“I didn’t realize I was supposed to know how to do everything by my second rodeo

seems like a very low amount of rodeos”

—David Griner

(twitter post Sept 27, 2018)

Life, like a Rodeo, doesn’t always go as planned. There are bumps and falls, and clowns along the way. Distractions designed to keep us from facing our fears and our families.

Two CLOWNS each sets down at a laptop or a keyboard, cell phone, or an old Underwood typewriter or a pen and paper far upstage in the shadows. They begin to write as the lights shift:

(At rise:

A small apartment.

HAYLEE enters aided by DON. HAYLEE is freshly returning home from surgery (whether with her arm in a sling or her leg in a brace is open to each production’s discretion). DON is laden down with prescriptions, ice packs, a hospital bag containing any of Haylee’s unworn clothes. fast food dinner, and street vendors flowers. DON helps HAYLEE to a chair.)

HAYLEE: yeah, I got it.

DON: You got it?

HAYLEE: I got it. I’m good.

(HAYLEE is seated. DON also sets down some of her things – within her reach. Awkward moment.)

HAYLEE: Thank you, I’m good. You can go home now.

DON: shuddup (Moving toward the kitchen:) I’m gonna put these in a—you have a vase?

Carolina Rodriguez

Michael Perlmutter

Brian Robert Harris

Joyce Ha

WARNING: This program contains pulsing lights that may not be suitable for photosensitive viewers.

written by Michael Perlmutter

directed by Ann Noble

Stage Manager – Rebecca Shoenberg

ARTISTS

WORD:

“inventive and deeply moving”

– GIA ON THE MOVE (full review)

“A delightful balance of the real world and the absurd clown universe.”

“A moving and beautifully crafted play.”

“Inspired”

“Beautiful, raw, and uncomfortable in all the right ways.”

“immediate and personal”

“honest examination of the causes and effects of a family fractured by drug abuse.”

“whimsical”

“Engaging, heartbreaking, pulls you in from the very second you take your seat.”

“brilliant”

“A second rodeo isn’t about getting it right the first time. It’s about climbing back into the arena after you’ve been thrown.”

THANK YOU

Theatre can’t survive in a vacuum (supply your own Jr. High joke here). It takes a community.

Thank you to

Sam Adelman ♥ Darin Anthony ♠ Moving Arts Theatre ♦ Bishop ♣ Richard & Suzahn Boronsky ♥ Jan Buttram ♠ Johnny Clark ♦ VS. Theatre Company ♣ Kimmie Dotson ♥ Jay Dunigan ♠ Lindsey Dunn ♦ Chris Fields ♣ The Echo Theater Company ♥ Jeffrey Johnson ♠ Mark Majarian ♦ Joy Rinaldi ♣ McCadden Place Theatre ♥ Robin McDonald ♠ Fred & Wendy Odom ♦ David & Claudia Perlmutter ♣ Bruno Oliver ♥ Sacred Fools Theatre ♠ Jecca & Candice Schmidt ♦ Gareth Williams ♣ Detroit Street Films