Cambodian Rock Band, by Lauren Yee (San Diego, CA)

Cambodian Rock Band, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA

Dubbed “fierce, gorgeous and heartwarming” by the Los Angeles Times, this epic play/rock concert thrusts us into the life of a young woman trying to piece together her family history thirty years after her father fled Cambodia. Featuring a cast that performs a mix of contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies, playwright and UC San Diego alum Lauren Yee brings to vivid life the Cambodian rock scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s, a movement cut short by the Khmer Rouge’s brutal attempt to erase the music (and musicians) once and for all. A story about survivors, the resilient bond of family and the enduring power of music.

“Lauren Yee improbably combines a tempestuous father/daughter relationship, 1960s-influenced psychedelic surf rock, and the Khmer Rouge – it’s gloriously funny, shocking and ultimately uplifting.”
– Christopher Ashley, The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse