RED BIKE by Caridad Svich

2018-2019 NNPN Rolling World Premiere.

What kind of future will you have living in these here United States? Remember when you were eleven years old and you had a bike, one that made you dream about a world bigger than the one in which you live? This is that memory. Except it is now. A play for one performer (two or three). This is the first play in the AMERICAN PSALM seven-play cycle. ......
2018-2019 NNPN Rolling World Premiere.

What kind of future will you have living in these here United States? Remember when you were eleven years old and you had a bike, one that made you dream about a world bigger than the one in which you live? This is that memory. Except it is now. A play for one performer (two or three). This is the first play in the AMERICAN PSALM seven-play cycle. ... "Svich's RED BIKE is s luminous piece that tackles our common dreams and dangers with magic, poetry, and a sense of both possibility and loneliness. A beautiful work!" -- Cristina Garcia (novelist, Dreaming in Cuban)

"In RED BIKE, Svich sees poetry in the everyday, passion in politics, power in citizenship. In this play-monologue told from the perspective of pre adolescent exploring a world in distress (closed businesses, poverty on the street), Svich channels Carson McCullers' Frankie in A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING -- our unnamed protagonist observes astutely, accepts the parameters of their world, feels the possibilities of dreams. The bike is transportation and a dream mobile moving from one viewpoint to another, like a magic carpet. "Somebody gotta make red bikes somewhere," they muse, "so kids like me can dream." This dreamscape is haunting and gorgeous." -- Martha Wade Steketee, freelance critic and dramaturg

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RED BIKE

Recommended by

  • Brian James Polak:
    16 Mar. 2019
    “ I love this play about the changing world around us and how those changes are experienced by a person at the intersection of childhood and adulthood. Caridad is a stage poet and Red Bike has a huge amount of heart and plenty of humor. Just like life, it is full of races down steep hills, confusion, joy, and wonder. ”
  • National New Play Network:
    21 Jan. 2019
    “ RED BIKE by Caridad Svich is receiving a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. The partnering NNPN Member Theaters are Pygmalion Productions (Salt Lake City, UT), Simpatico Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), Know Theatre of Cincinnati (OH), and The Wilbury Theatre Group (Providence, RI). ”
  • Gage Tarlton:
    28 Aug. 2018
    “ Svich has such a firm grasp on the handles of her storytelling that one can't help but be in awe of her creation. She holds the secret to our childhood. She has the ability to take us on the most beautiful journey of our youth through her simple and poetic and heart-wrenching language. It was a privilege to go on this ride. This was my first time experiencing Svich's work and I can't wait to go on more adventures with her leading the way. ”
View all 14 recommendations

Development History

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    The Wilbury Group
    ,
    2019
  • Fringe
    ,
    The Wheel Theatre Company
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Simpatico Theatre
    ,
    2018
  • University
    ,
    Smith College
    ,
    2018
  • University
    ,
    Jedlicka Performing Arts Center at Morton College
    ,
    2018

Awards

Selection
,
NNPN Rolling World Premiere
,
2018
Honorable Mention
,
Kilroys List
,
The Kilroys
,
2017