The combining of two disparate images, such as the. Dead mans cell phone is every bit as intriguing as the title suggests. He also has acted in and directed many shows since joining cp in 1964. The play premiered at the woolly mammoth theatre company, washington, d. Dead mans cell phone is a mad pilgrimage of an imagination as it is invaded and atomized by the phone, which transforms private as well as public space. Her plays include stage kiss, in the next room, or the vibrator play pulitzer prize finalist, tony award nominee for best new play, the clean house pulitzer prize finalist, 2005.
Two important themes arise in sarah ruhl s dead man s cell phone and it is a thoughtprovoking play that may lead viewers to question their own reliance on technology. It explores the paradox of modern technologys ability to both unite and isolate people in the digital age. Its the story of a sweet young woman named jean who could easily blend into the background. All producers of dead mans cell phone must give credit to the.
Gottlieb hermia dwight the other womanthe stranger. An offthewall play about the odyssey of a woman forced to confront her own assumptions about morality, redemption, and the need to connect in a technologically obsessed world. Cedar falls while seated in a cafe, an irritated young woman answers a strangers cell phone when he doesnt pick it up himself. Alley theatre official website dead mans cell phone. Sarah ruhl in the next room, the clean house has made a name for. Orlando, demeter in the city naacp nomination, late. The script book for sarah ruhls dead mans cell phone opens with an. In a quiet cafe an unsuspecting young woman, irked by an insistently ringing cell phone, discovers that its owner is, in fact, dead. So begins dead mans cell phone, a wildly imaginative comedy by sarah ruhl the clean house, eurydice. As she tries to get his attention, she realizes that this man is dead and the only thing left of him thats still buzzing and making noise is his cell phone. Dead mans cell phone theatre inconnutheatre inconnu.
Dead mans cell phone by sarah ruhl directed by jennifer goff wayne state university studio theatre fall 20. Dead mans cell phone at the clarence brown theatre, march 29april 15, 2012. The woman at the next table, jean, picks up the cell phone and ends up stuck in the middle of all his troubles, meeting his widow hermia, his mother mrs. Sarah ruhls in the next room was a big hit with colonial players audiences a year ago. In an impulsive move, she decides to answer the call and her fateful act plummets her deeply into the dead man s mysterious life.
Dead mans cell phone was produced in march 2008 by steppenwolf theatre company martha lavey, artistic director, david hawkanson, executive director. Directing sarah ruhls dead mans cell phone bucknell digital. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device with. Sarah ruhls comedy dead mans cell phone is dark and quirky. Phones have become an integral part of modern society and we live in an age with these seemingly magical devices that promise constant connection yet leave many of us feeling stranded. So begins dead mans cell phone, a wildly imaginative new comedy by macarthur genius grant pdf recipient and pulitzer prize finalist, sarah ruhl, author of the clean house and eurydice. Dead mans cell phone is a play about a girl at a cafe who finds an annoying cell phone ringing in the pocket of a man sitting across the room from her. Dead mans cell phone at firehall arts centre sept 919th, 2010. So begins dead mans cell phone, a wildly imaginative new comedy by macarthur genius grant recipient and pulitzer prize finalist sarah ruhl. The play was awarded a helen hayes award for outstanding new play. Dead mans cell phone dead mans cell phone was produced at woolly mammoth theatre company in washington d.
Two important themes arise in sarah ruhl s dead mans cell phone and it is a thoughtprovoking play that may lead viewers to question their own reliance on technology. Reveling in the intrigue, she attends his funeral, meets his eccentric family and embarks on a wild filmnoir odyssey. Passion play, pen american award, the fourth freedom forum playwriting award from the kennedy center. To download the production postcard for dead mans cell phone to share with your. A pdf of the playbill is also available in the same location under the. Our hero decides to take his cell phone and right all of his wrongs that he committed.