A dark comedy featuring music is next on tap at Civic Theater of Allentown’s black box Theatre514.

Stephen Karam’s “Speech & Debate” will run Sept. 5 to Sept. 14 at Theatre514 in its Lehigh Valley stage debut.

The play is billed as “wickedly funny and surprisingly profound” and “a sharp, smart comedy that dives headfirst into the awkward, angst-ridden world of adolescence, and the fierce need to be heard.”

“Speech & Debate” opened Off-Broadway at Roundabout Underground in October 2007.

In the play, when three misfit teens in Salem, Ore., discover a scandal involving one of their teachers (Stephanie George), they form an unlikely alliance through their school’s speech and debate team.

Solomon (Liam Thompson) is a reporter for the school newspaper. Howie (Alejandro Rodriguez) is a gay student. Diwata (Azelia Dos-Santos) is an aspiring actress and singer.

The students decide to perform a musical version of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” combined with time travel and a young Abraham Lincoln.

According to publicity for the play, “What starts as a mission for justice quickly spirals into a wild, witty roller-coaster of secrets, identity, and the power of speaking your truth. With razor-sharp dialogue and a deeply human heart, ‘Speech & Debate’ is a bold, timely play that’s as hilarious as it is heartfelt.”

“Speech & Debate” is directed by Rae Labadie, associate artistic director and production manager of Civic Theater.

“Speech and Debate,” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 6, 11, 12; 2 p.m. Sept. 7, 14; 2, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, Civic Theatre514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown. 610-433-8903, https://civictheatre.com/

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com