RUDE MECHS IS ALL ABOUT DANCE!

1. Meg Sullivan and Rude Mechs are proud to present a work-in-progress dance, MEG.ANNE.MAUD

a Rude Fusion co-production.

Meg.Anne.Maud is an original performance written, choreographed and performed by Meg Sullivan, with music by Graham Reynolds. This show will transform The Off Center into a mapped imaginary landscape where the audience will be invited to think about how archives affect our bodies, how our favorite book characters live within us, how memories move through space

Sullivan combines choreography, video, and maps to re-member the life stories of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, and herself, and to re-imagine places, spaces, and the geographies of memory. Come add a name to the bosom friend map! Taste some raspberry cordial! Watch the radar for coming storms!

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Meg Sullivan is a company member of Rude Mechs, most recently seen as Annabellee in their western operetta I’ve Never Been So Happy, by Kirk Lynn and Peter Stopschinski. Meg is co-Director of Rude Mechs’ outreach program for teenaged girls, Grrl Action, and is a member of The Meeting Point, a dance performance group directed by Julie Nathanielsz. Meg holds an MFA in Performance as Public Practice from The University of Texas at Austin.

Meg.Anne.Maud began as a project in June 2009 when Meg was in residency at the Contemporary Arts Center in Troy, NY. Her previous solo works include Chat/piles: a body of memory, about the history of lead mining in Tar Creek, Oklahoma, performed at the 2008 Micro-Fringe Festival at the ATHE conference in Denver, and A Curious Seaside Feeling, based on Virginia Woolf’s letters, performed as part of the 2008 Frontera Festival.

For more information about this production, please email: meg@rudemechs.com, or see: http://sites.google.com/site/megsullivanperformance/upcoming-events.

ABOUT RUDE FUSION:

Rude Mechs is proud to continue our fourth season of Rude Fusion programming with this collaboration with Ms. Sullivan. Rude Fusion is designed to develop deeper relationships with emergent and under served performing artists in Austin by co-producing their work and offering our support throughout their creative and production process. Rude Fusion offers Austin artists the freedom to take artistic risks, explore new ideas and collaborate with an even greater number of artists. We launched the series in August 2006 with Rubber Repertory Company and their new play Red Cans. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, we continued the series by hosting Pro Arts Collective's Black Arts Movement Festival, and in 2008 and 2009 we supported Red Then Productions with their productions of Sherry Kramer’s When Something Wonderful Ends, and Robert Faires’ Henry V.

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2. Jump Headlong Into The Rude Dance!

Jumping Headlong into the Rude Dance:

An Intimate Conversation about Collaboration and Creation between Rude Mechs and Headlong Dance Theater

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Eponymous Garden

1202 Garden Street

FREE!

Join us for this special evening of what will be no doubt a stimulating and witty conversation led by Company Member and Arts Writer Hannah Kenah. What has kept these two companies not only together but thriving in their respective communities for over 15 years? Headlong Dance Theater and Rude Mechs have a lot in common: we have both been working our communities for many years, we both create original physical theater, and we both operate as collectives. Join the conversation about the nature of long-term collaborations and everything in between.

January 29th & 30th, Dance Umbrella presents Headlong Dance Theater's show, More. Click here for more information and tickets!

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Coming to The Off Center February 12 - 21, a new dance by five local choreographers in the style of Forklift Danceworks, Project Forklift!.



Six great ways to keep up with Rude Mechs!

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Rude Summer Calendar

Plan your summer with Rude Mechs and mark your calendar.

We've got Henry V in there right now through 07/25. Get tix here!

Grrl Action performances are FREE and will be held on 07/25 & 07/26 at 2pm, and it appears that as a result of the NEA Recovery award, we will be graced with the presence of Congressman Lloyd Doggett at the Grrl performance on the 25th. We hope it works out because we are huge fans of his and would love to express our gratitude in person for all of his great work.

The Sci-fEye Ball is on August 22nd. Invitations will go out in the mail next week and you will be BLOWN AWAY by Carol Gunn's beautiful artwork and invitation design. Tickets will go on sale August 1st. We are still accepting fabulous Silent Auction and Live Auction items. If you want to donate, just send an email to auction@rudemechs.com and let us know!

Then September 10 - 20 we will mount another work-in-progress presentation of I've Never Been So Happy featuring the last 5 scenes of the play. We're testing a new format - so come tell us what you think! And then we'll start fundraising like mad to do a full production one day.

And then right after I've Never Been So Happy we will launch the Oyster Club season with the September event - the party at the Plant at Kyle. The Oyster Club leads you to 8 cultural events (one per month, September - April) and features local foods & beverages organized by Edible Austin. Check out rudemechs.com for club details, sign up information, and a look at last year's events.

We've Got October Covered

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Delta Rhapsody featuring Nadine Mozon- one night only on Saturday 10/11
2. The Oyster Club - Launch Party on Sunday 10/12
3. Grrl Action Year-Round kicks off soon, we're still accepting GRRLS!!!
4. Thrill the World with Rude Mechs, Flash Mob Austin and Alamo Drafthouse

5. Rude Mechs Season Sponsors

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1.BAM Festival at The Off Center

DELTA RHAPSODY
a new play written and performed Nadine Mozon
directed by Madge Darlington

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!
October 11, 2008 at 8pm at The Off Center
presented by Pro Arts Collective as part of their festvial, BAM! (Black Arts Movement)
co-produced by Rude Mechs as part of our Rude Fusion series
Tickets: All tickets for BAM Festival are sold through The Long Center for the Performing Arts ticket office. Click here to purchase tickets.


NADINE MOZON is an actor, poet, dramatist, and teaching artist whose work has been produced for the stage. Such work includes her one-woman show, “Confirming the Search: That Girl’s Still Here Somewhere,” which received critical recognition in New York and Los Angeles, and “I.D. Please,” an ensemble theatre piece commissioned and presented in New York. Other acting credits include regional theatre, film, and television (Esther in "Intimate Apparel," Rose in “Fences,” Lily in “Crumbs from the Table of Joy,” Shaft, Two Weeks Notice, guest appearances on Law & Order and One Life to Live, Third Watch). Her poems have appeared in magazines, journals and anthologies, among them, Essence, Ms., Clarity, Lungfull, and A Gathering of the Tribes. She has been a featured artist and collaborative partner with dancers, choreographers, singers, and musicians in New York venues from Nuyorican PoetsCafé to Lincoln Center; around the U.S. and Bermuda, at festivals, and hosted as guest artist at colleges and universities. Ms. Mozon continues to conduct poetry and theatre workshops in libraries, schools, and museums for participants of all ages, as well as readings at events featuring new work and her book of poetry, Kiss it Up to God.

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2. Join the club and support cross-pollination of the arts! Kick-off event and Rude Mechs' fundraiser THIS SUNDAY, October 12, 5-8 pm.

Rescheduled from our previous date due to Hurricane Ike, the Oyster Club hosts a kick-off event Sunday, October 12, 5-8pm, that includes a mini-road trip to The Plant at Kyle—a dramatic architectural landmark tucked away on 17 Hill-Country acres just 30 miles from downtown Austin. Your $100 donation gains you access to this amazing Launch Party and the soon-to-be launched members-only website. Membership guarantees invitation to events taking place throughout the year in months that contain the letter "R" (there's eight of 'em). Modest per-event fees will apply for future events, but this one is on us!

Rude Mechs is wildly grateful to all of the amazingly generous vendors contributing to this event to ensure party perfection. Fresh Gulf-coast oysters from local seafood vendor Roberto San Miguel of San Miguel Food will be in the culinary spotlight. With assistance from co-event-underwriter Ross Smith, Edible Austin magazine, and local Chef Jim Doss, San Miguel will dazzle the crowd with oysters on the half-shell, oysters à la mac (cocktail sauce and Monterey Jack cheese), oysters Rockefeller and smoked oysters on skewers. Gulf shrimp and freshly caught red snapper will also be prepared for the non-oyster lovers in attendance.

Local spirits will be in abundance as well, featuring Tipsy Texan mixologist David Alan serving up his signature Oyster Club cocktail (a perfect pairing for the feast made with Texas's own Treaty Oak RumThe Austin Wine Merchant) and Paula Angerstein mixing Paula's Texas Orange and Lemon with local fave Savvy Vodka. Another perfect pairing with the oyster feasting will be selections from Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Dr. Oolong himself, Jeffrey Lorien of Zhi Tea, will be serving a special blend of iced tea from their fabulous tea bar as well. To top off the evening, delectable desserts will be concocted by Rude Mechs company member and gourmet caterer Leilah Stewart. Plus tastings from Cocao Pura's Tom Peterson.

The music for the event will be provided by DJ Manateeman and will include a five-minute preview remix of the new Rude musical, "I've Never Been So Happy!"

We invite you to take a refreshing dip in the pool as you soak in the atmospheric Hill Country breezes. So bring your beach towel and swim gear too if the weather cooperates!
and a secret ingredient from

The Oyster Club’s name is based on the popular misconception that oysters are only safe to eat in those months. (This may have once been a good guide before modern refrigeration made it safe to eat oysters all-year round; it’s ongoing validity is now hotly debated.)

Rude Mechs, whose theatrical productions have toured around the globe, are now positioning themselves as more than playmakers. With the launching of the Oyster Club, the Rude Mechs are now tastemakers celebrating local, live culture. Join the Club today to experience even more of what makes Austin unique!

WHEN: Sunday 10/12, 5 pm to 8 pm
WHERE: Directions will be provided upon purchase of membership
TICKETS: Reservations are required. Space is limited.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN NOW

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3. There's still time to sign up a fabulous GRRL for Grrl Action's Year-Round Mentoring Program

Year-Round Grrl Action kicks off October 18th. There's still time to sign up!
We are looking for girls between the ages of 13 and 16 with a desire to express themselves through a creative project. Grrl Action Year-Round includes:

An opportunity to create a personal artistic project while working with a professional female artist, a mentor who will provide one-on-one guidance;
Fun workshops on autobiographical writing and performance;
Guest workshops with local professional artists;
Field trips to many of Austin's exciting performances and cultural events; and
A weekend retreat in the Spring to explore artistic projects.

Final projects will be presented to the public at Grrl Wrap in late Spring.

When: Two Saturdays each month. Our next meeting is Oct. 18, 2008, 2-4pm.
Where: At The Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo St., Austin, TX.
Tuition: $500 includes all classes, workshops, field trips, and retreat. Can be paid in installments. Full and partial scholarships are still available.

For more information, see www.grrlaction.org or contact Madge Darlington and Meg Sullivan at grrlaction@rudemechs.com.

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4. Thrill the World with Rude Mechs, Flash Mob Austin and Alamo Drafthouse!

Thrill The World is an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Thousands of zombies around the world will dance to "Thriller" at exactly the same time in an attempt to break last year's world records. Austin will proudly join 83 other cities in 12 nations on 4 continents in this record-breaking event.

When: Austin’s “Thrill Time” is 1pm on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Registration to participate in the ‘official’ record attempt will begin at 10am and close at 12:30pm. Participants must already know the dance by 10am Saturday in order to be counted toward the ‘official’ attempt (see below for information on learning the dance).

Where: Stay tuned to www.thrilltheworldaustin.com.

Who: Anyone who has ever wanted to learn the "Thriller" dance will have their chance this year! In order to prepare Austin zombies for this massive performance, there will be seven FREE zombie dance workshops in the two weeks prior to the event. No prior dance or zombie experience required. Just show for all or part of any workshops.

Workshop Dates/Times/Locations:

Saturday, October 11, 1-4pm, Gallery 5619
Tuesday, October 14, 6-10pm, The Off Center
Saturday, October 18, 1-4pm, Gallery 5619
Sunday, October 19, 6-10pm, The Off Center
Tuesday, October 21, 6-10pm, The Off Center
Thursday, October 23, 9:45pm MJ sing-along followed by Learn the Dance, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown
Friday, October 24, 6-10pm, The Off Center

There are also videos available on line so you can learn the dance in the privacy of your own home, if you prefer. Go to www.thrilltheworld.com. (Click on ‘Learn the Dance’.)
We hope to have over 1000 zombies join us for our Thrill the World Austin attempt to break the world record.

When Something Wonderful Ends

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Rude Mechanicals is proud to support this production as part of our Rude Fusion co-production series

May 15 - June 1, 2009 at The Off Center
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 5:00 pm
Tickets are Sliding Scale $15 - $25
BUY TICKETS

co-produced by Red Then Productions and Rude Mechanicals
written by Sherry Kramer
directed by Katie Pearl
starring Barbara Chisholm

Starring Barbara Chisholm and a 1964 bubble-cut Barbie in near mint condition, When Something Wonderful Ends explores the loss of one’s mother, America’s dependence on foreign oil, and Barbie dolls in an ingenious, whimsical, touching, funny, infuriating manner that only playwright Sherry Kramer could achieve. While packing up her parents’ home following the death of her mother, Sherry uncovers the treasure trove of Barbies from her baby-boom childhood while embarking on the homework of a lifetime: discovering the roots of Islamic hatred of America and our dependence on the oil in the Middle East. As a Jewish girl growing up in the epicenter of the Bible belt, Sherry knows a thing or two about religious fervor and the passions it engenders