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Cambodian Rock Band

Both a thrilling historical mystery and a rousing rock concert, Cambodian Rock Band is filled with horror, humor, pathos… and songs by the best unknown rock band in Cambodia!

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1970s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult

  • Performance Group:
  • College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play (2020)
    Nominee! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play (2020)
In 1978,Chum fled Cambodia and narrowly escaped the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. Thirty years later, he returns in search of his wayward daughter, Neary. As the play jumps back and forth in time, thrilling mystery meets rock concert until both father and daughter are forced to face the music of the past.

From playwright Lauren Yee (King of the Yees, The Great Leap) comes a story filled with horror, humor, pathos and songs by the best unknown rock band in Cambodia!
REVIEWS:

"Wittily funny, wonderfully complex, and deeply moving."

 New York Theatre Guide

"Good old rock ’n’ roll, Cambodian-style. Clap your hands, everybody, and sing along!"

 The New York Times

"A fierce, gorgeous, heartwarming, comedic fairy tale... Yee has made her characters so joyfully and ridiculously human that it’s impossible not to identify with them."

 The Los Angeles Times

"It’s a wonderful, strange, moving, tuneful (even toe-tapping) experience, one like no other!"

 San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

"FABULOUS! The first great play of 2020."

 TheaterMania

"Powerful! A killer Khmer-language rock show."

 New York Magazine

Premiere Production: Cambodian Rock Band was commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory, opening March 4, 2018.

Characters

  • Casting: 3M, 1F, 2M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Roles for Multicultural Casting, Role(s) for Asian Actor(s)

  • CHUM – male, 51 and 18, Cambodian
    NEARY – female, 26, Cambodian American (also plays SOTHEA)
    TED – male, 25, Thai Canadian (also plays CADRE, LENG)
    DUCH – male, ageless, Cambodian
    ROM – any gender, 20s-30s, Cambodian (also plays JOURNALIST)
    POU – any gender, 20s-30s, Cambodian (also plays S-21 GUARD)

  • Chum, Neary/Sothea, Ted/Leng, and Duch serve mainly as actors. Rom and Pou serve mainly as musicians. Note: Rom and Pou are written as male and female, respectively, in this script, but the characters can be played by actors of any gender.

  • In scenes from the past, Chum, Leng, Sothea, Rom, Pou, and Duch speak in perfect English, standard American accents, to reflect that they are speaking fluent Cambodian/Khmer.

  • THE BAND
    You can adapt this (and corresponding dialogue) according to your actors’ musical talents, but here’s a possible blueprint:

    CHUM – electric bass guitar, vocals
    LENG – electric guitar, vocals
    SOTHEA – lead female vocals, tambourine
    ROM – drums/percussion
    POU – keyboard, vocals
    DUCH – tambourine or cowbell (should he be so moved)

    A sax and more percussion would be great, but not necessary.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Cambodian Rock Band Script This is optional. Order Now

    In 1978,Chum fled Cambodia and narrowly escaped the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. Thirty years later, he returns in search of his wayward daughter, Neary. As the play jumps back and forth in time, thrilling mystery meets rock concert until both father and daughter are forced to face the music of the past.

    From playwright Lauren Yee (King of the Yees, The Great Leap) comes a story filled with horror, humor, pathos and songs by the best unknown rock band in Cambodia!

    		$24.95

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