"TAR takes a probing look at the myriad ways that racial prejudice and hatred color the whole fabric of contemporary life.” Stage Raw
A brand new play from award-winning playwright Tom Jacobson.
Los Angeles, 1939. On the night Count Basie is to be one of the first African-American headliners at the Palomar Ballroom, Zenobio Remedios and Amen Headley are stuck at work next door. Attendants at Bimini Baths, they have accepted a delicate after-hours assignment: removing the tar from a drunken Donald Walter, recently fished out of the LaBrea Tar Pits. But as the two men of color work to remove the stain from the white man’s skin, they reveal the blot of hatred in his heart. Amen, an aspiring actor, uses his wit and imagination to tease out the shocking story behind Donald’s dive into the LaBrea ooze. Deciding what to do with that information leads to a confrontation between Amen and the fearful Zenobio with unexpectedly explosive consequences.
Part of the trilogy, The Ballad of Bimini Baths.
Note about the presentation of the trilogy:
The entire trilogy plays at three different theaters,
at three different locations —
PLUNGE is presented by Son Of Semele
TAR is presented by Playwrights’ Arena
MEXICAN DAY is presented by Rogue Machine
For more details and to purchase the ENTIRE trilogy
go to www.biminitrilogy.com
This site is ONLY selling single tickets to TAR.
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“TAR handles the stickiest of American subjects with wit and honesty, feinting and jabbing at race like Br’er Rabbit punching the Tar Baby. It’s a rapid, bracing, often delightful ride into our city’s — and our nation’s — darkest shadows. This play deserves a long life.” Theatre Ghost
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“TAR peels off the constructs of race with considerable humor in an overall searing tragic story that will likely stay in your mind for a long time." People's World
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“The theme of racism begins to well up... What resides under the skin of each person in the room: A pure heart? Or pure evil?" Los Angeles Times
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“WOW... TAR's trio of Angelenos represent a microcosm of race, ethnicity and culture circa 1939... TAR is Tom Jacobson and Playwrights’ Arena at their L.A.-original best." Stage Scene LA
- Starring: Noel Arthur, Adrian Gonzalez and Tim Ryan Meinelschmidt
- Scenic Designer: Justin Huen
- Lighting Designer: Derek Jones
- Sound Designer and Original Composition: Howard Ho
- Costume Designer: Mylette Nora
- Casting Director: Raul Clayton Staggs
- Producer: Henry 'Heno' Fernandez