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Overview

Synopsis

Crafted as a “fantastical road trip through the American landscape”, bobrauschenbergamerica is the result of the collision between the irreverent freeform of Robert Rauschenberg’s art and the wildly experimental style of Charles Mee. Robert “Bob” Rauschenberg took everyday objects like light bulbs, tires, mirrors, and scarves and combined them into collages that often seemed to defy logic. Charles Mee took the same concept and used found text to create bobrauschenbergamerica. The play is as much an homage to Rauschenberg’s style as it is to the man himself. Though he never appears in the play, the audience is taken on a tour of America as seen through Rauschenberg’s eyes. We meet a series of eccentric characters and get glimpses into their lives: people like Phil, a folksy trucker, Becker the derelict, and Susan the hapless lover.

The play was originally devised by a group of actors in the famed SITI Company, with the text developed in a series of workshops. The result is a poetic collage of the human experience: heartache, joy, grief, nostalgia, and everything in between. As with all of his plays, Charles Mee encourages diverse/non-traditional casting for any or all of the roles, without regard to race or disability.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2001
Genres
Dark Comedy
Settings
Contemporary, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
An empty stage
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
Optional
Licensor
See CONTEXT AND/OR LINKS TAB
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Becker

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Phil

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Allen

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Carl

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Wilson

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Susan

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Phil's Girl

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Bob's Mom

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Bob the Pizza Boy

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Songs

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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

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Kevan Dunkelberg

Kevan Dunkelberg

Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright