The Rude Mechanicals

Wanna do a play?

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:20:44 GMT

Check out this page to find out how to submit:
http://rudemechanicals.com/submissions/

Email me if you want to be on the Play Selection Committee (PSC).
Alan - Secretary for the Rudes

Auditions for "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Tue, 31 May 2011 18:36:31 GMT

Auditions for A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Rude Mechanicals production
directed by Sean Butler
performances Fri & Sat 8pm, Aug 19th - Sept 3rd, 2011
at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Greenbelt, MD
http://www.rudemechanicals.com/midsummer2011/auditions.shtml

Viva Midsummer! The Rude Mechanicals take on the rude mechanicals as Shakespeare's classic tale of fantasy, fortune, and faerie glamour is transported to the Las Vegas Strip. In this neon and glitter Dream world where archetype trumps actuality, the Rat Pack rubs elbows with made men, showgirls, Borscht Belt comics, high rollers, and Elvis impersonators. It’s a wild, unpredictable place where illusion rules the day, loves are won and lost in a night, and fortunes can change on the turn of a card...or a trickster's whim. Always remember: “What happens in The Woods, stays in The Woods."

Questions? Email rebecca@rudemechanicals.com.

This is a non-Equity show, no pay.

Audition schedule:

Monday, June 6th
7-10 PM at UCP on the Potomac
4409 Forbes Blvd, Lanham, MD 20706

Tuesday, June 7th
8-10 PM at the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint
916 G Street, NW, DC 20001
(between Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown in D.C.)

CALLBACKS: Wednesday, June 8th 8-10 PM also at Mead Theatre Lab

Auditions will consist of readings from the script (sides available at website). Headshots are welcome but not necessary. Please read the cast breakdown on the website for descriptions of the roles you are interested in; if the description indicates that singing is required, please come prepared to sing something a cappella. Jazz/blues/swing songs are preferred but you may sing something else; roughly 30 seconds is all that's needed.

Several of the roles are best suited to actors with some kind of performance skill-- standup comedy, slapstick, acrobatics, juggling, dance, magic tricks, drumming, other circus/sideshow type skills. If you have these skills, be prepared to show about 30 seconds' worth.

Open roles (see website for descriptions):

THE NOBLE COURT
Hermia (20's, female)
Helena (20's, female)
Demetrius (20's-30's, male)
Lysander (20's-30's, male)
Theseus (30's or older, male)
Hippolyta (30's or older, female)
Egeus (40's or older, male)

THE FAERIE COURT
Oberon (30's-40's, male)
Puck (20's-30's, male)
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mustardseed (any age, female)

THE MECHANICALS
Bottom (20's-40's, male)
Quince (any age, male or female)
Flute (30's or older, male)
Snug (any age, male or female)
Snout (any age, male or female)
Starveling (late teens-20's, male or female)

Board meeting

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:41:26 GMT

Next board meeting:
Sunday, February 27
8 PM
Chez Duda

Agenda:

Post Winter's Tale
Pre Trojan Women
Midsummer at GAC
Fringe
Tech issues
Veronica's Room
Parameters for Second Stage projects
Bonifant, Sitar, and HCAC
Web site
Pass/fail on proposals for 2012
Select 2012 play selection committee

Note: this is a long agenda, and there are some difficult items. I'm going to keep the conversations as tightly focused as I can. I'd like to end the meeting by 10. Attendance is open; RSVPs appreciated.

The Winter's Tale Opens Tonight!

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:07:24 GMT

DC’s famously unconventional Shakespeare troupe is setting The Winter’s Tale in the contrasting worlds of the "Camelot" White House years and the 1960s and '70’s hippie counterculture. In this production, the lords and ladies of Sicilia become the political elite of Washington DC, and the shepherds and milkmaids of Bohemia become the hippies who follow a certain psychedelic rock band, giving new meaning to Shakespeare’s most famous stage direction, “Exit pursued by a bear.”

Directed by Melissa Schick
Assistant Director Katie Wanschura

Featuring:

Caitlin Williams, Calvin Smith, Donald Cook, Dylan Kaufman, E. Lynda Bruce Lewis, Evan Ockershausen, Joe Roberts, Joshua Engel, Leanne Dinverno, Lisa Hill Corley, Melissa Robinson, Micah Chalmer, Mike Thompson, Rachel Zirkin Duda, Rebecca Proch, and Rebecca Hranj.

Jan. 28, 29 @ 8 PM
DeLaski Theatre at Sitar Arts Center
1700 Kalorama Road, NW
Washington, DC 20009
For Reservations:
Vendini Website DC Venue

Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12 @ 8PM
Black Box Theatre at Howard County Center for The Arts
8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
For Reservations:
Vendini Website Howard County MD Venue

Tickets are $15 ($12 for Students and Seniors)
For reservations visit www.rudemechanicals.com or the links above to our online ticketing vendor.

Hope to see you there!

Call for proposals for 2012 season

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:09:18 GMT

Winter's Tale, then Trojan Women, then Midsummer's, then what?

Wanna do a play?
http://rudemechanicals.com/submissions/
All submissions received by 20 Feb will be considered.
All submissions received after 20 Feb but before the PSC meets MAY be considered.

Wanna be on the Play Selection Committee (PSC)?
Email the Secretary (Alan) by 31 Jan.

In Need of Box Office Volunteers for Winter's Tale

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:06:31 GMT

The Winter's Tale needs volunteers to work box office. Dates and times are listed below. Please email Melissa@rudemechanicals.com or comment below if interested. It's a great way to help out the show and you will get to see the show for free the night you work.

Jan. 28, 29 @ 8 PM
DeLaski Theatre at Sitar Arts Center
1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC

Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12 @ 8PM
Howard County Center for the Arts
8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD

Call for proposals for 2012 season

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:38:41 GMT

The Rude Mechanicals are seeking proposals for their 2012 season. Details are at:

http://rudemechanicals.com/submissions/

Also: seeking members of the Play Selection Committee to sort through the proposals. Nominations due to the Secretary (Alan).

The deadline for both is 31 January 2011.

To Avoid Scheduling Confusion:

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 20:51:46 GMT

The Winter's Tale is rehearsing on a Mon/Wed/Thurs schedule. This is different from our usual Mon/Tue/Thurs schedule so I wanted to post it for the general Rudes public so you may plan social events which you would like my cast members to attend accordingly. I can't plan around conflicts that I don't know about until the last minute, so if it's absolutely necessary to plan something for a rehearsal night, please let your guests know far enough in advance that they can tell me before I schedule them for rehearsal instead of after - at least two weeks in advance is ideal.

Winter's Tale Audition Announcement

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:13:50 GMT

Audition Information for The Winter's Tale is now available on The Rude Mechanicals' website.

Dates:
Monday September 13th 7:30 PM - 10PM
Tuesday September 14th 7:30 PM - 10PM

Callbacks Thursday September 16th 7:30 PM to 10PM

Location:
Auditions will be held at UCP on the Potomac located at:

4409 Forbes Blvd
Lanham, Maryland 20706

Synopsis, character breakdowns, sides, and additional information on what to bring to auditions is available at the website.

Cast Party - Saturday Night - House of Chaos

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:50:14 GMT

A well deserved cast party will occur on Saturday Night at the House of Chaos. For those of you who have never BEEN to the House of Chaos, the following information may be of import:

1) There be dogs and parrots. The dogs are certified hypo allergenic. If you are allergic to birds, this could be an issue, but they are in a separate part of the house. The dogs are usually on the deck or in the bedroom so they will not hop on people and otherwise cause difficulty.

2) Parking in the driveway can be dodgy. Feel free to park on the sides of the street itself. It is a private road and not generally an issue. Be careful, however, in that I can't guarantee that the grassy shoulders are free of hazard, and watch your step.

3) We will attempt to provide appropriate snacks, beer, wine, soda, etc. If you wish something specific, please to let me know ASAP. There may also be PIZZA! Wheeee!

4) Crash space is available. Smoking is not permitted inside the house. Going onto the deck or in the backyard is not recommended due to possible gifts from doggies. Front of the house, or not fenced in areas are pretty much free of doggie gifts.

Directions:

From Warehouse: Get onto the GW Parkway North. Exit at Route 123, Chain Bridge Road. Continue off to the right, which I think is kinda West. Turn right at Old Dominion Road. Follow this to the light at Route 193/Georgetown Pike. Turn left. Left at the next light and we're the first house on the right. The address is 800 Nethercliffe Hall Road, Great Falls, VA.

You CAN take 193/Georgetown Pike all the way through if you like roller coaster type roads. To achieve this feat, continue on the GW Parkway North staying to the left as it ends, then cutting to the right as you exit. This brings you to Georgetown Pike. Take a right. Continue 4.2 miles, left at the light AFTER Great Falls Park (Old Dominion Road) and we're still first house on the right.

Board meeting tomorrow

Sat, 22 May 2010 22:40:19 GMT

Rude Mechanicals board meeting
Sunday, 23 May
11 PM
New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt

Reminder: The Winter's Tale this afternoon!

Sun, 16 May 2010 14:59:34 GMT

Many thanks to the many wonderful Shrew folks for a great show!

In the brief day between shows, I wanted to drop everyone a quick reminder that this afternoon/evening is the spring read-through of next year's first show "The Winter's Tale". It's at my house and potluck (but don't let the potluck dissuade you). See http://community.livejournal.com/rudemechanicals/ or Facebook for details. If you need directions, a Metro pick-up, or more information, email me, message me on FB, or comment on something in my LJ. I will check them all over the course of the day!

AUDITIONS for The Taming of the Shrew are next week!

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:42:51 GMT

The Rude Mechanicals announce:

Auditions: The Taming of the Shrew
Directed by Elise Berg

Baptista Minola is a wealthy and trendsetting gallery owner, the father of two daughters, Katherina and Bianca. Living in the shadow of her adored younger sister, Katherina is denied the love and attention of her father and peers, becoming jaded and ill-tempered. Free-thinking newcomer Petruchio, seeking a wife and wealth, not necessarily in that order, resolves to pay her a lost lifetime of attention. Meanwhile, Bianca's suitors, Lucentio, Hortensio and Gremio employ tricks and disguises to win the elite prize of her hand in marriage. One of Shakespeare's most famous but also controversial plays because of its portrayal of women, The Taming of the Shrew is the classic story of playing hard-to-get.

Auditions will be held on Monday, January 25th and Tuesday, January 26th, at 7pm. Callbacks on Thursday, January 28th.

Location:
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
4512 College Avenue

College Park, Maryland 20740

Readings will consist of sides from the script. Monologues will be heard if prepared, but are not requested or required.

Performance dates are April 30th through May 8th, with a possible third week, depending on cast availability.

For audition sides, character breakdown, directions and any other information, email elise@rudemechanicals.com or visit http://www.rudemechanicals.com/shrew/.

Facebook page for auditions: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=405349560421
(No RSVP required, but it's appreciated. Feel free to share the link, all are welcome.)

Requests for proposals for the 2011 season

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:05:00 GMT

The Rude Mechanicals are seeking plays for their 2010-2011 season. We are also seeking nominations for the Play Selection Committee.

Forms for submissions can be found at:

http://rudemechanicals.com/submissions/

Submit plays and nominations to plays@

rudemechanicals.com. Both submissions and nominations are due January 31st.

Outline of the process:
Plays will be considered by the Rude Mechanicals board for acceptability in accordance with the Rude Mechanicals mission. Three slots are available: Winter, Spring, and Fall (for performances in January, May, and September, or thereabouts).

If more than three plays are accepted by the board, a Play Selection Committee is nominated to review the plays and make up the final season.

Rehearsal and performance venues are still TBD so proposals should be flexible in terms of performance spaces.

Audition: Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:17:57 GMT

We're holding supplemental auditions for the role of Mercutio.

The audition will be at Remington's in Laurel at 8 PM.

The role is open to women over the age of 18. Experience with stage combat preferred but not required.

Performances are in January and February, 2010.

Romeo and Juliet Cast

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:07:26 GMT

Role Actors

Romeo Mike Dombroski
Juliet Emma Conway
Mercutio Jaki Demarest
Benvolio Evan Ockershausen
Tybalt Craig Laurence
Paris Mike Sachs
Lord Capulet Calvin Smith
Lady Capulet Jeanne Louise
Nurse Rachel Duda
Friar Laurence Michael Galizia
Lady Montague Amy Davis
Prince Micah Chalmer
Balthasar/Juliet u/s Heather Martin
Friar John Emily McKinnion
Ensemble Jenna Hank

Need box office volunteers

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:55:14 GMT

I need one box office volunteer per night for the run of Two Gents.

The show opens Labor Day Weekend and runs for three weeks.

Who'da thunk we'd still be doing guerilla theatre 10 years later.

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:45:27 GMT

We've got out 10 year party next week, but if you didn't know it (according to what I've been told by our esteemed Prez) the Rude Mechanicals were incorporated as a non-profit 10 years ago on this day.

Y'all don't suck.

Auditions for Two Gentlemen of Verona

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:51:38 GMT

We've decided to open up Two Gentlemen of Verona to all of the Rudes women. If you've been on our stage in the past, you're welcome at auditions. (It's still "no gentlemen in Verona", I'm afraid, so this is a good time for the rest of you to go explore other theater troupes and steal actors and ideas.)

Here's the deal: auditions are Wednesday, June 17. Callbacks are the 18th. Auditions begin at 8 PM at the church in College Park.

I'd like for you to pick out a side BEFORE coming to auditions. Sides and extensive character notes are available on the web site:
http://www.rudemechanicals.com/2gentlemen/sides/

Send me an email to let me know what you'd like to play, and I'll assign you scene partners before auditions.

The show opens Labor Day Weekend and will run the entire month of September, at GAC and possibly downtown.

Rehearsal locations are TBD, but the plan at the moment is to split them between Marshall High School in McLean, VA and the church in College Park.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Tech for Measure for Measure

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:11:55 GMT

We're seeking somebody to run sound & lights for Measure for Measure. Show dates are Fridays and Saturdays, May 29-June 12.

If you're interested, let me know.

Rude Mechanicals board meeting

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:02:09 GMT

The next Rude Mechanicals board meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb 10, at 8 PM at the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt.

All Rudes are welcome, though an RSVP would be helpful.

Items on the agenda:

Spanish Tragedy post-mortem
Measure for Measure pre-vivam
Some Rudes branding ideas from Charlene
10th anniversary party
2009-2010 season

Any items that should be brought to our attention, please do so here.

review

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:36:45 GMT

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/01/vengeance_is_everyones.php

Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:26:42 GMT

EDIT: OPENING NIGHT HAS BEEN MOVED TO FRIDAY, JANUARY 16th

The Rude Mechanicals launch our 10th season and we are still bringing you the very finest in classic drama -- Rudes style. Starting this week, see Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy in what may be only the fifth production ever in the United States.

Directed by Charlene V. Smith, this rarely-undertaken masterwork of a wronged father's quest for justice dramatically juxtaposes passion and violence against a backdrop of political intrigue. This heartbreaking, action-packed journey discovers the lengths one parent will go to revenge his murdered child.

Performances from January 16th-31st
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8pm
At St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
4512 College Avenue
College Park, Maryland 20740

Curious? Have a taste for revenge? As always, tickets are only $15 ($12 for students, senior citizens and military personnel).

ORDER TICKETS FROM OUR WEBSITE

The Spanish Tragedy Buy Tickets Online at www.rudemechanicals.com
Jan 16/09—Jan 31/09

Run Crew needed for Spanish Tragedy!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:41:47 GMT

Volunteer for The Spanish Tragedy! Be a part of this rarely-produced masterpiece.

Director Charlene Smith is look for a run crew for the Rudes next production, Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. Due to the location, the set and lights have to be set up and broken down each night. We need set and light crew and light and sound operators January 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31. Setting up on show night (15-31) will start at 5 or 6pm. If you can't get there quite that early, it's fine, we can still use you. Each night everything has to be packed up by 11pm. Additionally, we need a vehicle to transport the set to the church. It needs to be something that can carry something 12 feet long by 6 feet wide. The set is heavy but not terribly so, just physically large. We are also looking for someone to run box office each performance night, January 15-31. To volunteer, please email the stage manager, Nell Codner at capecodner@gmail.com. Location is St. Andrews Episcopal Church in College Park, MD.

Seeking one more actor for Spanish Tragedy

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:00:20 GMT

The Rude Mechanicals need one male actor, age 40-60, to play the part of the Viceroy in Spanish Tragedy. Any suggestions, please reply here or email Charlene.