Café Americano

by Joshua Piper

A young screenwriter and actor has moved to Paris after the premature death of his husband as he tries to write his first feature film. A barista has moved to Paris following her husband. Their lives intertwine as they sort through grief one journal entry at a time. "Cafe Americano" is a play that examines how grief throws us through the wringer as we try to find our way to the surface and how sometimes our...

A young screenwriter and actor has moved to Paris after the premature death of his husband as he tries to write his first feature film. A barista has moved to Paris following her husband. Their lives intertwine as they sort through grief one journal entry at a time. "Cafe Americano" is a play that examines how grief throws us through the wringer as we try to find our way to the surface and how sometimes our biggest life preserver can be a stranger we meet.

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Café Americano

Recommended by

  • Greg Mandryk: Café Americano by Joshua Piper
    “

    This is a beautifully written play about two strangers whose lives have been upended and who find themselves adrift. The two never even learn each other’s names (nor do we), but Joshua Piper illustrates how sometimes casual exchanges between fellow travelers can have a positive impact while even blood relatives can feel disconnected. Very well done!!

    This is a beautifully written play about two strangers whose lives have been upended and who find themselves adrift. The two never even learn each other’s names (nor do we), but Joshua Piper illustrates how sometimes casual exchanges between fellow travelers can have a positive impact while even blood relatives can feel disconnected. Very well done!!

    ”
  • Chris Gacinski: Café Americano by Joshua Piper
    “

    Wow this play is so emotionally charged! Piper makes you feel for these characters; we’re revealed deeply personal details about them, which leads us to empathize with them, even if they’re not fully relatable, it’s to Piper’s credit and amazing character work that will keep you rooted in this one of a kind story, told by a one of a kind writer. If you’re in NYC, come see this play!

    Wow this play is so emotionally charged! Piper makes you feel for these characters; we’re revealed deeply personal details about them, which leads us to empathize with them, even if they’re not fully relatable, it’s to Piper’s credit and amazing character work that will keep you rooted in this one of a kind story, told by a one of a kind writer. If you’re in NYC, come see this play!

    ”
  • Peter Fenton: Café Americano by Joshua Piper
    “

    In CAFÉ AMERICANO, Joshua Piper spins a stylized full-length in diary entries from its two characters represented by their American homes as expats in Paris. This narrative is raw and heartfelt as Texas and San Francisco express their grief and heartache on the page and in half-scenes with other characters, but never directly to each other... They are kind strangers. I'll be very curious to see how this play is staged, but the narrative held me captive from page one, I didn't see the end of Act One plot twist coming, and the epilogue was a truly beautiful picture.

    In CAFÉ AMERICANO, Joshua Piper spins a stylized full-length in diary entries from its two characters represented by their American homes as expats in Paris. This narrative is raw and heartfelt as Texas and San Francisco express their grief and heartache on the page and in half-scenes with other characters, but never directly to each other... They are kind strangers. I'll be very curious to see how this play is staged, but the narrative held me captive from page one, I didn't see the end of Act One plot twist coming, and the epilogue was a truly beautiful picture.

    ”

Character Information

In Act 1 all the characters, besides Texas, are played by the actresses playing San Francisco, and in Act 2 all the characters, beside San Francisco, are played by the actor playing Texas.

Or there is a tracking ensemble list in the first few pages of the script.
  • Texas
    A 24 year old gay man from Texas who has been a very successful playwright as well as actor in New York. His last big play was turned into a TV show and he played a supporting character in it. He’s in Paris to try and write his first new play since his husband died very prematurely. He’s using sex to cope with his loss, and he hasn’t given himself enough time or therapy to understand his grief. He’s not ok and he knows it, but he’s trying.
    24
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • San Francisco
    A barista and cocktail waitress from San Francisco who moved to Paris to follow her husband, Alexandre. She’s suspected issues in her relationship for a while now, and during the play comes to understand that her husband is gay and cheating on her with multiple different men. She’s very meticulous and type A which can sometimes really hurt her.
    24-25
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, Independently Produced Reading, 2023
  • Residency, Teatro Latea, 2023

Production History

  • Fringe, New York Summer Theater Festival, 2023