 | A rapturous, decades-spanning tale of Prague's rock revolution, Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll follows the passions and politics of a Marxist professor in Cambridge and his Rolling Stones–obsessed protégé fighting for freedom in Soviet-dominated Prague. Nominated for four 2008 Tony Awards, Rock 'n' Roll pulsates to the beat of the Stones, Pink Floyd, and Syd Barrett, Floyd's disturbed genius, whose reclusive life becomes a haunting motif of the play.
Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes. There will be one 15-minute intermission.
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"A.C.T.'s Rock rolls in Stoppard's genius. Heartbreaking. Extraordinary!" —San Francisco Examiner
"Stylish. Captivating. The dialog crackles" —Contra Costa Times
"One of Stoppard's most personal and teasingly passionate plays" —San Francisco Chronicle
"Triumphant. Rock 'n' Roll is arguably Stoppard's finest play . . . Stoppard treats the characters of Rock 'n' Roll with a deep affection I've never encountered from him before." —Ben Brantley, The New York Times
"A rare theatrical experience. It sends you out of the theater with its provocative ideas fizzing in your brain and the Rolling Stones' ‘You Got Me Rocking' nipping at your heels." —MTV
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Koret Prologue*
September 16, 5:30 p.m.
Get inside the artistic process—come early for a preperformance discussion with the director and a member of the A.C.T. artistic staff.
Theater on the Couch*
September 19, 8 p.m.
Join members of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis for an exciting postperformance discussion that explores the psychological aspects of the show and addresses audience questions.
Special Event: How the Music Fueled the Movement
September 21, 4 p.m.
A free roundtable discussion in Fred's Columbia Room with radio and journalism veterans of the San Francisco classic rock scene. Featuring Dennis Erokan and Dave Sholin and moderated by Joanne Greene.
Koret Audience Exchanges*
September 23, 7 p.m.
October 15, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the actors, moderated by a member of the A.C.T. artistic staff.
OUT with A.C.T.
September 24, 8 p.m.
LGBT night at A.C.T. features a catered afterparty and a cast meet and greet. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for more information about how to subscribe to OUT nights.
Velvet Underground to Velvet Revolution: Culture, Politics, and Change in Rock 'n' Roll
September 28 at 4 p.m., immediately following the 1 p.m. matinee of Rock 'n' Roll
Artistic Director Carey Perloff moderates a free panel discussion featuring world-renowned Eastern European political expert Timothy Garton Ash (author of History of the Present and The Magic Lantern) and former editor of Rolling Stone Greil Marcus (author of Mystery Train and Lipstick Traces). The panelists will discuss the explosive relationship between art and politics in the late '60s and beyond as it is reflected in the West Coast premiere of Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll.
*Discussions are free for ticket holders. Please note that performance times vary.
Insight into the Play, the Playwright, and the Production
Each entertaining and informative issue of Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth performance guide series, contains a synopsis, advance program notes, study questions, and additional background information about the historical and cultural context of the play.
Words on Plays is available for purchase in the lobby of the theater during performances or online ($12 each + postage and handling). To subscribe to the full season ($70), call 415.749.2250.
Words on Plays Prepared by
Elizabeth Brodersen, Publications Editor
Michael Paller, Resident Dramaturg
Dan Rubin, Publications & Literary Associate
Lesley Gibson, Publications & Literary Intern
Table of Contents
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1.
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Characters, Cast, and Synopsis of Rock 'n' Roll
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10.
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Rock 'n' Roll Meet 'n' Greet / Design Presentation (click to view excerpt)
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18.
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Politics, Life, and Rock 'n' Roll
by Tom Stoppard
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23.
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A Brief Biography of Tom Stoppard
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25.
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Stoppard's Inevitable Play
by Peter Altman
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29.
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Here's Looking at You, Syd
by Tom Stoppard
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33.
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Syd Stays in the Picture
by Keenan Mayo
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37.
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A Rock 'n' Roll Timeline
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44.
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Manifesto of the Communist Party
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47.
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The Historical Development of Communism
Courtesy of the Marxists Internet Archive
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50.
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Arrested Development: A Fifty-Year History of Czechoslovakia
by Doug Harvey and Dan Rubin
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55.
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Charter 77: Declaration
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59.
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A Rock 'n' Roll Glossary
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67.
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Sappho
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70.
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Rock 'n' Revolution
by Jon Pareles
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75.
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The Music in Rock 'n' Roll
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82.
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Questions to Consider
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83.
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For Further Information . . .
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Words on Plays is made possible in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Adobe Reader is required to view A.C.T. publications.
Listen to the Soundtrack
Listen to tracks online using iTunes, or download the entire soundtrack for the show.
Tom Stoppard in Conversation with Carey Perloff
Internationally renowned playwright Sir Tom Stoppard visited San Francisco on January 5, 2008, to take part in a Koret panel discussion with A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff on the A.C.T. stage.
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Part 1: Stoppard and Perloff discuss the playwriting process, with special attention to his most recent works, The Coast of Utopia and Rock 'n' Roll.
 Listen to Part 1 of the podcast. (3 mb)
Part 2: Stoppard shares stories about his family and growing up, including his first visit to Czechoslovakia post-communism, which inspired him write Rock 'n' Roll.
Listen to Part 2 of the podcast. (8 mb)
Part 3: After sharing his favorite American and English authors, Stoppard chats about his upcoming projects.
Listen to Part 3 of the podcast. (2 mb)
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Podcasts
Listen to a recent KFOG interview with Manoel Felciano, the Tony–nominated star of Rock 'n' Roll at A.C.T.
The session includes a special live performance.
> Listen Online
In the News
Echoes of 1968: Soviets Attacked Czechs' 'Virus Of Freedom' In '68 by Sylvia Poggioli
NPR Morning Edition
> Listen Online
"Complex, mournful, and moving . . . inarguably one of this remarkable writer's most profound and personal works. Rock 'n' Roll is the most brilliant kind of encapsulation of the link between real rock and pop materialism." —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Splendid, illuminating entertainment that resonates with emotion. The intoxicating spirit of freedom flows throughout this heartfelt and humane drama." —Michael Kuchwara, The Associated Press
"Rock 'n' Roll touches the heart while stimulating the mind. An intellectually challenging, intensely theatrical piece of work that is destined to be talked about wherever playgoers gather. I wouldn't have missed it for the world." —Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
"A mother of an invention! Astounding, funny, wise, and triumphant. Rock 'n' Roll renews your awareness that history is what happens while we live our day-to-day lives. I left the theater feeling elated. I loved it." —Jeremy McCarter, New York Magazine
"This show may change your life." —Metro
"Dazzling and magical! Rock 'n' Roll is one of the most intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding pieces of theater in the last decade . . . a play that offers you enough intellectual food to nourish you for a year, while also providing sufficient emotional content to fill your heart to the bursting point. Astonishing!" —Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star
"An irrepressible anthem of love and freedom. Political argument, family drama, history lesson, cultural commentary, love story—Rock 'n' Roll is all these things and more. Rock smashes through the play's unfolding tale of history, crushing us with its force and filling us with its energy. Maybe it's only rock 'n' roll, but sometimes that's more than enough!" —Louise Kennedy, The Boston Globe
"Tom Stoppard is a dramatic universe unto himself, a writer who fills his plays with big ideas and bold conclusions. He stays true to form in Rock 'n' Roll." —Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
"Rock 'n' Roll commands admiration by being unafraid to make demands on its audience. It considers the way we think, feel, grieve, and believe, using music as the central, overstretching metaphor for revolution, protest, liberation, and emotional survival. —David Rooney, Variety
"Spectacular performances from top to bottom! Stoppard's dialogue is delightfully witty." —John Simon, Bloomberg News
"Enormously satisfying and emotionally gripping! Astonishingly good" —Eric Grode, The New York Sun
"An extreme-sport expedition into the jagged coasts of Utopia. Stoppard is a theatrical provocateur of wit and ever-dazzling erudition. Remarkable!" —Linda Winer, Newsday
"You'll be ecstatic! Tom Stoppard's new masterpiece is fascinating." —David Richardson, WOR Radio
Press Releases
Rock 'n' Roll Extends by Popular Demand
September 9, 2008
Broadway Sensation Manoel Felciano's Homecoming
August 27, 2008
Tom Stoppard returns to his American home with the West Coast Premiere
of Rock 'n' Roll
August 20, 2008
Announcing American Conservatory Theater's 2008–09 Season
March 26, 2008
Reviews and Other Press
ACT's `Rock' rolls in Stoppard's genius (PDF)
Chad Jones, San Francisco Examiner
Review: ACT rocks with new Tom Stoppard play 'Rock 'n' Roll' (PDF)
Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times
Theater review: Tom Stoppard's 'Rock 'n' Roll' (PDF)
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
'Rock 'n' Roll' at ACT (PDF)
Richard Dodds, Bay Area Reporter
Stoppard's 'Rock 'n' Roll' is splendid (PDF)
Marcus Crowder, The Sacramento Bee
Rene Augesen and Tom Stoppard's "Rock 'n' Roll" at ACT
Mick LaSalle, SFGate.com
SF native Felciano rocks out at A.C.T.
Chad Jones, San Francisco Examiner
Tom Stoppard's 'Rock 'n' Roll' at A.C.T.
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
'You can't help being what you write': An Interview with Tom Stoppard
Maya Jaggi, The Guardian
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