Educator's Learning Guide

Dear Audience,

I am pleased to have you to witness the production of Angels in America at the University Theatre at Sam Houston State University. SHSU is presenting this production to explain about how the 1980s was in America and the impact that it caused America to improve what it is today. The 1980s was the time of struggle and surviving, where America was falling and the city of New York was struggling to survive. Then one man, who would turn President of The United States by of Ronald Reagan would change the impact of the 1980s, but the deaths would never change. We are viewing life of the 1980s, where it was time of life and death occurring throughout America.

Tony Kushner wrote the play in 1989-1990, where it would later appeared on stage in 1991, where it would change the world of theatre. It would be published in 1992, where it would win the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It would also win two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, the Evening Standard Award, two Olivier Award Nominations, the New York Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the LAMBDA Liberty Award for Drama. The seven hour Two Part play would be the subject of AIDS, Reaganomics, Mormonism, homosexuality, and Jewish, which was the decade of the 80s in New York City.

Imagine of being around in the 1985, listening to Michael Jackson, Madonna , Bruce Springsteen, George Michaels, and many more. Seeing the introduction of crack cocaine, MTV, AIDS, and the economy trying to improve from the 1970s. Most of us were not around at that thing, but just imagine being in New York City, the Mets were winning and the Yankees trying to make to the playoffs, Giants winning two under Bill Parcells and the Jets being losers as in the past. AIDS was the terror of the 80s, where millions of Americans were dead involving Rock Hudson, whom was the first famous star to die from the disease. The 1980s was the struggles of life, where new diseases were existing like cancer, smoking being bad for you, STDS, religion battles, an actor being President by the name of Ronald Reagan, and many more.

Each section explains about the play known as “America In Angels”, where it will provide for the audience to give a view details of what the play is about. There will be questions to be asked for the director and production team, where we would delighted to answer questions from (you) the audience.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at the University Theatre here at Sam Houston State University if you have any questions to ask. We look forward of seeing all of you to view the first production of “Angels In America” at Sam Houston State.

Carlos Ernesto Gonzalez
Dramaturg