Neil Perry is a smart boy. At the current age of 17, he attends a prestigious prep school called Welton Academy, and has lots of friends. He is smart and gets A's in all his classes, and also really likes acting. But he isn't allowed to participate in anything outside of school, even extra curriculars like the school paper.

This is his father's fault. He pressures Neil into everything, bullies him into doing well in school, and already has planned for Neil to be a doctor. When Neil gets the lead role of a play at a theater near Welton, his father flips, telling Neil to quit.

Neil does the first performance, and no one has ever seen someone who can act that well. He's a natural, the talent practically radiating off of him. That's why you now know who he is, your fascination with him starting after watching the play.