A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Young Americans

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  2w, 1m

A Play in Two Road Trips
by Lauren Yee

In Lauren Yee’s heartfelt and engaging dramedy, twin road trips unfold two decades apart, gradually revealing a nuanced picture of two generations of an immigrant family.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
Joe and Jenny, a young immigrant couple, share a drive across America to their new home, forging a relationship through national sites, motels and unexpectedly eventful IHOP stops. Twenty years later, Joe takes the same drive with their 19-year-old daughter, Lucy, but Jenny isn’t there. As twin road trips unfold two decades apart, a picture of a family comes into gradual focus.
History
Young Americans premiered in a co-production between Portland Center Stage in Portland, OR and Pittsburgh Public Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA in spring 2023. Directed by Desdemona Chiang, the production featured Danny Bernardo, Sammy Rat Rios and Marielle Young.
Cast Attributes

JOE – Male, about 30 and about 50, an immigrant
JENNY – Female, 20s, his soon-to-be wife, also an immigrant
LUCY – Female, 21, an immigrant who came over at a young age

JOE and JENNY are played by actors of the same race.
LUCY is played by an actor of a different race than JOE and JENNY.
All three actors are non-white.

JOE and JENNY are played by actors of the same race.
LUCY is played by an actor of a different race than JOE and JENNY.
All three actors are non-white.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting Two road trips from Washington D.C. to Portland, OR. The present and 20 years ago.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Strong Language
    • Smoking

Media

“Heartfelt and clear-eyed… skillfully written… one of those rare stories where every character gets to grow.” – Pittsburgh City Paper

“Great… this wonderful little dramedy feels as wide open as the road from East to West Coast… Telling the story of two road trips decades apart, Yee shows how the power of family and identity may be strong, but the power of music is just as potent.” – BroadwayWorld

“Those of us without a direct link to immigrant experience inevitably underestimate the extent of our ignorance… Lauren Yee’s new play… gently troubles our assumptions and, if we allow it, will awaken appropriate curiosity about what we don’t know.” – Oregon ArtsWatch

“[Young Americans] asks you to reflect on a question that has no definitive answer in a way that takes a wide variety of perspectives into account. Especially in our current polarized environment, that’s an endeavor worth pursuing.” – BroadwayWorld

“Your nights out are precious, and this show is worth it… If you’re looking for the perfect date night to impress your partner or friend, this is it.” – PDXParent

“Lauren is such a gifted writer… She’s made the experiences shared between the two characters so universal that it transcends many cultures and really connects with both the artists and the audience.” – Inquirer.Net


Videos

  • Young Americans – World Premiere Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Young Americans – World Premiere Trailer

  • Theatre Horizon Cast Discusses Young Americans youtube thumbnail

    Theatre Horizon Cast Discusses Young Americans

  • Bi Jean Ngo as Jenny in Theatre Horizon’s Young Americans youtube thumbnail

    Bi Jean Ngo as Jenny in Theatre Horizon’s Young Americans

  • Hansel Tan on Joe in Young Americans – Theatre Horizon youtube thumbnail

    Hansel Tan on Joe in Young Americans – Theatre Horizon

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Authors

Lauren Yee

Lauren Yee was the second most produced playwright in America for the 2019/20 theatrical season (as per American Theatre Magazine). Her plays include Cambodian Rock Band (South Coast Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, City Theatre, Merrimack Rep) and The Gr ...
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