Overview

Synopsis

American Utopia, conceived by David Byrne, is a theatrical concert experience that blends music, movement, and spoken reflection. Performed with an ensemble of barefoot musicians, all carrying their instruments, the show strips away traditional staging to emphasize connection and intimacy. Byrne guides the audience through a journey that mixes Talking Heads classics, songs from his solo career, and selections from his 2018 American Utopia album. Along the way, he introduces themes of community, empathy, and the possibilities of human collaboration, using both storytelling and the unique choreography of Annie-B Parson to transform a concert into something theatrical and deeply immersive.

The performance unfolds without a conventional narrative, instead presenting a thematic arc that moves from isolation toward collective joy. Byrne reflects on modern life—technology, politics, and human behavior—often with wry humor, before breaking into bursts of celebratory music and dance. Songs like “Everybody’s Coming to My House” and “Burning Down the House” highlight the tension between personal identity and communal experience, while the staging emphasizes freedom of movement and shared space. By the finale, American Utopia becomes a vision of hope, reminding audiences that art, music, and connection can cut through division and create a sense of unity.

Show Information

Music
David Byrne
Lyrics
David Byrne
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2019
Genres
Jukebox/Revue
Settings
Contemporary, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
The show is set in a present-day, abstract performance space where music, movement, and ideas create a communal experience beyond traditional theatre.
Cast Size
small
Dancing
Musical Staging
Ideal For
Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

David Byrne

Lead

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Ensemble Musicians / Vocalists

Supporting

Not Specified

Percussionists

Featured

Not Specified

Songs

  • Here
  • I Know Sometimes a Man is Wrong / Don't Worry About the Government
  • Lazy
  • This Must Be the Place
  • I Zimbra
  • Slippery People
  • I Should Watch TV
  • Everybody's Coming to My House
  • Once in a Lifetime
  • Glass, Concrete & Stone
  • Toe Jam
  • Born Under PUnches (The Heat Goes On)
  • I Dance Like This
  • Bullet
  • Every Day Is a Miracle
  • Blind
  • Burning Down the Housoe
  • Hell You Talmbout
  • One Fine Day
  • Road to Nowhere
  • The Great Curve

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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A hybrid performance form that combines the energy and structure of a concert with the narrative, design, and staging elements of theatre. American Utopia exemplifies this style, blending live music with choreography and spoken reflection.

    A design approach that uses simple sets and costumes to shift focus onto performers and ideas. The bare stage, gray suits, and chain curtain in American Utopia reflect this minimalist aesthetic, emphasizing movement and music over spectacle.

Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Quote Analysis

Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher

Jason Engleman

Jason Engleman

Humming show tunes day and night.