I love games that take a sharp editorial perspective on the world, and The Show Must Go Wrong has that in spades (plus diamonds, hearts, and clubs). Whether you intend to play it during downtime backstage or just read it, this game gives unvarnished insight into the real workings of life behind stage -- in fact, I would call it a "must-read" for anyone contemplating a career in theater.
Mixing don't-make-the-Jenga-tower-fall mechanic of Dread with playing-card prompts as in The Quiet Year, this game provides a simple framework for reliving the trauma drama of running tech for an underfunded theater company. Theater kids should instantly recognize the realistic, modern-day setting (the designer is a literal pro!), but for the rest of us, the "Definitions" section is both informative and vividly real.
Within the 54 card prompts are a mix of every Murphy's Law scenario for a small theater, from cast drama ("Two actors have a fight and demand separate dressing rooms") to honest mistakes ("You triple-checked everything. It seemed flawless. But when you tried to fit the scenic piece into place, it didn’t fit") to raw hubris ("The jukebox wasn't supposed to make noise or light up originally, but sure let’s add it during tech"). Against all of this, your stress marker keeps ticking up until you can't take it any more and quit, leaving the rest of the team to deal with your less-competent understudy.
Roleplaying games have a reputation for attracting "theater kids," but there's precious few games about running a theater -- The Show Must Go Wrong finally fills that void!