Fourth Wall Breakdown

In our age of reality programming, it makes perfect sense that a musical, written by two actor friends in a mere three weeks to meet the deadline for a musical-theater festival, should turn out to be about … two actor friends rushing to write a musical in a mere three weeks to meet the deadline for a musical-theater festival. Or as a song from [title of show] goes: “a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical.” The play’s conspicuous lack of a title announces its own loopy meta-awareness and postmodern tongue-in-cheek. This cheerfully energetic, hilarious and, yes, realistic depiction of the creative process has dazzled audiences and won raves and awards (three Obies) all the way from that very musical-theater festival to Broadway. At 8 p.m., it opens the fall season at the Unicorn Theatre (3828 Main, 816-531-7529).— Grace Suh

Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Starts: Sept. 18. Continues through Oct. 7, 2010