1980: A Two-Act Play by Damon Norko
Theatre Project 45 W. Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland 21201
1980 is set in a college radio station. The head DJ is a rocker who dominates the music scene. A punk-rocker joins the station and discovers corruption and hypocrisy abound. At first, it seems like a clash of cultures as rock vies with punk for the airwaves — It was the heyday of punk and new wave. But soon personal complexities and the gap between dreams and reality cause an upheaval in the station. Meanwhile, a mysterious caller purports to set up an interview with John Lennon. The finale of the play deals with a pivotal moment in American history (spoiler alert – John Lennon’s assassination). 1980 also depicts the “last hurrah” of the world of vinyl records – vinyl records will “stack up” on stage by the end of the play.