This study examined the effectiveness of a program with three basic features--high interest plays, oral reading, and high readability level--designed to aid middle school students scoring two or more years below grade level in reading comprehension. Subjects, 13 boys and two girls enrolled in a basic English class in a suburban middle school located in a southern coastal town in Florida, read aloud and discussed plays from "Read" magazine and participated in group dramatic activities based on the plays over a 10-week period. Results from posttest reading comprehension tests indicated that the program is an effective method for improving the comprehension skills of middle school students reading below grade level. (Thirty-six references and appendixes of data, evaluation instruments, and discussion questions are attached.) (RS)