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THE METHOD GUN
a project of Creative Capital
April 9 - May 2, 2009 at The Off Center
created by Rude Mechs | written by Kirk Lynn | directed by Shawn Sides
featuring Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Jude Hickey, Hannah Kenah and Lana Lesley
[ Video ] [ Photo Gallery ] [ Reviews ] [ Press ] [ Production Team ] [ 2008 Premiere ] [ 2007 Workshop ]
The Method Gun is available for touring.
THE METHOD GUN 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
The Method Gun 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, The Approach, fused Western acting techniques and more dangerous METHODS in an effort to infuse even the smallest of roles with SEX, DEATH and VIOLENCE. We promise: guns, pendulums, “Streetcar,” and physical danger. We make no claims on behalf of narrative, common sense, or safety.
Using found text from the journals and performance reports of Stella Burden’s company, “The Method Gun” re-enacts the final months of her company’s rehearsals for their nine-years-in-the-making production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Stella left the company under mysterious circumstances in 1972. Diaries and letters from actors in the company express a sense of desperation, inadequacy, and frustration inherent to the process of creating meaningful work for the stage and in everyday life. Set amid swinging pendulums and talking tigers, “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Gun” bounces between interior monologues, rehearsal sequences of “Streetcar,” and group interactions - all gleaned from historical documents - to express a longing for the return of inspiration and a more believable presentation of self in everyday life.
We are currently working on the 2009 production video and will place as soon as available. In the meantime, enjoy Tiger interviews!
"Somebody had better bring this show to Seattle."
– Brendan Kiley, The Stranger
"...make your way out to the Off Center and get ready to have your mind blown."
– Ryan E. Johnson, austin.com 2009
"The Rudes craft compelling theater... 'The Method Gun' packs more intensity and more poignancy... And the Rudes' tweaks have made it much more intimate and immediate... And the final scene... emerges as one of the most polished, gorgeous, breathtaking and riveting moments on an Austin stage. To this critic, 'The Method Gun' still ranks as one of the best productions to grace the Austin stage."
– Jeanne Claire van Ryzin, Austin-American Statesman 2009
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PRODUCTION STAFF Playwright - Kirk Lynn Director - Shawn Sides Ensemble: Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Jude Hickey, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley
Production Manager - Madge Darlington Stage Manager - Jazz Miller Lighting Designer - Brian Scott Scenic Designer - Leilah Stewart Sound Designer/Composer - Graham Reynolds Costume Designer - Katey Gilligan Projection Consultant s: Michael Mergen & Lowell Bartholomee Sound Engineer/Operator - Robert S. Fisher Technical Director - Madge Darlington & Thomas Graves Master Electrician - Natalie george Backstage Crew: Jared Oberholtzer Front of House Manager - Michael Mergen Box Office Manager - Jon Watson |
For their help on this version of The Method Gun , we are grateful to:
Innu Salon • Alamo Welding Supply Co. • Room Service Vintage • Stephen Pruitt of Fluxion Scenic and
Light • The Magician Black Bert • The estate of Col. Robert E. Darlington • Paul Soileau • Luke Savisky •
the dirigo group • Sunny Haralson of Ruby Pearl • Steve Wiman of Uncommon Objects •
Lisa Byrd of ProArts Collective • Margaret Hejny • Andrew Dolan • Kathryn Blackbird •
James & Hester Magnuson • FUSEBOX!!
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
Premiere: April 2 - 12, 2008 presented by The Long Center for the Performing Arts
created by Rude Mechs | written by Kirk Lynn | directed by Shawn Sides
”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.” — Austin American-Statesman 2008
“The ‘final performance’ of Burden’s Streetcar features a characteristically Rude-ish blend of physicality and audaciousness... so precisely timed, so crisply executed... almost hypnotic.” — Austin Chronicle 2008
Citations:
"Top 10 Theatrical Treasures and Pleasures of 2008" — Austin Chronicle
"In the arts, the Eight from '08" — Austin American-Statesman
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, The Approach, fused Western acting methods and more dangerous, "exotic" approaches in an effort to infuse a sense of risk, 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.
PHOTO GALLERY
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 |
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.
December 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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