Measure for Measure – Sprockets and Springes

Rude Mechanicals presents Measure for Measure

It’s that time of year when various actors’ fancies turn to Shakespeare. And the Rude Mechanicals is about to open its 17^th season.

Our first show is very contemporary drama-comedy about power, corruption, and sexual assault, Measure for Measure, late comedy-drama of Shakespeare’s. Set in Vienna the story concerns the ruler of the city going on a vacation and putting the power of the law into the hands of Angelo, her assistant. Under the Duchess the city’s laws, especially concerning sexual activities, have not been enforced and Angelo is determined to right this wrong. However when he condemns a young man to die for impregnating his fiancée, his sister, Isabella, a novitiate at the convent, pleads with Angelo to show mercy to her brother, and Angelo gives her the price for that mercy: to give up her body in sin to Angelo. Very serious issues are brought forth, intermingled with Shakespeare’s comic fools, and his supreme language.

We will present Measure for Measure Wednesday-Saturday, May 29-June 1 down at the Park at Manderson Landing, lower level. Music begins at 7:30 and the play begins at 8pm. I have attached our poster. As before, it is FREE.

Then next month, Wednesday-Saturday June 26-29, we will bring you The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s early (possibly earliest) very silly and quite dizzying laugh out loud comedy of two sets of twins on a collision course, based on an earlier comedy by the Roman, Plautus. Same times and information.

We look forward to seeing all of you in the park (Or the Allen Bales Theatre if bad weather forces us indoors).

Steve Burch
Professor, Playwriting, Theatre History
University of Alabama, Dept. of Theatre and Dance

Shakesaudio: Measure for Measure and Henry IV part 2

Today I have audio for you from our two most recent performances: January’s Measure for Measure, directed by Mark Hulse, and February’s Henry IV part 2, directed by Richard LeComte.

Measure for Measure

Henry IV part 2

IF’s Spring 2018 Season and Casting Call!

We’re still casting for all shows, so feel free to reach out to Nic Helms (nrhelms@ua.edu) or any of our directors if you’d like to participate!

Thursday, Jan 18, 7:30pm at 205 Gorgas Library, a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, directed by Mark Hulse (mchulse@crimson.ua.edu).
Thursday, Feb 15, 7:30pm at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php), a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Henry IV part 2, Electric Boogaloo, directed by Richard LeComte, dramaturgy by Austin Whitver (richard.lecomte@ua.edu, hawhitver@ua.edu).
Late March or early April, an Easter-themed Medieval staged reading, venue TBA, directed by Deborah Parker, dramaturgy by Cordelia Ross (parkerburch@comcast.net, caross4@ua.edu).
Thursday, Apr 19, 7:30pm at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php), a staged reading of Edward Bond’s Bingo, a play about the last years of Shakespeare’s life, directed by Steve Burch (sburch@as.ua.edu).

And here’s the poster for our first show:

The Facebook Event

Improbable Fictions’ 2017-18 Season

IF2017-2018

Fall 2017 casting calls!

If you’re interested in reading for Titia Andronica, please contact Erin Hildebrand (eahildebrand@crimson.ua.edu) and Courtney Parker (caparker4@crimson.ua.edu).

If you’re interested in reading for Samson Agonistes, please contact Nic Helms (nrhelms@ua.edu).

If you’re interested in reading archival World War I materials at the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, please contact Deborah Parker (parkerburch@comcast.net).

Casting calls for Spring 2018 will come in December.