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THE METHOD GUN
a project of Creative Capital
April 2 - 12, 2008
inaugural production at The Long Center for the Performing Arts Rollins Studio Theater
presented by The Long Center for the Performing Arts
created by Rude Mechs | written by Kirk Lynn | directed by Shawn Sides
This original performance by the Rude Mechs explores the life, ethos, and techniques of actor-training guru, Stella Burden, as recounted through the eyes of her students. Ms. Burden's training technique, called The Approach, fused Western acting methods and more dangerous, "exotic" approaches in an effort to infuse a sense of depth, purpose, and urgency into even the smallest of roles.
The world-premiere presentation by The Long Center for the Performing Arts was the first opportunity to see our two-year, transcontinental exploration of The Approach. We promise: guns, pendulums, "Streetcar" and physical danger. We make no claims on behalf of narrative, common sense, or safety.
Austin American-Statesman Review
"The Method Gun... is nothing short of the best work this theater collective has done in its 13 years as it has carved out its well-respected reputation on the international indie theater scene."
"This is the Rude Mechanicals doing what they do best: crafting a rich series of stunning and surprising visual moments, lacing those moments with kinetic physical movement and wrapping it all together with a script both lyrical and cheeky."
- Jeanne Claire van Ryzin, Austin-American Statesman
PRESS
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The Method Gun is available for touring.
RUDE MECHS Exclusive Worldwide Tour Representation:
Thomas O. Kriegsmann, President
ArKtype
t. (917) 386-5468
f. (212) 749-7696
e. tommy@arktype.org
w. http://www.arktype.org
PRODUCTION TEAM
PRODUCTION STAFF Playwright - Kirk Lynn Director - Shawn Sides Ensemble: Laura Cannon, Thomas Graves Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Shawn Sides
Resident Producer - Madge Darlington Production Manager - Meg Sullivan Stage Manager - Jazz Miller Dramaturg - Ellie McBride Lighting Designer - Brian Scott Scenic Designer - Leilah Stewart Sound Designer/Composer - Graham Reynolds Costume Designer - Laura Cannon Video Designers: Michael Mergen & Lowell Bartholomee Sound Engineer/Operator - Robert S. Fisher Technical Director - Douglas Gessaman Properties Assistant - Holly Jackson Backstage Crew: Jared Oberholtzer Creation Intern - Brendan Shea |
COLLABORATORS
Lowell Bartholomee Laura Cannon Harvey Guion Heather Hanna Jodi Jinks Jason Liebrecht |
SPECIAL THANKS
Austin Playhouse |
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
The Method Gun has received support from Creative Capital Foundation, Rockefeller MAP Fund, The Orchard Project, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Humanities Institute and The Harry Ransom Center. Rude Mechs is supported by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division
We would like to thank every single one of you that attended the December 2007 workshop production and those that stayed for the talkback, and those who took the extra time to send us an email with your thoughts. We value deeply your participation in the creation of this new play.
The Method Gun
WORK-IN-PROGRESS PRESENTATIONDecember 6 - 15, 2007
The Off Center
ABOUT THE METHOD GUN:
THE METHOD GUN is inspired by the life and tragic death of Stella Burden, the actress and actor-training guru who created “The Approach.” “The Approach” is a suite of actor training exercises made popular in the late Sixties and early Seventies that fused Western naturalistic techniques with exercises that Ms. Burden gleaned from all over the globe. These exercises were physically-based and often very dangerous. One exercise in particular – The Method Gun – was extremely dangerous and, in fact, was the eventual cause of Stella Burden’s death. Whether her death was an accident, a suicide, or murder at the hands of one or more of her students is a matter of conjecture, innuendo, and debate. Stella asked prospective students one question: Truth or Beauty? From 1964-1984 Stella took only students who answered Truth. Then in 1985 for some unknown reason, she switched and took her first class of students who answered Beauty. In 1986 Stella was dead after participating in a round of The Method Gun. Our performance will culminate in a live re-enactment of the very exercise that took Ms. Burden’s life.
THE METHOD GUN will investigate lies, truth and the art of the actor using salvaged film clips, rediscovered interviews, and live re-enactments Burden’s Approach.
If you have any information about Stella Burden, please contribute at:
http://www.stellaburden.com
What you are about to witness is a work-in-progress. Because one of the many themes running through this play centers on process and collaboration, we hope to bring you along for the ride in a way that will inform the project, our process and the way you absorb Rude Mechs work as it is developed for its premier at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in April 2008.
We have been thinking about this play since 2005. We began work in earnest in Fall 2006 with a trip to South America to research the elusive Stella Burden. In Spring 2007 we conceived a new way of working together (new to us) and began meeting weekly with the full company to brainstorm ideas, work on our feet and follow our interests in a loosely structured format. The work ranged from watching Cassevettes to creating work based on Susan Sontag’s essays on photography. We were lucky enough to be invited for a week of play development at The Orchard Project (in upstate NY). There, in one short week, we drafted many of the ideas you will see tonight and so much credit goes to the people listed as collaborators. We took the summer/fall off to tour Get Your War On and hit the rehearsal room in late October to begin this draft. It is truly a draft - a way to test ideas and notice the rabbit holes in preparation for continuing work this Spring. And that is true for all the elements, writing, direction, design, performance.
PRODUCTION SUPPORT PRODUCTION TEAM
BIG THANKS TO | |||||
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Copyright © 2005 Rude Mechanicals. All rights reserved.
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