King of the Neuroverse staged reading

Open to all at no cost

Thu. July 17, 2025 - 12:30pm PDT

Performing Arts Center 199 - DUG Theater

Accessibility

Check the location link for venue accessibility details.

Disability Accommodations

Requests with 24 hours or more notice before the event are appreciated. Western is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

A staged reading of a work in progress by Idris Goodwin

A powerful, joyful novel in verse about a Black teen with ADHD who finds self-expression and first love during one epic summer school season, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and "On the Come Up."

For the third summer in a row, Pernell is back in the classroom, facing the same struggles that have always made school seem more like a battlefield than a place of learning. This summer is different, though: he’s battling to become the Cypher King, leader of the lunchroom’s impromptu rap circles. Here, the rhythm flows and the words fly, creating a space where the wittiest and most rhythmically inclined reign supreme. Here, Pernell’s ADHD gives him an edge. 

But life outside the cypher isn’t as forgiving. Pernell’s English teacher has it out for him. His parents are pressuring him to see a doctor for his lack of focus. And Electra, his friend-slash-crush and the only one who truly gets him, is too busy chasing her dream internship to give him the time of day.

Part of Summer Test Kitchen 2025

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