Rude News from Rude Mechs

Sign up for Off Center Teens!

2015-03-30T17:10:00.004-06:00

Our unique curriculum of performance, collaborative theatre-making, and self-defense training.

SUMMER 2015 REGISTRATION OPEN NOW.

Fill out and submit the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM today!

When
Classes: June 15 - June 28, 2014 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

(Early and late pick-up/drop-off available.)
Public Performances: Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

Where
The Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo St., Austin, TX 78702

Tickets to the Public Performance
Admission to the performance is FREE. Donations welcome! Tickets available at the door only and seating is first-come, first-served.

ABOUT OFF CENTER TEENS SUMMER CLASSES

OFF CENTER TEENS is the all-gender inclusive evolution of Grrl Action, Austin’s premier all-girls theatre workshop by Rude Mechs, named "Best Club for Teen Performers" by The Austin Chronicle’s Readers’ Poll. Off Center Teens is a 2-week, full-day summer camp that builds toward a final production collage entirely created and performed by teens.

Run by Austin's acclaimed theatre company, Rude Mechs, Off Center Teens is a theatre summer camp program in which 13 to 16 year-olds write, create, publish, and perform original works for the stage drawn from their own life experiences. This year, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Sun Dragon Martial Arts and Self Defense. Sun Dragon is a non-profit with a 25-year history of violence prevention education in Austin. Their considerable talents and experience will help Off Center Teens build even more strength, confidence and self-care.

On Saturday June 27th and Sunday 28th at 2:00 p.m., the participants will take the stage and transform their autobiographical writing into powerful and personal public performances at The Off Center, Rude Mechs' performance home in East Austin.

Off Center Teens is led by former Grrl Action Program Co-Directors Madge Darlington and Jodi Jinks, and enhanced by workshops from professional guest artists with expertise in movement and writing.

Teens who participate in Off Center Teens are given space, materials, skills, and guidance as they work individually and as a group to generate poems, stories, songs, collages, dances, and drawings from their life experiences. They then craft this material into a live performance and a published anthology which is available to the audience, free of charge, before and after the public performances.

Off Center Teens is made possible by generous support from The John F. Kenny Writing Center Fund. Rude Mechs is supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

ABOUT SUN DRAGON MARTIAL ARTS

The mission of Sun Dragon Martial Arts and Self Defense is to use karate, self-defense, and violence prevention skills to empower youth and adults to enact positive change in their communities based on principles of compassion, courage, respect, and justice. The Grrl Action self-defense classes will be led by Executive Director Senpei Joy Williamson. More information can be found here: http://sundragon.org/

ABOUT GRRL ACTION

Grrl Action began in 2000 as a writing and performance program designed to empower girls between the ages of 13 and 16 to find their public voices while building confidence, interacting with girls from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and creating community. From the program, Grrl Action participants learn to expand their practice beyond the theatre space and into their everyday lives and communities, making them not only better writers and performers, but better citizens, activists, and role models. Engaging them through collectivity and community involvement, Grrl Action inspires young women to widen and transcend their definitions of what it means to be an artist.

Summer 2014 marked the 15th anniversary of this groundbreaking summer program!!!
Read more about Grrl Action at:
http://www.impact-austin.org/downloads/press/press_release_20070507.pdf
http://austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A280638
http://feministspectator.blogspot.com/2006/08/grrl-action-and-american-fiesta-in.html
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2000-06-30/cols_pnotice.html

CONTACT US

General questions and inquiries:

email: info "AT" rudemechs.com

tel: 512/476-7833

Rude Work March - June 2015

2015-03-03T20:16:00.003-06:00

On Thurs, January 29, 2015, KLRU premiered the Arts In Context documentary on Rude Mechs.
Click the picture above to watch the video.

Rude Mechs' summer camp in performance, collaborative theatre-making, and self-defense training.

SUMMER 2015 REGISTRATION OPEN NOW.

Fill out and submit the
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM today!

AT HOME

FIELD GUIDE

a first-draft
workshop production
created by Rude Mechs
TICKETS ARE FREE!
When: March 19 - 29
Thursday - Sunday
ALL SHOWS ARE AT 9:00 P.M.
Where: The Off Center

Get pumped for a very rough first look at our newest play-in-creation, Field Guide. We're trying to figure out HOW TO LIVE by diving into stand-up comedy, The Brothers Karamazov, and heart-throb Yul Brynner. Come tell us whether you dig the direction we are headed with this new play or what. Voluntary talk-back after each show.

Collaborators: Madge Darlington, Robert S. Fisher, Thomas Graves, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian Scott and Shawn Sides.

ON TOUR

NOW NOW OH NOW

Fringe Arts (Philadelphia) - April 22 - 25, 2015

STOP HITTING YOURSELF

AT&T Performing Arts Center - May 28-30, 2015

AT HOME

MACBETH
directed by Rosalind Faires
a rude fusion presentation
co-produced by Plan II, The Broccoli Project, and Foot in the Door

LIMITED SEATING!
When: March 14-16, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Off Shoot
Eastern-most part of The Off Center complex.
Tickets: $10.00 + cc and service fees

Scotland's most infamous king and queen are coming to dinner for this intimate and innovative new staging of Shakespeare's tragedy. An undergraduate thesis project from University of Texas student Rosalind Faires, Macbeth takes the form of a dinner party hosted by the Witches, where audiences are invited to dine alongside those vying for Scotland's throne. Featuring a multi-generational cast and elegant designs from Ia Enstera and Jason Amato, the play examines the rules of hospitality and the fragile balance between love and personal ambition.
About Rude Fusion
Rude Mechs' Rude Fusion series is a venture designed to develop deeper relationships with some of Austin's finest theatre artists by co-producing their work and offering our support throughout their creative process.

Rude Mechs Arts In Context PBS Documentary

2015-02-03T19:01:00.002-06:00

On Thurs, Jan 29

KLRU will present an Arts In Context documentary on Rude Mechs
at 7:30 p.m. CST

Rude Mechs will be at the the side bar to watch this ground-breaking in-depth hard-core 26-minute unauthorized bio-doc. Join us!

Airing nationally and on other dates. Check your local PBS station for listings.
Click image below to watch the trailer.

Ante Up for Art is January 17th!

2015-01-09T14:30:00.003-06:00

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 17th
Doors at 7:30 p.m.
Games at 8:00 p.m.
Final Four Showdown at 10:30pm.

WHERE: The Off Center,
2211-A Hidalgo, 78702

TICKETS: On sale now at www.rudemechs.com
$25 to enter (entrance gets you two free game tokens, on the house)
Game tokens $5 each

Emcee
Rebecca Havemeyer

Game Guide
Graham Reynolds

DJ Mickey Jay

TEEN EDITION INFO

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 17th
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Off Shoot
(easternmost section of The Off Center)

TICKETS: Free if parents attending adult event or if not, $5 cash at the door. Either way, guardian must be on site.

ANTE UP FOR ART

Our Boom-Boom Casino Barrage Game Night Fundraiser

All proceeds benefit Rude Mechs and everything that goes on at The Off Center.

This just in - Rebecca Havemeyer has agreed to host the evening and to perform at least one sweet gorgeous song with the inimitable Graham Reynolds.

You please gotta come to Ante Up for Art – our first-ever epic tournament game night fundraiser. Our good friends at the side bar will be slinging drinks from a cash bar as we offer a stunning array of diversions, from casino games to bar games to family-style and brainiac games, all culminating in a Final Four Showdown of the night’s top winners. The night will feature emcee hostess-with-the-mostess Rebecca Havemeyer, DJ Mickey Jay on the 1s and 2s, and game guide Graham Reynolds running our Texas Hold-Em table and settling all disputes in this epic tournament of hot damn good time gaming entertainments! Including, but not nearly limited to: Darts, Twister, Texas Hold-Em, Speed Chess, Bananagrams, Dominoes, Simon, Jenga, and Celebrity. Play what you like! Winners and Losers Welcome! Prizes and surprises for both! Plus we're gonna have some snacks.

Need a more inspiration? Here's a little video... Ante Up for Art from Rude Mechs on Vimeo.

ANTE UP FOR ART: TEEN EDITION

Yes - Our own Madge Darlington is hosting a teen version of the event for 12-16 year olds.

There will be good times, games, some prizes, snacks and sodas.

We'll also hand out information about our new gender inclusive outreach program for teens - Off Center Teens.

Two Public Readings of Fixing Timon of Athens

2014-10-18T14:54:00.002-05:00

FIXING TIMON OF ATHENS

HELP US FIX IT BY COMING TO A PUBLIC READING!
Shakespeare wrote it, Kirk Lynn is fixing it right now. (warning: strong language)

When: November 2nd and November 9th, 2014

Sundays at 5:00 p.m.

Where: The Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo St.

Tickets: $10.00 General Admission (GET TICKETS HERE or HERE)
Note: There is a $2 surcharge on tickets purchased via artful.ly. See our website for alternatives to paying this $2 ticket surcharge.

Ticket sales go directly to this super ensemble of artists: Lowell Bartholomee. Florinda Bryant, Jay Byrd, Barbara Chisholm, Robert Faires, Robert Fisher, Tom Green, Hannah Kenah, and Adriene Mishler, plus Aron Taylor, who will be experimenting with live drawing the show.

About The Readings

Most of the cast of Fixing King John plus a couple of friends, have agreed to perform two public readings of the first draft of Fixing Timon of Athens by Kirk Lynn, and we invite you to be a part of the development process as we prepare for its world premiere in 2015. Fixing Timon of Athens is the second installment in our Fixing Shakespeare series. We hope you will join us for the readings and then stick around to give us your feedback in an environment that involves drinking boozy things and standing around casually after each performance.

About Timon of Athens

It's pretty simple. Timon starts out super rich and super positive and super popular, but his frivolous generosity takes its toll. After getting even with the people he feels betrayed him, he wanders off into the woods, super poor and super pissed off... finds more gold, then dies alone. Also there's a warrior that is in some kind of trouble with the Senate.

About our FIXING SHAKESPEARE Series

Taking place in rotation with our Contemporary Classics series, our Fixing Shakespeare series will make William Shakespeare's least-produced works useful again. Ask yourself how many Shakespeare plays you know or have seen, subtract that number from thirty-seven (depending on who you ask), and those are the plays we are working to fix using our patented performance creation methodology, contemporary English, and adding curse words. (Shakespeare cursed plenty, but most Elizabethan curse words have lost their spice. Zounds!)

In some ways, we're offering you a more authentic experience of what a new Shakespeare play might be like than an actual Shakespeare play. In other ways, not so much.

The Method Gun @ UT - 6 shows only

2014-08-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

When: Sept. 10 - 14, 2014
Wednesday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Sat and Sun matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Oscar G. Brockett Theatre
(it's in the Winship Building on campus)
Tickets: $15 - $25
Purchase at: texasperformingarts.org

“charming… gorgeously rendered… both stunning and haunting.” – American Theatre Magazine

"In this immensely funny, abruptly touching physical-theater work... They keep taking perilous theatrical leaps, but we are the ones to feel sweaty-palmed, nearly vertiginous exhilaration." – Helen Shaw, Time Out New York Review

"Relentlessly inventive... Beneath its zany, passionate surfaces lie some fierce investigations into the nature of art... brilliantly orchestrated" – John Beer, Time Out Chicago 2010

"Best of 2011" - Los Angeles Times
"Best of 2011" - Time Out New York
"2011 Culture Award" - New York Magazine
"Best Touring Show of 2011" - Columbus Alive
"Top 9 Creative Arts, Ah, Things I Was Lucky Enough to Experience This Year" - Austin Chronicle
"Top 10 Theatrical Treasures and Pleasures of 2008" - Austin Chronicle
"In the Arts, the Eight from '08" - Austin-American Statesman

This year The Pearl Dive will be held on October 26, 2014
SAVE THE DATE!!!!

And it will be right here in Austin, TX!
Stay tuned for updates.

The Method Gun

created by rude mechs
presented by The University of Texas at Austin Dept. of Theatre and DanceWe are really very very happy to deliver to Austin the final version of The Method Gun. We finished the play back in 2010 at The Humana Festival, and Austin's never seen this super tweaked and loved on version. This presentation comprises part of our stay as UT Austin's Dept. of Theatre and Dance Resident Theatre Company, and we are excited to share this work with the students and our longtime friends and patrons in the city we love to love.

About The Play
A play about the ecstasy and excesses of performing, the dangers of public intimacy and the incompatibility of truth on stage and sanity in real life, The Method Gun bounces between interior monologues, rehearsal sequences of Streetcar, and group interactions – all gleaned from historical documents – to express a longing for the return of inspiration and a more believable presentation of self in everyday life.

The Method Gun contains adult content, including full frontal male nudity.

About Rude Mechs
Rude Mechs is an ensemble-based theatre company that operates with a full company of 28 members and has run The Off Center since 1999. We create original plays that we produce in Austin, TX, and tour nationally and internationally. Our touring productions include "The Method Gun", "I've Never Been So Happy", "Now Now Oh Now", "Dionysus in 69", "Stop Hitting Yourself", “Get Your War On”, “How Late It Was, How Late”, “Cherrywood”, and “Lipstick Traces.” Our Off-Broadway productions include "Stop Hitting Yourself", "The Method Gun", “Get Your War On”, and “Lipstick Traces.” Our production "The Method Gun" was selected for the 34th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays.

2014-01-04T17:33:00.001-06:00

Stop Hitting Yourself

Rude Mechs is thrilled to announce Stop Hitting Yourself will premiere next month at Lincoln Center Theater as part of LCT3, a program for new artists and new audiences.

Stop Hitting Yourself

created by Rude Mechs

Jan. 15 - Feb 23, 2014

only 49 performances! (heh)
All tickets $20

Get Tickets

Featuring: Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Paul Soileau

2014-01-04T17:28:00.001-06:00

RudeCare.gov
Rude Mechanicals 2013 Year-End Deductible Request to Individuals, Families, & Businesses

ANNOUNCING THE NEW RUDE MECHS

PREMIUM HEALTH CARE PLAN™

Brought to you by Rude Mechs “Affordable Care Actors”

Recent changes in Federal Health Care regulations (alongside ongoing cuts to arts funding and the general harassment of artists by the Texas Legislature) have led Rude Mechs to the only rational plan for future fiscal solvency—in 2014, Rude Mechs will begin transitioning from the performing arts and make its way into the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace.

Please take a few minutes to compare Rude Mechs Premium Health Care Plan™ to the Government Mandated Plans, and plans previously available from Private Insurers.

Is your health insurance provider funny?

PRIVATE INSURERS

No. When my baby got stuck in the birth canal and my wife had to go for an emergency C-section they charged us for two births!!! A vaginal birth and the c-section. Seriously. It’s like they literally want to kick you when you are down.

GOVERNMENT

It is funny how badly they screwed up the roll out of the ACA, but not “haha” funny. More like gallows humor. I’m still sick and now I’m also confused. I’m lost. I’m depressed and did I mention I’m still sick?

RUDE MECHS

Frequently funny and often intentionally so (at least 53% of the time), whether adding curse words to Shakespeare, mocking Ayn Rand, or asking actors to perform the blocking of Streetcar in and among swinging pendulums of death, Rude Mechs usually finds a way to make people laugh.

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: CHOOSE RUDE HEALTH
Pay your deductible for cheap laughs HERE.

Does your health care provider care about your mental health?

PRIVATE INSURERS

Let me put it to you this way: They’ll pay for Cialis but not on-going counseling. Seriously, the reason I need counseling is because I keep getting screwed. Private Insurance plans have never cared about mental health.

GOVERNMENT

Are you kidding? They’re the ones making me crazy right now. You sign on to the website and click about 1,000 buttons and then when you submit it, a screen comes up telling you the site is currently down, try again later. When later? They don’t say. So you wait 24 hours, do it again, and then the same message. I can’t wait to see what they say when I finally get thru…

RUDE MECHS

Rude Mechs create several group therapy sessions a year in the form of talkbacks, parties, and annual charity balls. And consider this: What is theatre but a safe place for people who like to believe they have several other personalities to gather together and get off the street. We’re like a modern nuthouse serving Austin since 1996.

THE BRAIN IS PART OF THE BODY: CHOOSE RUDE HEALTH
Pay your deductible for peace of mind HERE.

Is your coverage good nationally?

PRIVATE INSURERS

I have a friend who broke her arm in Hawaii and the doctors there recommended she get on a plane and fly back to Texas because the insurance penalties she would pay for breaking her arm in Hawaii were so much more painful than flying with a broken wrist.

GOVERNMENT

This is what they said when I finally got thru: “Based on the information you provided, the new federal health care law provides that you could be eligible for free or low cost health care through Medicaid. However, the state of TX has chosen not to offer you this new health care coverage at this time.”

RUDE MECHS

You can catch STOP HITTING YOURSELF at Lincoln Center in NYC in Jan. and Feb. You can see workshops of NOW NOW OH NOW in North Carolina in 2014. And we’re not abandoning you, Texas, in summer of 2014, on the one-year anniversary, we’ll be recreating Wendy Davis’ filibuster, honest to God, in a show we’re calling SB5.

COVERING THE USA: CHOOSE RUDE HEALTH
You're covered! If you pay your deductible HERE.

For the low introductory cost of ‘whatever you can afford,’ we will send you a personal get well card as a way of saying THANKS for making RUDE MECHS the healthiest theatre collective in the history of the USA.
18 years and going strong!

WE THANK YOU. AUDIENCES EVERYWHERE THANK YOU.
www.rudemechs.com
Pay your deductible HERE :)

Fixing King John Opens November 7th!

2013-10-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

FIXING KING JOHN

Shakespeare wrote it, Rude Mechs fixed it.

November 7 - 24, 2013 at The Off Center
Thurs, Fri, Sat at 8:00 p.m. | Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. | Monday Nov 18 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25.00 General Admission (GET TICKETS HERE)
Thursdays 8pm and Sundays 2pm: 2-for-1 tickets available with discount code "halfrude"

Join us on Sunday, November 24th after the 2pm show for the closing Party with the Rudes
$35.00 entry pays artist fees. More info soon (but there will be snacks and booze and people!)

About The Play

Fixing King John tells the story of one of history's shittiest kings, so self-obsessed with his own legacy that he drives his country to war, is willing to kill women and children, and rejects the authority of God and church. But even within King John there is a drop of sweet honey. Will he find a way to redeem his rule before his kingdom collapses? You can't go wrong trying to find out. Whether you know Shakespeare's King John backwards and forwards, or simply want to see the best contemporary drama, attending Fixing King John will fix everything that's wrong in your life.

The ridiculously talented ensemble features Lowell Bartholomee, Florinda Bryant, Jay Byrd, Barbara Chisholm, Robert Faires, Robert S. Fisher, Tom Green, E. Jason Liebrecht, Jeffrey Mills, and Adriene Mishler, with design by Stephen Pruitt and Olivia Warner, and original music from Peter Stopschinski.

About our Fixing Shakespeare Series

Taking place in rotation with our Contemporary Classics series, our new series, Fixing Shakespeare will make William Shakespeare's least produced works useful again. Ask yourself how many Shakespeare plays you know or have seen, subtract that number from thirty-seven (depending on who you ask), and those are the plays we are working to fix using our patented performance creation methodology, contemporary English, and adding curse words. (Shakespeare cursed plenty, but most Elizabethan curse words have lost their spice. Zounds!)

In some ways, we're offering you a more authentic experience of what a new Shakespeare play might be like than an actual Shakespeare play. In other ways, not so much.

Application Open for UT Student Internships

2013-09-06T18:37:00.003-05:00

Rude Mechs is proud to serve as the Resident Theatre Company for the University of Texas Department of Theatre and Dance. For more information about UT's Theatre and Dance Department, visit jointhedrama.org.

From now through the 2014/15 scholastic year, Rude Mechs will serve as the Resident Theatre Company. Through this innovative partnership of a renowned Tier 1 research university and Rude Mechs, a generation of new undergraduate and graduate students will gain a unique perspective on collectively devising new plays and managing a mid-size theatre.

The fall internship begins September 15th and the application is available here.

If you aren't familiar with our company, please take a few minutes to browse our website - look at our mission, our past productions, our programming. www.rudemechs.com

Our goal is to provide you with opportunities to either work or observe work in your area of interest, should your interest align with our schedule and projects this semester. We will not ask you to perform volunteer duties that do not build your desired skill set. (For example, if you are interested in learning arts administration, we will not ask you to perform in our next play for free, but we might ask you to help archive our marketing materials or create a production budget.)

It is our expectation that you will commit 48 hours (approximately 4 hours per week) to Rude Mechs to complete your internship during the semester. Your internship will span roughly 12 weeks beginning September 15 ^thand end December 15 ^th, 2013. We will never ask you for more than 10 hours in a given week.

Please know that we also accept internships from students around the country, so feel free to use this application to let us know you are interested in spending some time down here with us.

You're Invited to The Pearl Dive at The Plant - Join us!

2013-08-27T16:56:00.002-05:00

When: Sunday, September 29th, 4pm to 7:30pm
Where: The Plant at Kyle, directions upon purchase confirmation

Event Tickets: $100 per person at http://rudemechs.com
Raffle Tickets: $75 for 2 chances, $50 for 1 chance at http://rudemechs.com

Austin's innovative and wildly generous food community is preparing a seafood feast at The Plant at Kyle, our favorite dramatic architectural landmark in Kyle, TX.

Curated by business partners Roberto San Miguel and Shane Stark (Executive Chef of Kenichi) of the up-and-coming Mongers Fish House, the event will feature Austin chefs preparing an unforgettable seafood feast procured from the Gulf. Chefs Brandon Fuller of Café Josie, Paul Hargrove of East Side Showroom, W Hotel and the forthcoming Pleasant Storage Room, Jason Stude of 2nd Kitchen + Grill, Alex Jackson and Josh Jones of Salt & Time, and Ruston Richardson of Paggi House will present a menu including oysters every way, grilled and boiled shrimp, fresh fish, and farmers market-inspired side salads.

Composer Graham Reynolds will deejay while you relax in the hill country shade and partake of the region's finest food, perfect drink pairings, and succulent desserts in the perfect company of Austin's avid arts lovers.

And, as if that weren't enough, we are thrilled to have Golden Hornet Proje ct's Peter Stopschinski and Graham Reynolds on site to share a short, sweet sample from their upcoming Requiem project, premiering Spring 2014.

Enter raffle for 2 Nights at The Plant at Kyle!

Entry in the raffle is your chance to win a two-night stay at The Plant - an AIA award-winning architectural landmark incorporating parts of the former Alamo Cement Plant. Designed by Lake|Flato, this unique structure is nestled in a hill-country setting ~40 minutes drive from downtown Austin. To learn more about this beautiful site, go to their website. Only residents of Texas may participate in this raffle. Winner will be drawn at random at the event. You do not need to be present to win. Major holidays and other blackout dates apply. Retail value of prize is over $1,200.

Tent Revival, Grrl Action, Stop Hitting Yourself

2013-07-13T12:36:00.003-05:00

In Chronological Order:

Rude Mechs is proud to host the Matney VS. Cancer Tent Revival at The Off Center on July 17th.
Grrl Action Summer Performances are free to the public on July 20th and 21st at 2:00 p.m. - Don't miss it!
Stop Hitting Yourself will play in Austin in September, and then in NYC in January 2014. NYT mention here.
SAVE THE DATE - The Pearl Dive will be September 29th at The Plant at Kyle. Contact us if you'd like to sponsor the event.

Hidden Room Theatre, Street Corner Arts, A Chick and A Dude, Palindrome present

TENT REVIVAL

We hope you will join the Austin performance community at The Off Center for a healing crusade led by the Reverend Lowell Bartholomee in honor of our friend Robert Matney, who is currently battling cancer and a hill 'o bills. The Austin Chronicle's Robert Faires has written a lovely story about our friend here.

WHEN:

Weds July 17th, doors open at 8:00 p.m., kick-off at 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:

The Off Center, 2211 Hidalgo, Austin TX 78702

TICKETS: Reserve here

FEATURING THESE AMAZING TALENTS

Steven Tomlinson • Manateeman • Cami Alys • Shoulders • Four Bouncing Bums • Special guest Deejays Graham Reynolds, Michael Joplin, and Peter Stopschinski • a prayer by Kirk Lynn, and even more to come...

If you can't make the event, but would like to support Robert, or learn more, visit this link.

SUMMER PERFORMANCES!

When: July 20th and 21st at 2:00 p.m.

Where: The Off Shoot (2211-A Hidalgo St., Austin, TX 78702)Tickets: Free and first-come, first-served. Box Office opens at 1:15 p.m.

Grrl Action is a three-week intensive workshop for teenaged girls, run by Rude Mechs, in which girls envision, create, publish, and perform original works for the stage based on their own life experiences. The three-week intensive culminates in two performances that are free to the public. Don't miss them!

Grrl Friends: A group dedicated to supporting the activities of this very special program. If you would like to join or to find out more about this group, please contact grrlaction@rudemechs.com.

STOP HITTING YOURSELF

UPCOMING SHOWS

We are hittin' the boards again for a short workshop no-fuss, no-muss production in September.
This round will offer only 6 performances beginning September 19th. Tickets will go on sale September 1st.
Then we will wrap it up in a bow in December and take it to NYC to play at Lincoln Center's Claire Tow Theater for a 7-week run in January/February 2014, as part of theirLCT3 2013/14 season.

PEARL DIVE AT THE PLANT

SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 29TH!

We are very excited to announce that San Miguel Seafood and The Plant at Kyle have both agreed to host this year's event!
If you didn't make it out to support Rude Mechs last year, ask a friend who did - it was worth it!
And if you did donate to the event last year (thank you!), we will email you with an early-bird chance to reserve your spot for this year, so keep an eye on your inbox.
If you'd like to sponsor the event or be a part of the planning committee, let us know!

SIX GREAT WAYS TO KEEP UP WITH RUDE MECHS!Visit our website
Join us on Facebook
Watch us on YouTube
See our photos on Flickr
Read all about us on blogspot
Or follow us on Twitter

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE ARTS!

Rude Mechs 2013/14 Corporate Sponsors

Our thanks to the amazing businesses that continue to support Rude Mechs year in and year out.
Contact us at info@rudemechs.com to be a part of the 2013/2014 Rude season.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor? Click here!

We also receive generous support from:The National Endowment for the Arts, The City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, The Texas Commission on the Arts, MAP Multi-Arts Production Fund, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Tony Randall Foundation, and American Theatre Wing.

Special Thanks to The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theater and Dance for naming Rude Mechs Resident Theater Company. This three year commitment provides invaluable support and cache to our rough and tumble company. And the Rude Mechs provide direct mentorship in how to be rough and tumble (aka how to be an arts entrepreneur) to university students, providing mentorships in administration, development and outreach. Rude Mechs also give access to students who want to learn our methodology for devising new plays and managing a professional theatre company. Special thanks to Brant Pope, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Doug Dempster, Dean of the College of Fine Arts. Hook ‘em. We couldn’t be more proud to be associated with The University of Texas.

Stop Hitting Yourself Austin American-Statesman Review - 2 weeks left!

2013-04-10T23:37:00.000-05:00

a work-in-progress showing created by Rude Mechs and part of Fusebox Festival's Machine Shop series

The Austin American-Statesman Review is in!

"But what makes this show exceptional is the way it brings together a medley of styles, ideas, and theater magic to both delight and deliberately unsettle its audiences." - Cate Blouke
read the full review here

Now thru April 21st - only 8 performances left and tix are moving fast!

WHEN:
Now - April 21, 2012
Thursday Sunday at 8:00 pm.

WHERE:

The Off Center

2211 A Hidalgo, Austin, TX 78702

TICKETS:

All tickets are Pay-What-You-Can on a sliding scale

Thursdays & Sundays are $5 to $25

Fridays & Saturdays are $12 - $25.

Tickets for the final weekend (4/18 - 4/21) will also be available via Fusebox Festival.

Passholders must make their reservations through Fusebox Festival.

There's still time to sign up for the Grrl Action Summer Workshop!

Grrl Action Summer 2013 Info and Application

When: July 1 - July 21, 2013
Where: The Off Shoot (2211-A Hidalgo St., Austin, TX 78702)
Grrl Action is a three-week intensive workshop for teenaged girls, run by Rude Mechs, in which girls envision, create, publish, and perform original works for the stage based on their own life experiences. The three-week intensive culminates in two performances that are free to the public. Don't miss them!
The day-camp runs July 1st through July 21st, 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on weekday mornings (except for July 4th). Public performance of the participant work will be on July 20th and 21st.
Apply to Grrl Action: If you know a girl between the ages of 13 and 16 with a desire to express herself through autobiographical writing and performance, send her to the online information packet and application, or email grrlaction@rudemechs.com.

Support Grrl Action: Grrl Action is reliant on donations from the community and local foundation grants. We hope you will contribute to sustain this invaluable program. We are thrilled to announce Friends of Grrl, a group dedicated to supporting the activities of this very special program. If you would like to know more about this group, or to attend their first annual fundraiser, please contact our Development Director, Erin Harrell at harrell@rudemechs.com.

Stop Hitting Yourself Opens Next Week and Grrl Action Now Accepting Applications

2013-03-26T10:21:00.001-06:00

OPENING NEXT WEEK

April 4th thru 21st - only 12 showings!

a work-in-progress showing created by Rude Mechs and part of Fusebox Festival's Machine Shop series

WHEN:
April 4 - April 21, 2012
Thursday Sunday at 8:00 pm.

WHERE:
The Off Center
2211 A Hidalgo, Austin, TX 78702

TICKETS:
All tickets are Pay-What-You-Can on a sliding scale
Thursdays & Sundays are $5 to $25
Fridays & Saturdays are $12 - $25.
Tickets for the final weekend (4/18 - 4/21) will also be available via Fusebox Festival. Passholders must make their reservations through Fusebox Festival.

ABOUT THE SHOW
Once a year at the Charity Ball a single worthy cause is selected to benefit from the Queen's annual good deed. Families of note compete to find the citizens most deserving of assistance. This year, a socialite has discovered a wildman in the forest and brings him home to improve him. The wildman's desire to save the natural world and to bring about an era of love and harmony is a sure-winner. Now she must teach him how to eat and dance, how to bow and flatter, how to behave in society so that his cause can be victorious.
Rude Mechs is currently embracing the fundamental beliefs underlying late-stage capitalism and indulging in some 1930's Hollywood glamour. Part Pygmalion, part Busby Berkley, part self-help lexicon -- all while tap-dancing around a queso fountain. STOP HITTING YOURSELF borrows from the plots of 1930's musicals to dig into the contemporary conservative dilemma: how to honor steely individualism without disavowing the virtue of charity. Tap dancing, fine dining, and the missionary position will all be employed in order to help all Americans stop hitting yourself.
"At tonight's party you were observed and those observations are currently being compiled into a list of the things you need to be taught. We have one month to perfect you. In one month, we're going to have another party. The difference is at this next party, the Queen will be in attendance." -- Socialite
"Improvement. Succor. Fate. Queso. Wardrobe. Charity. Belief." -- Wildman
Some of the Many People Involved: Sam Accettulli, Hope Bennett, Madge Darlington, Thomas Graves, Scott Guthrie, Heather Hanna, Danny Herman, Matt Hislope, Hannah Kenah, Isaac Klein, Lisa Laratta, Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian Scott, Shawn Sides, Paul Soileau, Dallas Tate, plus technicians, crew, and Rude Mechs company members keeping it awesome.

We are now accepting applications to the Grrl Action Summer Workshop!

Grrl Action Summer 2013 Info and Application

SIX GREAT WAYS TO KEEP UP WITH RUDE MECHS!
Visit our website
Join us on Facebook
Watch us on YouTube
See our photos on Flickr
Read all about us on blogspot
Or follow us on Twitter

A Yankee's Notebook

2013-03-11T15:34:00.000-06:00

Hi there, I'm Isaac Klein. I'm a writer and director of plays and musicals from New York City, and this winter I've headed west to escape the cold, explore Austin, and intern with the Rude Mechs, who I've been fascinated with ever since seeing The Method Gun at New York Live Arts. After the show, I kept thinking: "How the hell do you make something like that?" I'm currently discovering the answer, as I observe the creation of the Rudes' latest project: Stop Hitting Yourself. There are many valuable things to absorb and process from my time in the room, but here are a few of the big ones:

FULL COLLABORATION. I thought I knew what it meant to fully collaborate within a company, but I didn't; the Rudes take it to a whole other level. There is a pervasive energy of team equality. Everyone's impulse is nourished. Everyone's voice is heard. For instance, each performer was asked to think of something they've always wanted to do onstage, and those yearnings are being worked into the show. Before the roles were cast, the Rudes did multiple read-throughs, so that each respective performer read every single role, then gave feedback on which they'd be most excited to play. The performers have been asked to create their own dance moves, physicalities , and even full stagings of scenes, which are now being layered into the work. This remarkably democratic process results in a tapestry much richer in creativity and personal ownership than one director or one playwright could provide alone.

A DYNAMIC APPROACH. The Rudes dive in whole-hog, building movement and physical relationships that excite them, and get them closer to the essence of the world. They don't hinder themselves by worrying too much too soon about exactly how or where a piece will fit. They dig, leap, and play with a whole-hearted commitment to discovery. Such a spirit often merits exciting and totally unexpected results. Moving forward, the text of the play may be remolded or re-imagined to make room for a new physical or visual idea.

MINDS WIDE OPEN. It's probably clear from the above that the Rudes are an open-minded bunch. They don't hold their concepts too rigidly. They allow freedom and room for new inspiration to strike. Almost nothing is ruled out, and nothing is held too preciously. A choice made by a performer, designer, director or writer can be embraced, thrown away, and/or reinterpreted, all for the greater good of guiding the show toward its overarching essence. And what is that essence? Well, it's still revealing itself, but it's growing clearer every day.

Tickets on Sale Now for STOP HITTING YOURSELF

2013-03-11T11:50:00.001-06:00

a work-in-progress showing created by Rude Mechs
part of Fusebox Festival's Machine Shop series

WHEN:
April 4 - April 21, 2012
Thursday – Sunday at 8:00 pm.

WHERE:
The Off Center
2211 A Hidalgo, Austin, TX 78702

TICKETS:
All tickets are Pay-What-You-Can on a sliding scale
Thursdays & Sundays are $5 to $25
Fridays & Saturdays are $12 - $25.
Tickets for the final weekend (4/18 - 4/21) will also be available via Fusebox Festival. Passholders must make their reservations through Fusebox Festival.

Rude Mechs is currently embracing the fundamental beliefs underlying late-stage capitalism and indulging in some 1930's Hollywood glamour. Part Pygmalion, part Busby Berkley, part self-help lexicon -- all while tap-dancing around a queso fountain. STOP HITTING YOURSELF borrows from the plots of 1930's musicals to dig into the contemporary conservative dilemma: how to honor steely individualism without disavowing the virtue of charity. Tap dancing, fine dining, and the missionary position will all be employed in order to help all Americans stop hitting yourself.

"At tonight's party you were observed and those observations are currently being compiled into a list of the things you need to be taught. We have one month to perfect you. In one month, we're going to have another party. The difference is at this next party, the Queen will be in attendance." -- Socialite

"Improvement. Succor. Fate. Queso. Wardrobe. Charity. Belief." -- Wildman

Some of the Many People Involved: Sam Accettulli, Hope Bennett, Madge Darlington, Thomas Graves, Scott Guthrie, Heather Hanna, Danny Herman, Matt Hislope, Hannah Kenah, Isaac Klein, Lisa Laratta, Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian Scott, Shawn Sides, Paul Soileau, Dallas Tate, plus technicians, crew, and Rude Mechs company members keeping it awesome.

Stop Hitting Yourself is a commission of LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater. LCT3 produces shows by new playwrights, directors and designers - new ideas in a new space. Creation support for this project also comes in part from from The MAP Fund, a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts, because a great nation deserves great art. Click here for a full list of Rude Mechs sponsors and supporters.

Method Gun Winter 2013 - We did it right!

2013-02-11T14:27:00.000-06:00

So - as you probably know, The Method Gun hopped all over the map this last month.

Here's how it went:

Minneapolis - my snot froze.
Middlebury - really effin cold.
Nashville - freakishly cold.
Miami - a day at the beach.

We couldn't have been more humbled to kick off Walker Art Center's 25th Out There festival.

The new (to us) space is beautiful - look at it!

And it was absolutely perfect for the play.

Good shows. Good audience. Good food. Good times.

Thanks for inviting us Philip, and thanks for being just extra cool, Michelle.

We discovered the winter wonderland that is Middlebury VT.

We taught some classes, we ate an extraordinary amount of Thai food, and we had a great night out with very cool Middlebury faculty some students who drove in FROM MAINE to see the show! And then there was the shotski.

Thank you, Liza, for bringing us out. And Allison, for your lovely self and the maple syrup recipe book!

Next up was Nashville. It snowed. Dafuq. Billy Joel's security kicked us out of our load-in, but Lana got to play the same piano as him - she was sooooo much better. Stunning, really.

We taught classes, we saw the Nashville Parthenon, and had great times with Bridgette at the bar we discovered way too late just across from the hotel. Thank you Bridgette and Leah for bringing us out!

We were super surprised and happy to see our friend (and first board member) Raoul S. at the show. Plus, Peter S. / Tyler H. of Chablis fame were there and came out for drinks after.

And we wound it up with Miami.

No words. Just this awesome picture of the Rudes in South Beach.

Big thanks to Kathryn for bringing us and to Gary, Tiffany, and Adam for surpassing awesome.

And to Joann and Brad for your incredible front-row energy!

Method Gun tour and SHY coming your way

2013-01-02T09:10:00.000-06:00

IN BRIEF:

The Method Gun coming to a city sort of near you: Minneapolis, Middlebury, Nashville, Miami.
Make your first great philanthropic move of 2013, support Rude Mechs!
Keep an eye out for our new play Stop Hitting Yourself this April.

Out-of-Town Friends, Come Visit Us!

THE METHOD GUN ON TOUR

We are thrilled to return to the Walker Art Center and to kick off the 25th anniversary of Walker's Out There festival interrogating the form of theater itself, blurring lines between reality and theatrical fiction, exploring the creation and transformation of identity, and reimagining the mythic. And we couldn't be more excited to make new friends in Middlebury, Nashville and Miami.

We hope you or someone you know will join us!
Walker Art Center
January 10-12, 2013
Walker Ticket Information Here
Middlebury College
January 18-19, 2013
Middlebury Ticket Information Here
Vanderbilt University
February 1, 2013
Vanderbilt Ticket Information Here
Miami-Dade Community College, The Colony Theater
February 8-9, 2013
MDCC Ticket Information Here

Support Rude Mechs!

There's 129 days until April 15. It's never too early to think about deductions for charitable giving. Tax codes are changing and this might be the last year for such credit. And, of course, you'll ensure the Rude Mechs have the resources needed to produce our best work in 2013. Thank you!

Save the Date(s) - a new play is in the works

Because we enjoy having more than one project in development at a time, we are starting work on our next play, Stop Hitting Yourself. It's still truly in the earliest stages of development, but we can offer you this teaser for the upcoming workshop production:
Stop Hitting Yourself
a new play from Rude Mechs
April 4 - 21, 2013 (Thurs - Sun) at 8pm
The Off Center
Tickets will go on sale March 1st. We're happy to arrange group sales earlier.

"At tonight's party you were observed and those observations are currently being compiled into a list of the things you need to be taught. We have one month to perfect you. In one month, we're going to have another party. The difference is at this next party, the Queen will be in attendance. Improvement. Succor. Fate. Queso. Wardrobe. Charity. Belief."

Rude Mechs is currently embracing the fundamental beliefs underlying late-stage capitalism and indulging in some 1930's Hollywood glamor. Part Pygmalion, Busby Berkley, part self-help lexicon -- all while tap-dancing around a queso fountain.

RUDES HEART NYC

2012-11-19T14:57:00.002-06:00

Hannah and Thomas drove the set up from Austin through Ohio. They actually passed the Romney Motorcade outside of Colombus

They entered the city with convoys of Utility Trucks from all over the country

The power was back on at New York Live Arts. Things in Manhattan had mostly returned to normal. But there were still long lines at every gas station.

On our preview night Bill T. Jones was there. He has incredible presence even just as an audience member. He got down with us in the ecstasy dance. And even took his shirt off.

New York was a fun place to watch the Election results. We took to the streets with sparklers.

The run of D69 couldn't have gone better. We got a great review in Time Out New York

The audiences were lots of fun. We had something happen that had never happened before in the original or when we did it in 2009. After the ecstasy dance the audience didnt return to their seats. Instead they all sat "onstage" with the cast and sang Pentheus' name and received his castigation. It was beautiful.

Schechner was there almost every night. Disorienting the audience as they arrived.

The highlight was perhaps getting to see a bunch of our New York City Theatre buddies Mark Jaynes from RadioHole, Sybil Kempson, Libby King and Rachael Chavkin from the TEAM, Geoff and Trey from Rainpan 43, Dan, James, Alex, and Dito from Pig Iron were there from Philly, Maria Goyanes from the Public, Frank Henshker from Prelude Festival, Melanie Joseph from the Foundry, April Matthis from ERS among may other fine fine folks with whom it's always great to visit. Nice to see you guys.

HowlRound Call for Student Submissions

2012-11-14T13:47:00.001-06:00

HowlRound Call for Submissions

HowlRound is seeking submissions from students from across the U.S. to be part of the School Days series—an online series featuring work from undergraduate theater students, artists, and leaders reflecting their perspective on theater as an industry in the present and their visions for the future.
Possible questions these posts could touch on:

When you lead the theater field, what will you change?
Describe the pulse of our generation of theater-makers. How is it similar to what we see now, and how is it different?
Give voice to something that you think the theater field needs to know or pay attention to from the undergraduate sphere.

The series will feature two student pieces a month, published on the HowlRound blog.
Interested parties should submit the following to sarah@howlround.com:

An outlined proposal in one paragraph, or completed piece for consideration. Completed pieces should be between 750 and 1250 words.
100 word bio and headshot.
A few sentences detailing why you are interested in writing about your experience as a theater student, artist or intern and why HowlRound readers would benefit hearing from you.

Submissions are due November 30, December 30, and January 30. At least two submissions will be accepted for publication each month December through February.

Accepting Internship Applications for Spring 2013

2012-11-14T11:20:00.004-06:00

By offering internships to interested students, Rude Mechs offers a new generation of undergraduate and graduate students a unique perspective on collectively devising new plays and managing a mid-size theatre company. We are interested in creating opportunities to interact with our company and receive training in the areas of creation, production, and administration, with a focus on devised ensemble creation.

If you are interested in working with Rude Mechs, please fill out an application at http://rudemechs.com/programs/Internships.htm.

If you aren't familiar with our company, please take a few minutes to browse our website - look at our mission, our past productions, our programming... rudemechs.com

BOMB Feature on Rude Mechs by Eric Dyer

2012-11-07T17:30:00.002-06:00

BOMBLOG

Issue 122 Preview: Rude Mechanicals

by Eric Dyer Nov 07, 2012

Thank you, Eric and BOMB!

We wish that we had had the time and wherewithal to raise the money to get you all down here for face-to-face time.

Here's to RudeHole / RadioMechs shows in the future.

Calling All Artists - Artspace Market Survey Launch

2012-10-26T18:20:00.001-05:00

Rude Mechs is happy to provide The Off Center for the launch of the Artspace Market Survey of Artists, Arts Organizations, and Creative Sector Businesses.

On Tuesday October 30th at 6:30pm, The City of Austin, in partnership with Austin Playhouse, and Artspace, will launch the survey with a public presentation.

While the survey can be taken online, we encourage you to come to the presentation, learn about their plans, and meet everyone - be a part of the conversation. The Off Center is located at 2211-A Hidalgo St., Austin TX 78702.

The online survey will be available from October 30 through December 31, 2012. Artists, arts organizations, and for-profit creative sector businesses are all encouraged to complete the survey.

For more information, please contact Janet Seibert at 512-974-7860, or janet.seibert@austintexas.gov.

"The purpose of the market survey will be two-fold. The City envisions that the survey data will
provide valuable information for the planning of corridors, creative hubs, arts districts, and incubators. Such cultural spaces are essential to support Austin’s growing creative sector which, according to recent economic impact studies, accounts for $4.35 billion in economic activity, over $71 million in City tax revenues, and nearly 49,000 jobs. The results of the survey will also identify Austin’s specific creative sector space needs and requirements, which will be made available to local developers, building owners, and foundations interested in developing such creative spaces." - Janet Seibert, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division

Rude News: UT Residency, D69 in NYC, E.A.S.T. and more!

2012-10-19T13:12:00.001-05:00

IN BRIEF:

Rude Mechs is named Resident Theatre Company by the University of Texas Dept. of Theater and Dance.
Board Member Michael Yates offers great way to support Rude Mechs and the visual arts scene at E.A.S.T.!
Dionysus in 69 tours to New York Live Arts, November 6 - 10th.
Rude Mechs adds Scenic Shop to Austin's Scenic Coop, supporting Austin's arts scene.

Rude Mechs Selected as Resident Theatre Company

Rude Mechs is thrilled to begin a three-year residency at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance as their Resident Theatre Company. We look forward, through this partnership, to enhancing educational resources for Theatre and Dance students by providing opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to interact with a professional theatre company and receive training in the areas of creation, production, and administration, with a focus on devised ensemble creation.

Rude Mechs has a long and strong history of engaging with students throughout the City of Austin, and around the country, and are eager to further strengthen our ties with the University and its talented student body.

Support Rude Mechs and the Visual Arts - go E.A.S.T.

We know you've already got the Eastside Artist Studio Tour (EAST) on your calendar for November 10,11, 17 & 18. As you gallery hop on Tillery St, be sure to stop at Michael Yates Design (Stop #134 at 618 Tillery St). Once you've fallen in love with his refined tables, chairs, and cabinets, ask him to design your perfect new bedroom set or living room chair. Michael joined the Board of Directors this year and when you mention Rude Mechs as you commission a new piece, he'll generously donate a portion of that commission in support of the current season.

"EAST is the only opportunity that most people have to see the working studios of artists. Of course it's a great time to see fresh work too, but there's something more interesting and quite personal about seeing the process and space where the artist works on a day to day (and night to night) basis. And every year I find something right around the corner from my spot that I was totally unaware of before, it's so dense over here with artists that you can literally cruise around the East Side and just accidentally bump into something exceptional." – Michael Yates

New York Friends - Come Visit Us!

Dionysus in 69 tours to New York Live Arts

Please join us at our re-creation of Richard Schechner and The Performance Group's Dionysus in 69 presented by New York Live Arts as part of their Replay Series.

Nov 6 at 7:30PM Preview
Nov 7 - 10 at 7:30PM, Nov 9 at 10:30PM
Nov 8 at 6:30 Come Early Conversation: The (Re)performance of Discussing “Dionysus in 69”. Moderated by original conceiver /director Richard Schechner and production directors Shawn Sides and Madge Darlington.
Nov 9 Stay Late Discussion*

Directed by Richard Schechner and created collectively by The Performance Group (TPG), Dionysus in 69 is widely regarded as one of the germinal works of American experimental performance. Influenced by the work of Jerzy Grotowski, Happenings, the Freedom Movement, and a "birth ritual" from West Irian (part of the island of New Guinea), Schechner and TPG radically interpreted The Bacchae as both a celebration of ecstasy and a critique of false prophets.

In December 2009, Rude Mechs remounted this legendary work, offering Austin theatre-goers an extraordinary opportunity to relive history. Rude Mechs faithfully recreated the original Performance Group production, using Brian de Palma's filmed version of the play as well as the 1970 book, Dionysus in 69, as source materials.

Dionysus in 69 was the first production in Rude Mechs' Contemporary Classics series, focused on producing exact re-enactments of significant, experimental performances from the 60's, 70's, and 80's that radically influenced the work of contemporary performance artists, dancers, and theatre makers. Because all performances are ephemeral, and avant-garde performances even more so, most people never experience these germinal works. Rude Mechs remounts these productions as closely as possible to the originals to share these works with our Austin audience, to educate ourselves, and to celebrate 40 years of experimental (and "environmental") theatre, by experiencing and learning about Dionysus in 69 in the deepest way - through its performance.

"'Dionysus in 69' is strong stuff, but anyone who wants to know where the modern theatre is going will have to see it." ---The New York Times, June 7, 1968

"Cunning. Joyful. Transcendent. Theatre at its absolute best." Austin Chronicle, 2009

Rude Mechs adds Scene Shop to our Scenic Coop

As you may already know, Rude Mechs has been managing a Scenic Coop at The Off Center since 2008, a sort of lending library furnishing the entire performance community access to free materials for their scenic needs. It was the brainchild / Master's Thesis of Co-Artistic Director, Thomas Graves. A few years ago, Salvage Vanguard got a TCG grant to support the Coop, which is also being managed at their venue.

And now, we are thrilled to announce the addition of a fully operational Scenic Shop to the Coop, run by the fabulous Scott Guthrie. This Scene Shop will be available for low rent to the Austin theater community, whom we love.

HOW TO REHEARSE.

2012-10-08T08:30:00.001-05:00

First, you have to hearse. That's obvious. Of course, no one teaches hearsing anymore. It's fallen out of fashion. So you'll have to teach yourself to hearse, which is how you get ready for a rehearsal, and you'll never have any idea if you are doing it right.

Second, begin apologizing to everyone who will not be in the rehearsal room, (hereinafter simply called "the room"). Those not in the room will never understand. The mania is particular each time. No one outside the room will understand the importance of the stories you tell about the room. No one outside the room will understand the vocabulary of the room. No one outside the room will understand why you want to get back into that particular room.

Third, your baby and your boyfriend and your favorite TV show are probably all outside the room. You'll miss them and two out of three of them will miss you. Pray for the right two.

Fourth, beware of connections. While the boyfriend and the baby and the TV show might not be able to get into the room, the room can leave itself and follow you around. It'll make you start to believe that everything in your life is connected to what's happening in the room. The lyrics to your boyfriend's punk albums will start to guide your text. The yogurt your baby eats will announce itself as the color your character's costume should be. The TV will explain how your show should end. Almost all of these seeming connections are dead ends. The room is just jealous of your life. But you never know. One out of a thousand weird connections is perfect and useful, that's what makes chasing them all down worthwhile.

Fifth, begin apologizing to everyone who's in the rehearsal room. You're cranky. You smell like energy drink and cigarettes. You didn't hearse right, so you're not as ready as they are—at least you're not as ready as they think they are. You're having trouble compromising. You're having trouble collaborating. You're having trouble remembering the difference between compromise and collaboration. You're checking your phone under the table to see if your boyfriend sent you a picture of your baby dressed up like a character from your TV show.

Sixth, it's already over. It happens so fast. And it's only as magical and as deep as you're able to make it by really being there, being prepared, focusing, loving with passion, arguing with love, collaborating without compromise, compromising on all the little things, recognizing the big ones, staying balanced in your personal life so you don't crash the room, engaging with the process and not giving a fuck about the product. The product lives only in the heart of the audience and they're only in the room for one glorious hour and fifteen minutes if you do your work right. Two hours if you're pretentious. Three hours if you're a fucking asshole who can't edit. And even then—it's already over. And it's time to start hearsing again.

Rude News from Rude Mechs

Sign up for Off Center Teens!

SUMMER 2015 REGISTRATION OPEN NOW.

ABOUT OFF CENTER TEENS SUMMER CLASSES

Rude Work March - June 2015

Rude Mechs Arts In Context PBS Documentary

On Thurs, Jan 29

KLRU will present an Arts In Context documentary on Rude Mechsat 7:30 p.m. CST

Ante Up for Art is January 17th!

ANTE UP FOR ART

Our Boom-Boom Casino Barrage Game Night Fundraiser All proceeds benefit Rude Mechs and everything that goes on at The Off Center.

Two Public Readings of Fixing Timon of Athens

FIXING TIMON OF ATHENS

About our FIXING SHAKESPEARE Series

The Method Gun @ UT - 6 shows only

This year The Pearl Dive will be held on October 26, 2014SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Stop Hitting Yourself

Fixing King John Opens November 7th!

FIXING KING JOHN

About The Play

About our Fixing Shakespeare Series

Application Open for UT Student Internships

You're Invited to The Pearl Dive at The Plant - Join us!

Tent Revival, Grrl Action, Stop Hitting Yourself

TENT REVIVAL

SUMMER PERFORMANCES!

STOP HITTING YOURSELF

PEARL DIVE AT THE PLANT

Rude Mechs 2013/14 Corporate Sponsors

Stop Hitting Yourself Austin American-Statesman Review - 2 weeks left!

There's still time to sign up for the Grrl Action Summer Workshop!

Stop Hitting Yourself Opens Next Week and Grrl Action Now Accepting Applications

We are now accepting applications to the Grrl Action Summer Workshop!

A Yankee's Notebook

Tickets on Sale Now for STOP HITTING YOURSELF

Method Gun Winter 2013 - We did it right!

Method Gun tour and SHY coming your way

Out-of-Town Friends, Come Visit Us!

THE METHOD GUN ON TOUR

Support Rude Mechs!

Save the Date(s) - a new play is in the works

RUDES HEART NYC

HowlRound Call for Student Submissions

Accepting Internship Applications for Spring 2013

BOMB Feature on Rude Mechs by Eric Dyer

Issue 122 Preview: Rude Mechanicals

by Eric Dyer Nov 07, 2012

Calling All Artists - Artspace Market Survey Launch

Rude News: UT Residency, D69 in NYC, E.A.S.T. and more!

Rude Mechs Selected as Resident Theatre Company

Support Rude Mechs and the Visual Arts - go E.A.S.T.

New York Friends - Come Visit Us!

Dionysus in 69 tours to New York Live Arts

Rude Mechs adds Scene Shop to our Scenic Coop

HOW TO REHEARSE.

KLRU will present an Arts In Context documentary on Rude Mechs
at 7:30 p.m. CST

Our Boom-Boom Casino Barrage Game Night Fundraiser

All proceeds benefit Rude Mechs and everything that goes on at The Off Center.

This year The Pearl Dive will be held on October 26, 2014
SAVE THE DATE!!!!