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Overview
Synopsis
Angel City is Sam Shepard’s surreal satire of the myth that is Hollywood. Lanx and Wheeler, two hauntingly peculiar movie producers, are desperate to salvage a failing movie project. They summon Rabbit, a stuntman living in the desert, to work his magic and turn it into a disaster flick with a character that transcends anything audiences have seen. Drawn to the mystical allure of Hollywood, Rabbit instead finds himself in a world where creativity is dead and greed reigns supreme. Rounding out an ensemble of disjointed characters is Miss Scoons, the office secretary who dreams of being an actress, and Tympani, who longs to own a diner but seems resigned to his Sisyphean existence trying to find an original rhythm. Shepard wrote the play after a bad experience in a Hollywood office, and every line drips with cynicism. Angel City depicts Hollywood as a stale, oppressive crucible void of creativity ruined by greed and ambition.
Show Information
- Book
- Sam Shepard
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1976
- Genres
- Satire
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Hollywood, California
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A performance technique where an actor speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall for dramatic or comedic effect.
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
A dramatic work that includes incidental music or songs, but is not classified as a full musical. Music supports mood and storytelling without dominating the narrative.
A genre or technique that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize human folly or societal flaws. Satire is common in political and literary theatre.
A dramatic style focused on dreamlike imagery and illogical scenes to explore the subconscious or challenge realism.
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