In its second season, now streaming, the web series English Teacher pays cheeky homage to one of queer theatre’s defining works: Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. The show’s high school drama teacher dares to stage Kushner’s Pulitzer-winning A Gay Fantasia on National Themes with his students. The teens soon pivot, writing their own pandemic-era piece, Covid in America. Coach Markie Hillridge sums it up: “This is as good or as bad as any play I’ve seen.
I think theatre might just be this.” Through satire and heart, English Teacher bridges generations of queer storytelling—from the 1980s AIDS crisis to Gen Z’s post-COVID humor and trauma. Hill calls the result “funny because it’s true,” celebrating the kids’ deadpan brilliance and their instinct to find laughter amid loss. For LGBTQ viewers, it’s a reminder that art—and community—always find a way to speak through the storm. English Teacher reminds us: sometimes the most healing thing is to laugh—especially when it hurts.
