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Overview

Synopsis

Tiananmen Square, 1989. After almost two months of student-led protests, tanks roll into the square and massacre innocent demonstrators. Capturing it on camera is Joe, a young American photojournalist who has a prime view of the violence from his hotel window. His photo of ‘Tank Man’ becomes one of the most famous images of the period. Fast forward to 2012 and Joe is covering the US presidential election. Debate rages over the cost of labor and the outsourcing of American jobs to Chinese factories. When Joe discovers that there is a possibility that Tank Man could still be alive, he sets out on a mission to discover the truth behind his image. Just who was he and what happened to him? As the quest for the truth begins to take over Joe’s life, he must question just how far he is prepared to go.

Chimerica is an epic, five-act play that vividly portrays and questions the shifting balance of power between East and West…and those caught in between.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
2013
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Beijing, New York City, 1989 - 2013
Cast Size
large
Licensor
Nick Hern Book
Ideal For
Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Joe Schofield

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Tessa Kendrick

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Zhang Lin

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Frank Hadley

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Mel Stanwyck

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Zhang Wei

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Young Zhang Lin

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Liuli

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Maria Dubiecki

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Mary Chang

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Pengsi

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Herb

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Barb

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Doreen

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Paul Kramer

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Waitress

Featured

Female

Non-singer

David Barker

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Woman in Strip Club

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Michelle

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Officer Hyte

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Drug Dealer

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Jennifer Lee

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Feng Meihui

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Pengsi's Wife

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Ming Xiaoli

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Kate

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Deng

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Peter Rourke

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dawn

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Judy

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Guard

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Benny

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Nurse

Featured

Female

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

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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

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher