Film Adaptation of Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate in the Works; Original Star Sarah Steele & More on Board

Look out, world: the speech and debate team has reassembled, and this time, they’re taking on the big screen. According to Deadline, a film adaptation of Stephen Karam’s play Speech & Debate is in the works. The Sycamore Pictures production will feature film star Liam James, Austin McKenzie, who starred in the Broadway-bound Deaf West production of Spring Awakening and Sarah Steele, who appeared in the original off-Broadway staging.

Dan Harris will direct the project, and Karam will adapt his script for the screen.

Speech & Debate follows three high school students (Solomon, Howie and Diwata) who join forces after a sex scandal involving their drama teacher is unearthed. To expose the truth and ensure their voices are heard, the trio revives the school’s scrapped debate club.

Karam’s play premiered in 2007 at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre as the inaugural production of Roundabout’s “Underground” initiative. In addition to Steele, the cast featured Susan Blackwell, Significant Other’s Gideon Glick and Jason Fuchs. The production, directed by Jason Moore, extended its run multiple times.

As recently announced, Steele will appear in Karam’s The Humans, another Roundabout off-Broadway production, beginning in September. She made her Broadway debut in The Country House and recently appeared on The Good Wife. James’ film credits include 2012, The Way, Way Back and the USA series Psych. You can check out McKenzie’s performance in Deaf West’s Spring Awakening below; no word yet if he will reprise his performance on Broadway.