due to the depth of Mr.Sokolove's empathetic exploration of the real people involved. Bravo!

What an inspiring book for anyone involved with educating teens!

This book is an inspiration for any theater teacher as well as any teacher involved in the arts. Michael Sokolove wrote this book based on his experiences with his drama teacher Lou Volpe at Truman high school. I laughed, I cried, I took notes on what Lou Volpe said to his students. Mr. Volpe taught them much more than Theater. He taught them to be committed, disciplined, creative, and fearless as he inspired them to do work that was well beyond anything his students could imagine!

Drama High

I adored this book. It very much reminded me of my high school drama program. I loved how honest and true it read. Also, the narrator was fantastic reader. I loved all the different intertwining stories of the kids and their drama teacher, Lou Volpe. Lou touched the hearts of so many kids. I loved the trials and tribulations throughout the book. It showed that if you really want something you can make it happen, no matter where you came from. Drama departments are a much needed addition to schools and allow kids to express themselves. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been in the arts or has wondered what goes on behind the scenes..

A thespians story

As a Theatre kid nothing meant more to me than a relationship between an actor and the drama teacher. I was sobbing by the end of this book. Theatre is everyone.