RED BIKE

Cast: A play for one, two, or more performers.

Running time: about 85 minutes.

What kind of future will you have living in these here United States?

Remember when you were eleven years old and you had a bike, one that made you dream about a world bigger than the one in which you live? This is that memory. Except it is now.

Script Production History

This play is the recipient of a 2018 into 2019 National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere with Pygmalion Theatre Company (Salt Lake City, Utah), Simpatico Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), Know Theatre (Cincinnati, Ohio), and The Wilbury Group (Providence, Rhode Island).

RED BIKE is the first in a cycle of plays which includes FUEL, Hurt Song, Holler Riverand Trouble in Kind.

RED BIKE at Know Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio
January 11-February 2, 2019
https:/knowtheatre.com/season-21/redbike

RED BIKE at The Wilbury Theatre Group, Providence, RI
February 21-March 3, 2019
http://thewilburygroup.org/red-bike-premiere.html

February 4-25, 2023 RED BIKE at Center Rep/Lesher Center for the Arts in California. Directed by Jeffrey Lo. Dynamic RED BIKE Directed By Jeffrey Lo Comes To Center REP This February (broadwayworld.com)

Development History

In the US, this script was developed at the Lark and New Dramatists, both in New York City under the direction of Emily Mendelsohn. In the UK, this script received a reading in June 2017 produced by Chaskis Theatre as a benefit for children arts charity Anno’s Africa at the Cervantes theatre in London under the direction of Simon Evans with associate direction by Huw Parmenter and Raymi Quiroga. The script was also presented at the 2017 NNPN National Showcase of New Plays at Orlando Shakespeare, and at Jackalope Theatre in Chicago in May 2018 under the direction of Lisa Portes, and at Flint Youth Theatre in Michigan in January 2018 under Kathleen Walshe’s direction. Performers that have been part of the play’s history have included Jocelyn Kuritsky, Sofia Jean Gomez, Maddy Hill, and Aaron Anthony. RED BIKE was an Honorable Mention in the 2017 Kilroys List.

Script Perusal

The script is available for perusal on the New Play Exchange at https://newplayexchange.org/plays/90847/red-bike

About RED BIKE

Review of RED BIKE at Teatro Paraguas in Santa Fe, NM (2020) in Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/albuquerque/article/BWW-Review-RED-BIKE-at-Teatro-Paraguas-Online-20200718

Teatro Paraguas presents video performance of RED BIKE from July 17-July 30, 2020 only on Vimeo with a cast of ten actors directed by Juliet Salazar. as fundraiser for the Santa Fe theatre company. info at http://teatroparaguas.org

Red Bike at Teatro Paraguas in Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/albuquerque/article/Teatro-Paraguas-Presents-Video-Performance-of-RED-BIKE-20200618

Red Bike at Teatro Paraguas in Playbill: https://www.playbill.com/article/santa-fes-teatro-paraguas-to-stream-caridad-svichs-red-bike

RED BIKE streaming through June 30, 2020: Know Theatre of Cincinnati production.
https://knowtheatre.vbotickets.com/event/RED_BIKE_Streaming_Pass/43123

The Joys and Complications of Childhood:
http://www.sdnews.com/view/full_story/27693407/article-The-joys-and-complications-of-childhood?instance=sdnews

Review: Moxie’s ‘Red Bike’ imaginatively explores loss of the American Dream https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2020-01-25/review-moxies-red-bike-imaginatively-explores-loss-of-the-american-dream

Review: Fast and Imaginative Red Bike.
https://sandiegostory.com/fast-and-imaginative-red-bike-is-a-physically-compelling-ride-at-moxie/

Review: Extraordinary Red Bike
https://sdgln.com/entertainment/2020/01/31/theater-review-red-bike#.XjZoqeSGGKQ.mailto

Review: Jazz88 calls the play miraculous.
https://www.jazz88.org/Centerstage/

RED BIKE trailer from MOXIE Theatre, 2020:
https://youtu.be/f7l2H-mRHA4

Interview with Caridad Svich in San Diego Union-Tribune for RED BIKE.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2020-01-14/moxie-theatres-red-bike-looks-at-living-on-the-economic-precipice-through-a-childs-eyes

Jenifer Moore’s review in the League of Cincinnati Theatre:
http://leagueofcincytheatres.info/?p=1735

Liz Eichler’s review in the League of Cincinnati Theatre:
http://leagueofcincytheatres.info/?p=1729

Rick Pender’s review Poetic Red Bike pedals through childhood in City Beat:
https://www.citybeat.com/arts-culture/theater/article

Cincinnati Enquirer “allow yourself to be swept away”:
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/theater/2019/01/12/red-bike-know-theatre-review/2558061002

Broadway World on the play’s premiere in Cincinnati at Know Theatre:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/cincinnati/article/Know-Theatre-Presents-National-New-Play-Network-Rolling-World-Premiere-of-RED-BIKE-20181213

Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/Announcing-The-80th-NNPN-Rolling-World-Premiere-RED-BIKE-By-Caridad-Svich-20180403

Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/philadelphia/article/Obie-Winning-Author-Caridad-Svichs-RED-BIKE-Will-Have-Philly-Premiere-With-Simpatico-Theatre-20180320

Theatre Times: “Taking a Ride on a Red Bike” https://thetheatretimes.com/taking-ride-red-bike/

The Lark blog:“Fuel the Hurt n Holler the Trouble on a Red Bike” essay about the Red Bike cycle of plays:https://www.larktheatre.org/blog/fuel-hurt-n-holler-trouble-red-bike/

The Lark blog: “Riding Uphill on a Red Bike” is live as the closing reflection in the Stages of Resistance series, hosted by The Lark Theatre. http://larktheatre.org/blog/riding-uphill-red-bike/

Essay about RED BIKE. FUEL and the new play cycle:
https://www.larktheatre.org/blog/fuel-hurt-n-holler-trouble-red-bike/

Promo trailer for RED BIKE from the June 2017 workshop with Chaskis Theatre in London featuring actor Maddy Hill:
https://www.facebook.com/chaskistheatre/videos/1378345315535527/

Production photos from the Pygmalion Theatre Company production April 2018:
https://bethbruner.smugmug.com/organize/Theater/PYGmalion/The-Red-Bike-PYGmalion-April-2018

Stage Door review: https://www.stage-door.com/3/Reviews/Entries/2021/3/an-acorn.html

Let’s Go Eat podcast interview (one hour) for the 2018 Salt Lake City premiere:
http://theletsgoeatshow.com/2018/04/22/caridad-svich/

American Theatre magazine The Subtext podcast interview with Svich on RED BIKE and more: https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/06/12/the-subtext-caridad-svich/

Circle Up! podcast/interview with Svich in Chicago on RED BIKE and more with Jackalope Theatre and the Chicago Inclusion project: https://soundcloud.com/circle-up-podcast/caridad-svich-red-bike/s-TSQJm

Playwrights Podcast NYC interview with Svich on RED BIKE and playwriting: http://playwrighttoplaywright.libsyn.com/episode-10-caridad-svich

Philadelphia Enquirer preview article on Svich and RED BIKE and more:
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/caridad-svich-red-bike-simpatico-interact-svichfest-20180521.html

Philly Fringe Arts Blog interview with RED BIKE director Sam Tower: http://fringearts.com/2018/06/01/37353/

Broad Street Review podcast with RED BIKE director Sam Tower and actor Torez Mosley in Philadelphia: http://broadstreetreview.repradio.org/2018/06/06/simpatico-red-bike/

NBC Philadelphia interview with artistic director Allison Heishman and actor Torez Mosley with clips from RED BIKE: https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/entertainment/the-scene/Red-Bike-At-Caplan-Studio-Theatre-through-June-24th_Philadelphia-485146621.html

RED BIKE streams November 16- January 2021 with Teatro Paraguas on Xerb. TV: Tickets are on sale now for “Red Bike” on
Xerb! https://xerb.tv/channel/teatro-paraguas/virtual-events/1486 Check it out! Only $5.00!

RED BIKE reading on December 9, 2020 with American Blues Theater in Chicago. https://americanbluestheater.com/2020/11/28/red-bike/

RED BIKE in Broadway World for American Blues reading: https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/American-Blues-Presents-Reading-of-RED-BIKE-by-Caridad-Svich-20201207

RED BIKE interview snippets with director, actor and me at American Blues: https://www.facebook.com/americanbluestheater/videos/161444809053840

Interview with Caridad Svich at Queens Theatre, NY and their Playwright to Playwright Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0z9Yi-XPbg&feature=youtu.be

RED BIKE on the Radio. Sept 6, 6 pm 2020 KUMN in New Mexico. https://www.kunm.org/post/red-bike

Trailer for the Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City streaming production 2021: Here is the link: https://youtu.be/ezXjppfFNng

RED BIKE is on Best of Theater for 2020 Lists in San Diego:

San Diego Union Tribune names it Best Pre-Pandemic Onstage Show of 2020: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/story/2020-12-27/2020-year-in-review-looking-back-on-a-fractured-year-in-san-diego-theater

Times of San Diego also names it one of the best of 2020: https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2020/12/29/2020-in-review-the-best-of-theater-in-the-worst-of-times/

RED BIKE premieres in India! Preview article here: https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/theatre/2021/jan/08/red-bike-a-look-at-small-town-america-though-the-eyes-of-a-child-30783.html

RED BIKE streams from Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City February 3-21,2021. https://unicorntheatre.org/shows/redbike/

RED BIKE March 11-13, 2021, virtual production at Cleveland State. https://class.csuohio.edu/theatre-dance/red-bike

Reading on July 21 with Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of their reading series starring Meme Garcia, directed by Evren Odcikin. tickets.osfashland.org/40765/40770

July 24, 25 and 30 at Santa Clarita Shakespeare. a LIminal Space production. directed by Marie-Claire Erdynast. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-bike-by-caridad-svich-tickets-157308926233

Santa Clarita Shakespeare posted production pix of RED BIKE: https://www.facebook.com/SCShakespeareFest/photos/pcb.10158301702212805/10158301684167805

preview article about premiere in District Fray https://districtfray.com/articles/red-bike-premieres/

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/537070/red-bike-breathes-new-life-into-local-theater/?s=03

in American Theatre on Red Bike: https://www.americantheatre.org/2021/10/28/taking-it-to-the-streets-on-a-red-bike/

Pan Underground presents on Oct 24 and Nov 6, 2021: RED BIKE in Washington D.C. as immersive community event. https://www.panunderground.com/redbike

RED BIKE in Washington D.C. preview article in DC Metro Arts: https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2021/10/01/red-bike-by-caridad-svich-to-get-dc-debut-in-a-block-party/

RED BIKE article in Broadway World for Washington D.C. community-wide staging: https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/RED-BIKE-By-Caridad-Svich-Makes-DC-Premiere-As-Multi-Site-Community-Celebration-20211003

December 4-5, and 10-11, 2021: RED BIKE at the University of Buffalo. http://www.ubcfa.org/events-exhibitions/theatre/red-bike.html

Bay Area premiere of RED BIKE gets rave review from San Francisco Chronicle! https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/theater/review-center-rep-red-bike-is-liberated-writing-17769263

Mercury News feature: https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/02/09/childs-bike-ride-turns-into-momentous-coming-of-age-journey-in-walnut-creek-show/

East Bay Times: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/02/04/curtain-calls-red-bike-in-walnut-creek-looks-at-u-s-through-childs-eyes/

“Svich’s RED BIKE is a luminous piece that tackles our common dreams and dangers with magic, poetry, and a sense of both possibility and loneliness. A beautiful work!” — Cristina Garcia (novelist, Dreaming in Cuban)

“What I admire about Svich’s powerful work is the continual theatrical risks she takes, the poetic layering of too often repressed voices, and the kick in the ass at realism. RED BIKE is a beautiful ride.” — Naomi Wallace (playwright)

“In RED BIKE, Svich sees poetry in the everyday, passion in politics, power in citizenship. In this play-monologue told from the perspective of pre-adolescent exploring a world in distress (closed businesses, poverty on the street), Svich channels Carson McCullers’ Frankie in A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING — our unnamed protagonist observes astutely, accepts the parameters of their world, feels the possibilities of dreams. The bike is transportation and a dream mobile moving from one viewpoint to another, like a magic carpet. “Somebody gotta make red bikes somewhere,” they muse, “so kids like me can dream.” This dreamscape is haunting and gorgeous.” — Martha Wade Steketee, freelance critic and dramaturg

“I often find Svich’s mastery of the slippage between the everyday and the timeless blindsiding, but particularly so with Red Bike, which launches us into a dreamscape where greed stabs us in the heart with its fork, burns away our better parts, and reveals our deepest desires. The play enacts a relentless gaze into the unkindness and loss of our time while daring to dream and play and let in real joy. Red Bike is a soulful, masterfully carved project.” — Emily Mendelsohn (director)

“RED BIKE is a uniquely timely play with a big imagination that explores the idea of class in modern American society through the eyes of a young child. Like the best of Caridad’s work, I was taken by the poetic theatrical language that felt grounded and accessible. I especially love the fact that the play leaves a lot of room for interpretation (can be cast with any race or gender, and can be a solo show or divided amongst a number of actors).” — Evren Odcikin (director)

“RED BIKE is like a painting that catches your eye in a museum and makes you stop—because it is simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, simple yet complex, accessible yet layered with meaning. This play by Caridad Svich is full of imagery and modernist poetry; it evokes for me the kind of American imagery of Norman Rockwell, William Carlos Williams, and Muriel Rukeyser. We learn what America is through the eyes of an eleven year old with a red bike, who could forget all their observations the moment they turn 12.” — Heather Helinsky (dramaturge)

“Caridad Svich’s RED BIKE is as far reaching as it is exhilarating. She takes us on a journey that bumps, jumps and spins through emotional corners and existential turns. Hold on for the ride.” — Bryce Lease (Royal Holloway, University of London)

“Caridad Svich’s Red Bike takes us on a beautiful ride across the landscapes of place and memory.” — Jose Cruz Gonzalez (playwright)

“Caridad Svich’s RED BIKE is a beautifully vulnerable freefall into the precious last days of childhood. Its blend of teen bravado and innocence lost put me in mind of a 21st century Harper Lee. In its London reading Chaskis Theatre evoked the wide-eyed joys and fears of the next generation of North Americans in Caridad’s poetic drama with their trademark honesty and subtlety.” — Ben SantaMaria (Playwright/director)

“RED BIKE invites us to take a ride into the unknown. With child-like wonder we encounter all the joys and terrors of being truly alive, as we fly past all that is settled and secure in our lives. It is a great exploration of the tension between fact and fiction, desire and fear, holding on and letting go – moment by moment by moment.” — Elizabeth Hess (actor-writer and educator, NYU Tisch School for the Arts)

“In the few moments before a child crashes their red bike, we explore the socio-economic divide, capitalism, globalism, nationalism, gentrification, the racial tensions and immigration, our relationship with technology, the differences between rural and urban communities, and the gap between old and young – all through the eyes of an eleven year old child.  Red Bike is a rich, poetic, insightful and wonderfully theatrical text.” — Jack Paterson (Co-Artistic Director, TheatreBoucheWHACKED!, Vancouver)