Experimental Positions (EP) is a two-act musical comedy that entwines the universal human issues of love, status, and secrets, with delightful specifics that are particular to scientists.

Staging Information: The show is set in the present with one flashback to fifteen years prior. The settings are a coffee break room in a university’s Biological Sciences building; three biology labs; a living room; a bedroom; and offices for three scientists. Furniture and prop needs: typical furnishings for the settings, plus an “In Use” sign or projection.

Casting Requirements: EP has nineteen speaking and/or singing roles, plus opportunities for extras. It can be performed with seven cast members with doubling: four women (mezzo-sopranos or high altos) and three men (tenor, baritone & bass).

Synopsis: A small betrayal has large but comic consequences as a university biologist, Art, tries to gain professional stature—and regain his self-respect—during a career-making grant opportunity that puts him in competition with the scientist girlfriend, Gwen, he abruptly dumped years ago.

Meanwhile in a rival lab, an idealistic but anxious graduate student, Trudy, battles with her hated advisor, the ever-arrogant Bob. She just can’t seem to "learn to turn her nose brown"—as Sy, Bob's toadying post-doc, advises.

Trudy digs herself into an even deeper hole with Bob when she cleverly helps Art and Gwen make the grant deadline to the detriment of Bob's own proposal.

Art gets a golden chance to make things right with Gwen, but blows it when he convinces himself that "she’ll never forgive me—for hiding data for so long." Plus, he's twisted up in knots over that "data," i.e. the reason why he bailed on the date he'd talked Gwen into fifteen years ago.

The ice between Art and Gwen only melts when they meet for hot times in the biochem darkroom.

A serious mistake by Bob pushes Art to face who he really is, and forces Trudy into choosing whether to "do Science right" or do right by Sy, who's become her friend and mentor.

Will Trudy screw over Sy so that she can shaft Bob? And will Art come clean with Gwen?

Two secrets get revealed before show’s end. Work and love lives change, but everyone keeps getting to do the thing they adore: Science!