Passing Strange
by Annie Dorsen, Heidi Rodewald, Stew

Name: Passing Strange
Brand: Annie Dorsen
SKU: 9780822224006
Rating: 4.31 (3 reviews)

BroadwayOff-Broadway

Passing Strange Book Cover — Passing Strange Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins1980sRole(s) for Black Actor(s)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsContemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk AwardTony Award

Winner! 2008 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical Winner! Three 2008 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical Nominee: Seven 2008 Tony Awards Nominee: Seven 2008 Drama Desk Awards

What readers are saying

Readers are largely captivated by the emotional depth and unique style of the play. Many appreciate the rock opera aspect and the exploration of vulnerability and authenticity. Some find the focus on the main character's emotional journey both touching and impactful, though a few critiques note weaknesses in female character portrayals.

Unique rock opera vibeMemorable music and lyricsTouching exploration of vulnerabilityWeakness in female character portrayals

Synopsis

From singer-songwriter and performance artist Stew comes Passing Strange , a daring musical that takes you on a journey across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention.

Stew brings us the story of a young bohemian who charts a course for “the real” through sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

Loaded with soulful lyrics and overflowing with passion, the show takes us from black middle-class America to Amsterdam, Berlin, and beyond on a journey towards personal and artistic authenticity.

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Press Reviews

"Smashes Broadway clichés with an electric guitar and the funniest libretto I can remember."
— New York Magazine

"The freshest musical in town! The songs rock harder than anything else on Broadway."
— Wall Street Journal

"With excellent songs and a vulnerable heart, Passing Strange could join Hedwig and the Angry Inch as a punk musical milestone."
— Variety

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Mother	—	—	—
Youth	—	—	—
Terry A bad kid at church	—	—	A bad kid at church
Sherry Another bad kid at church	—	—	Another bad kid at church
Mr. Franklin Church pianist, youth choir director	—	—	Church pianist, youth choir director
Edwina A teenage goddess	—	—	A teenage goddess
Renata An abstract artist and café waitress	—	—	An abstract artist and café waitress
Christophe An academic who moonlights	—	—	An academic who moonlights
Joop A body liberationist	—	—	A body liberationist
Marianna A neo-hippy	—	—	A neo-hippy
Hugo A militant music critic	—	—	A militant music critic
Sudabey An avant-garde filmmaker and writer	—	—	An avant-garde filmmaker and writer
Desi A den mother and social engineer	female	—	A den mother and social engineer
Mr. Venus A performance artist	—	—	A performance artist
Narrator	—	—	—