In THE MUSICAL, soon after Principal Brady (Rob Lowe) announces that Cedarhurst Middle School is being considered for California's prestigious Blue Ribbon recognition, the school's theater teacher—an aspiring playwright named Doug (Will Brill)—learns that Brady is dating Doug's former girlfriend, art teacher Abigail (Gillian Jacobs). Jealous and bitter, Doug plots to exact vengeance through the only means he has at his disposal: the theater kids preparing to put on the school's annual play.