When you are young and standing on the edge of everything you know, the world can feel impossibly big and impossibly beautiful. That feeling is at the heart of Escaping Ontario, an original play written and directed by Zachary High School student Joshua Hughes.

The story follows Wesley, a small-town kid from Orangeville, Ontario, who has never ventured beyond the borders of his quiet hometown. Fresh out of high school and hungry for something more, he sets off to explore the United States. Along the way, he finds new experiences, lifelong friends, and Bailey, a fellow traveler who changes everything.

Their trip is filled with promise, but like all the best stories, not everything goes as planned.

Joshua knows a thing or two about chasing big dreams himself. Earlier this year, his play placed 21st out of more than 950 entries in the National YoungArts Playwriting Competition, a national contest open to both high school and college students.

Instead of stopping there, he decided to bring the story to life on his own terms by casting, directing, and staging the production at his school.

The show stars Remington Steinberger as Wesley and J’Aire Clark as Bailey, supported by an ensemble cast including Patricia Lunsford, Kyrin Hardnett, Rowan Rushing, Eli Wren, Noah Wren, Katie Evans, Zora Boutain-Birks, Dillon Samson, and Bryce Butler. Behind the scenes, Gracie Dalferes leads the tech crew as stage manager.

The play is a love letter to the brave moment when you leave the familiar behind and find out who you really are. Trust and Love, The Kind You Never Forget

Catch Escaping Ontario on WEDNESDAY, May 14 at 7:00 PM in the Zachary High Black Box Theatre. Bring your heart. You are going to need it.