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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
When an actor breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience.
A group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
A work that is primarily a straight play, but incorporates music or musical elements to tell the story.
A form of comedy that presents ridiculous extremes in order to make a point about society or human nature.
Videos
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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