Overview
Synopsis
Ninety-one year old political activist Vera Joseph’s solitary existence is entirely shaken when her grandson, Leo, appears at the door in the middle of the night Leo is fresh from a cross-country bike ride, and assures Vera that he won’t stay long. Leo, however, is in crisis, confused by an on-again, off-again romance, furious with his mother’s incessant meddling, and grieving deeply for his best friend and biking partner, Micah, who is recently deceased. While Leo seeks solace in his grandmother, Vera finds companionship in another person for the first time since the loss of her husband, Joe. A finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles is a compassionate, intimate, and frequently funny play that examines the love of the family we can choose, the family we can’t, and the healing power of trust.
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Context
Playwright Amy Herzog draws much of her inspiration from her fascinating family, particularly her grandparents, socialist political activists. In 4000 Miles, she also draws upon her own personal history. A recent graduate of Yale University, twenty-one year old Herzog took a cross-country bike trip with Habitat for Humanity before settling in with her grandmother, Leepee Joseph, in New York City, while she pursued a career in acting. It was an uncomfortable time in Herzog and Joseph’s
to read the context for 4000 Miles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
It’s the middle of the night. Leo, a lanky young man, has just arrived at his grandmother Vera’s apartment in New York City after a long bike trip. Vera is disoriented, and, embarrassed, leaves to put in her dentures and hearing aid, while Leo settles his bike. When she returns, Leo explains that he has biked all the way to New York from Seattle. At first, Leo thinks he’s settled on the perfect haven at the end of his journey, but when Vera mentions his mother, Jane, Leo begins to pack up and
to read the plot for 4000 Miles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in 4000 Miles.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress