THE STORY: In this fractured historical fiction in two acts set in the months before the 2012 presidential election, when Democracy was strong, facts were facts, and a single surreptitious video could determine the course of history, a Black Republican political operative and his (male) GOP donor lover; a blue-collar bartender in his 60s and his liberal wife; a left-wing middle-aged painter, his twenty-year-old activist daughter, the conservative housewife with whom he’s having an affair, and her Jesus-loving daughter; and James Earl Carter IV, grandson of the 39th president of the United States, all find themselves connected to political events swirling around them, and to each other, in ways they never could have imagined.
“AMERICAN GUERNICA brilliantly sheds light on contemporary American society by dramatizing recent history through a surprising and deeply satisfying intersection of its memorable characters’ lives. Throughout his body of work, David Goldsmith is a writer of remarkable range and power, with a simple throughline that connects it all: intelligence and excellence.” —Bill Rauch, Artistic Director, Perelman Performing Arts Center.
“David Goldsmith understands the power of theater at its core—how narrative, character, and the dramatic form can tell stories that have deep impact on audiences. His writing is filled with intelligence, nuance, and humor, and he bravely tackles subjects that are pressing in our world.” —Diane Paulus, Tony Award®-winning director of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Pippin, and Jagged Little Pill.
