An Obie Award-winning play backed by a real live band is coming to TheatreSquared this week.
The show, called Cambodian Rock Band, opens on Wednesday, Feb. 28 and features live performances of songs from the band Dengue Fever mixed with a narrative theatrical performance.
From the description of the show:
Backed by a live band playing contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies, this darkly funny, electric new play tells the story of a father who escaped a murderous regime returning home after 30 years in search of his wayward daughter. As the play jumps back in time, it’s a rock epic meets thrilling mystery as both are forced to face the music of the past.
The show stars actor/musicians Greg Watanabe, K Chinthana Sotakoun, Alex Lydon, Jojo Gonzalez, Shawn Mouacheupao, and Eileen Doan. It is directed by Nelson T. Eusebio, who also directed Kim’s Convenience last season at T2.
“What excited me about directing the show is its deep psychological exploration of how everything has been warped by the Khmer Rouge, what that has done to the Cambodians, to [play characters] Chum and Leng specifically,” he explains. “I love plays with intense dramatic stakes with only two or three people, and those scenes in this play are dynamite—and the music is so fun and vibrant and celebratory. It serves as a great counterpoint to the darkness of the aforementioned scenes. The whole thing makes for a delicious meal for any director to get their hands on.”
Los Angles Times called the play ““A fierce, gorgeous, heartwarming, comedic fairy tale.”
Tickets to the play range from $43-$68. To purchase, or for a ful list of performances of the new show, visit theatre2.org.
