The Musical: Dark Comedy and the Power of Spite at Sundance 2026

Plot and Character Motivations in The Musical

Played by Will Brill with what Spicer describes as a tightly wound, ready-to-snap energy, protagonist Doug Leibowitz is dealing with a cascade of failures at the start of a new school year. According to the reporting, Doug is nursing an emotional wound after his girlfriend Abigail—who works as an art teacher at the same school—breaks up with him. Romance isn’t his only roadblock, as he also faces rejection for theater fellowships that could lead him to New York City. The final straw arrives when Doug discovers that Abigail is dating the school’s ambitious and charismatic principal, Principal Brady, played by Rob Lowe. Principal Brady has his sights set on securing the Blue Ribbon of Academic Excellence for the school. Following a visual gag detailed in the source material, Doug formulates a revenge plan: he directs his middle school students to stage an original musical about 9/11 to derail the principal’s plans. Screenwriter Alexander Heller explained the character’s mindset during the post-premiere Q&A.

It’s not a 9/11 comedy, I think, for any of us. It’s a comedy about this guy who’s selfish and petty and would, you know, stop at nothing, even exploiting a tragedy, for his own ends, and I happen to know quite a bit about being a selfish, petty guy, so I felt pretty good about that.

Alexander Heller

Production Details and Directorial Approach

Directing her first feature film as an alum of the Sundance Institute’s Ignite program, Bonilla addressed festival programmer Heidi Zwicker during the Q&A regarding her choice of subject matter.

I don’t know, look at the frickin’ world. Like, my neutral is rage, but people don’t really listen to me when I’m yelling, so if I can make them laugh first, then sometimes they listen.

Giselle Bonilla According to Bonilla, Heller convinced her to take on the project. Heller joked during the discussion that every experience of his somehow becomes traumatic because he is not very good at dealing with stuff. Filming required unusual logistical steps since the production shot at the school without the young actors initially knowing what it was about. Bonilla noted that sets were designed to be mobile so crews could pack them up at the end of each day, leading department heads to adopt a secretive, high-strung approach similar to the main character. When casting the young performers, the director actively avoided casting choices that felt like Disney kids, seeking out genuine personalities instead.

Student Perspective and Reception at Sundance

Within the narrative, the middle school students remain unaware of Doug’s true motivations. Believing they are participating in a guerrilla stage production that makes an important statement, the kids treat the project with dedication and seriousness. Cast member Aidyn James Ahn expressed appreciation for the film’s thematic core during the Eccles Theatre presentation, stating a love for the movie because nobody really talks about the power of spite and rage. Brill reflected on his preparation for the role during the post-screening event with characteristic humor.

I mean, it was a lifetime of preparation. Every moment of my life has led to this. Everything has been a challenge. What can I say? It was fraught with doubt, everything was hard, and everything was fun. And these guys made it eminently easier, too.

Will Brill The film screened alongside other notable premieres at the festival, including “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” and Molly Manners’ “Extra Geography,” as part of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival lineup.