The Cast Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Set during finals week at a small liberal arts college in rural Pennsylvania, All Nighter plunges us into the "fishbowl" that is Johnson Ballroom, the campus's only 24-hour study space. The cavernous floor-to-ceiling glass-walled common room serves as a catch-all, high-pressure container for conflicts and confrontations. Wilson Chin's scenic design brilliantly captures this enclosed yet exposed environment; with Ben Stanton's lighting design, the ballroom transforms into a hall of mirrors in the moonlight, a clever visual metaphor for the characters' increasing self-reflection and secrets revealed as the night wears on.

College seniors Darcie (Kristine Frøseth), Lizzy (Havana Rose Liu), Tessa (Alyah Chanelle Scott), Jacqueline (Kathryn Gallagher) form the core group of four tightly knit housemates who've come to claim a work table for one last overnight grind before graduation. Periodic visits from their colleague Wilma (Julia Lester) disturb their delicate equilibrium with offbeat humor and oddball energy, perfectly timed to propel the action. The company conjures the vast, bustling study space without ever showing more than the five characters at a single table. Convincing references to offstage figures make the space feel full–and when the group scrambles to move their stuff to reclaim their usual table when a more productive group finally leaves, it's with a priceless sequence of physical comedy that "expands" the set's fraction of the room.

The Cast Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Michelle J. Li's costumes reinforce each character's function and personality within the group dynamic: Tessa's coordinated Lululemon and imported clogs play to major plot points and hint at her privilege while Wilma's playful mix of patterns and leg warmers highlight her artistic eccentricity. Darcie's outfit projects the illusion of being perpetually pulled-together; Jack sports rockstar-style pyjamas; and Lizzy's look is adorably disheveled.

Margolin's naturalistic dialogue zips by in overlapping bursts, evoking the jittery rhythms of sleep-deprived, Adderall-infused conversations. It's also the kind of familiar rapid-fire shorthand that comes from years of shared personal histories. Bradley orchestrates the non-stop action with rhythmic precision, sparking detailed yet spontaneous moments of tension and stimulant-fueled anxiety. She crafts inventive stylized scene transitions, choreographing energetic entrances, a showstopping split, and hilarious fast-forward sequences (to the beats of M.L. Dogg's dynamic sound design) to solve the script's indications that "time passes."

Stanton's lighting also marks time, mimicking the warping effects of exhaustion and following pairs of characters as they take laps or sidebars to discuss more private matters. A neon glow electrifies one scene with concert-style lighting as the group belts out a full-throated rendition of Miley Cyrus's Wrecking Ball–a standout moment of cathartic joy, swiftly undercut by an offstage male presence, subtly underscoring how young women's exuberance is so often curtailed. At the end, a glaring sunrise suggests revelations of truth and the approaching reality of post-college life.

Though some major conflicts among the four housemates–particularly Lizzy's mysteriously missing ADD medications and other incidents blamed for years on a house ghost named "Anony"–feel a bit too conveniently postponed until this final college all-nighter, Margolin's play navigates weighty themes–academic stress, substance use, betrayal, deception, theft, sexual assault, trauma bonding, power dynamics, competition, and codependency–with wit and a delightfully irreverent sense of humor.

With an impeccable cast, sharp writing, striking design, and seamless direction, this captivating new play is both deeply resonant and a fun night out. Whether you're a recent graduate, an academic burnout, or simply someone who loves watching a masterfully executed ensemble piece, All Nighter is a mesmerizing show worth staying up for.