What would it look like if you could have a conversation with yourself from various times in your life? That’s the premise of “The Oscars, a Conversation Among Friends,” the first in a series of plays Black Box Theater at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) written by new as well as seasoned professional playwrights.

Kelly Minner-Bickert, artistic director of theatre at Charter Arts, explained the play’s storyline.

“In this beautifully constructed story, Oscar Wilde, a famously complex man, invites you into an evening of conversation between five different versions of himself- the young poet, the mature storyteller, the jaded playwright, the sorrowful prisoner, and the weary exile,” said Minner-Bicxkert who directed the September production. “Wilde questions his choices and the world’s view of them on the ultimate search to embrace all of his identities and rediscover who is Oscar Wilde?”

Just two of the five Oscar actors are current students. Todd Croslis is a senior theater major, and he played Emerald Wilde. Noel Reyes Jr., also a senior theater major, played America Wilde. Two alumni acted in the play. Dylan Combs, a 2019 graduate of Charter Arts, played Exile Wilde and Gael Mouton-Sady, a 2024 graduate, played Playwright Wilde. Chris Egging, of Touchstone Theater, rounded out the cast, playing Convict Wilde.

The play was written by John Thompson and is his first production. The production crew also included Todd Croslis, associate producer; Safiah Hernandez, assistant director; Simon Garfias, swing; Bowie Green, stage manager; Ellen Schmoyer, senior design; Amy Handkammer, costume design; Ellen Schmoyer, lighting design; Carlo Acerra, sound design; Jarrod Yuskauskas, dialect coach; and Tug Rice, poster design.

The next production at the Black Box Theatre Oct. 16 to 20 is “The John Wilkes Booth HS for the Performing Arts Presents: The Most Inclusive, Least Offensive Play Ever: An After School Special,“ written by Stephen Kaplan.

This production is directed by Charter Arts alum, Marley Mathias.

When the parents of The John Wilkes Booth High School for the Performing Arts threaten to remove the theatre program because they realize that all theatre is offensive, the scrappy students of JWB and their drama teacher race to save their beloved department by producing the most inclusive and least offensive play ever.

Evening performances at 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 17 and 18. Matinees at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20. Tickets can be purchased at Charterarts.org.