The story is set in a parallel universe where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuality is a taboo: Zanna is the local matchmaker at Heartsville High, bringing happy couples together in mid-west America, but heterophobia strikes when a pair of opposite-sex highschoolers discover their feelings for each other.

The exact time period is not specified, but the play takes place across a school year, beginning on the first day and ending at prom.

Despite the fairy tale aspect, the world is essentially equivalent to ours, with references to Star Trek, the internet, Wayne Gretzky, and many other recognizable people, things or ideas.

Kate had long resisted Zanna's efforts to find love for her, citing "SATs, ACTs, APs, and GPAs" as being more worthy of her time, while Roberta seemed destined to a life of cheating girlfriends.

Their play includes the song "Be A Man," touting the impressive homosexual leaders of history (including Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander the Great, and the ancient Spartans), and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," an overly dramatic ballad about a heterosexual couple forced to hide their love from the Army.

Kate and Steve's perplexing behavior leads Mike and Roberta to playfully suggest to each other "Don't You Wish We Could Be In Love?

Steve promises to exchange varsity rings with Mike after the match, while Kate puts all her effort into being a perfect girlfriend to Roberta.

Mike's hesitation in the final match causes Roberta to lead a raucous cheer that becomes the song "Whatcha Got?

(*Arvin in London and subsequent productions) In addition, the ensemble plays various townspeople and the Girls' Intramural Mechanical Bull-Riding Team.

Devanand Janki directed and choreographed, with a cast that featured Jai Rodriguez as the "Magical Matchmaker" Zanna in the 2003 production.

The west coast premiere at Contemporary Classics in Seattle (June 2008) cast included Don Darryl Rivera (Broadway's Aladdin) as Tank, Diana Huey as Roberta, and Casey Craig as Zanna.

Directed by F. Allen Sawyer and Musically Directed by G. Scott Lacy; the cast featured Price Troche Jr. as Zanna, Stephen Foreman as Steve, Katrina McGraw as Kate, Timitio Artusio as Mike, Cindy Im as Roberta, Brian J. Patterson as Tank, Miquela Sierra as Candi, and Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. as Buck.

The NCTC cast won San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (BATCC) awards for best ensemble, best choreography and best musical direction.

Presented by Wild Oats Productions as part of the Enterprise 09 Festival, the musical was directed by Joseph C. Walsh and choreographed by Philip Scutt.

Directed by Stuart James and Musically Directed by Hayden Taylor, the cast included Jared Pallesen as Zanna, Jesse Finn as Steve, Katie Evans as Kate, Stuart James as Mike, Janelle Pollock as Roberta, Joshua Hopton-Stewart as Tank, and Hannah Bain as Candi LeRoi Kippen as Buck.

In 2015 Tim Acito & Alexander Dinelaris presented a newly reimagined version of the musical entitled "Zanna, Redux!"

A number of major revisions were made to the show including fleshing out the story to give the characters more depth and an overall better arch.

They also rewrote the main character of Zanna to be "pangender" (non-binary) with presidential aspirations offering deeper storytelling into gender identity and political activism.

In 2017 Out Front Theatre in Atlanta, GA mounted the new production now entitled "Zanna Dont: A Quantum Football Fable.

The production was scheduled to open at London's Bridewell Theatre during Pride celebrations in July 2020 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[9] The New York Times wrote "Happily oblivious to everything else happening in the world, a chirpy new Off Broadway musical, Zanna, Don't!

arrived at the John Houseman Theater last night with a pop score that aims to be nothing but catchy and a message that says nothing but that people should love each other.

"[10] The Curtain-Up review of the Off-Broadway production in 2003 noted that "the winning score has both variety and a contemporary feel, perhaps permitting it to find a cross-generational appeal.

Jared Pallesen... has a really strong voice and makes the character (Zanna) a fun, yet also heart felt creation.

Mike Shearer gives a "skilful performance" of "Zanna that is both campy narrator and emotional centre of the show.