House Arrest: A Search For American Character In and Around the White House, Past and Present
Play
Writer:Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
In this verbatim play, pioneering theatre-maker Anna Deavere Smith explores civil rights, slavery, and the press through the lens of the American presidency. Equal parts performer and documentarian, Smith interviewed more than 400 people from politics, pop culture, history, and the media for House Arrest. The play is a tapestry of 43 of those people. Smith weaves the past and the present together, presenting her living subjects’ words verbatim from her interviews and using historical texts for others. The props, costuming, and set can be minimal or ornate, and the characters can be performed by a single actor or an ensemble. The gender and race of the actors do not need to match the characters they play. In the original production, Smith played all the roles.
Show Information
- Book
- Anna Deavere Smith
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1997
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- A bare stage
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Small Cast, Ensemble Cast, Diverse Cast, Includes Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
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 mode of storytelling and performance, often using non-traditional or experimental styles, that dramatizes people's real-world experiences around an event.
A group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
A form of theatre in which actors speak the actual words of real people without editing.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright