Lana Lesley

The Method Gun, created by Rude Mechs, returns to the Texas Theatre and Dance stage October 4-5, 2019 at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. The piece explores the life and techniques of Stella Burden, actor-training guru of the 1960s and 70s, whose sudden emigration to South America still haunts her most fervent followers. Burden's training technique, The Approach (often referred to as 'the most dangerous acting technique in the world'), fused Western acting methods with risk-based rituals in order to infuse even the smallest role with sex, death and violence.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of FIELD GUIDE created by Rude Mechs, inspired by the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, January 26 February 17, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, February 1.

The Rudes. They're like the cast of Star Wars or Star Trek, iconic and revered in that way that Trekkers love Leonard Nimoy or George Takei, but for Austin and its avid theatre going Rude fans, well, that, and their collaborative works with others from Helsinki to Cedar Rapids. And their current production, REQUIEM FOR TESLA, is, in its third incarnation, like a Star Trek reboot. While other theatres around town dust off the usual December holiday fare, The Rude Mechanicals, never to be usual, have resurrected REQUIEM FOR TESLA in celebration of their 20th anniversary season. It's obvious they've been around and drummed up an enthusiastic fan base. (Full disclosure: I'm one of them). On opening night for this particular production, one ebullient fan behind us waxed poetic to total strangers about each and every Rude production he'd seen (many of which I've seen myself) including the 2001 and 2003 iterations of REQUIEM FOR TESLA.

FIELD GUIDE, a work-in-progress by Rude Mechs, is currently in a second draft performance at the Off Center. Rude Mechs creates new works collaboratively, and with FIELD GUIDE they are actively engaging their audience to get feed back on what works and what doesn't in order to help shape the piece. FIELD GUIDE, commissioned by the Yale Repertory Theatre, is a mash-up of Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, stand-up comedy, dance and some frankly uncomfortable direct audience addressing confessions. How much of the direct confessions are fact or fiction we'll never really know. What we do know is this is an excitingly different evening of pure theatricality… an evening that you, as an audience member, are being asked to help define. Along the way during your 90 minute journey the Mechs cover topics from the longest Russian novel written such as intellectualism, spiritualism, sensuality and hedonism. While it is ostensibly an adaptation of The Brothers Karamazov, it really just uses the characters in the briefest Cliff Notes sense. This approach allows the performers to riff on the underlying themes present. There is even an unaccredited moment by Tom Lehrer when Robert S. Fisher performs 'They're Rioting in Africa'. What you are treated to is highly experimental in nature and at moments what ensues is truly magical.

With only 30 audience members per performance, your experience with the Rude Mech's NOW NOW OH NOW begins when you get your tickets. Each audience member must choose from one of six symbols. Your choice will group you into a tribe of five members. You are about to embark on an adventure with people you've never met before. Oh, the places you'll go…

Salvage Vanguard Theater is proud to announce the first MADE IN SVT production of our 20th Anniversary Season FROM THE PIG PILE: THE REQUISITE GESTURE(S) OF NARROW APPROACH by Sibyl Kempson in collaboration with the Austin Pig Pile

Salvage Vanguard Theater is proud to announce the first MADE IN SVT production of our 20th Anniversary Season FROM THE PIG PILE: THE REQUISITE GESTURE(S) OF NARROW APPROACH by Sibyl Kempson in collaboration with the Austin Pig Pile

Lincoln Center Theater presents a one night only LCT3 Special Event of Graham Reynolds: Making Music, Hosted by Rebecca Havemeyer, Austin's own Dizzy Dame, on Monday, February 10 at 9:30 pm at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Rude Mechs' madcap Brechtian vaudeville counters being charitable with looking out for one's self.

LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater's presentation of STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs, the Austin, TX based theater collective, opened last night, January 27. This world premiere features Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, E. Jason Liebrecht, and Paul Soileau. Commissioned by LCT3, STOP HITTING YOURSELF is written by Kirk Lynn and directed by Shawn Sides and will run through Sunday, February 23 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65th Street). All tickets are $20. BroadwayWorld brings you a look back the opening night festivities below!

Opening night is tonight, January 27 for the LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater presentation of STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs, the Austin, TX based theater collective. This world premiere features Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, E. Jason Liebrecht, and Paul Soileau. Commissioned by LCT3, STOP HITTING YOURSELF is written by Kirk Lynn and directed by Shawn Sides and will run through Sunday, February 23 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65th Street). All tickets are $20. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

Opening night is Monday, January 27 for the LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater presentation of STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs, the Austin, TX based theater collective. This world premiere features Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, E. Jason Liebrecht, and Paul Soileau. Commissioned by LCT3, STOP HITTING YOURSELF is written by Kirk Lynn and directed by Shawn Sides and will run through Sunday, February 23 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65th Street). All tickets are $20. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater will present STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs, directed by Shawn Sides and written Kirk Lynn. Featuring: Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, E. Jason Liebrecht and Pail Soileau.

LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater will present STOP HITTING YOURSELF, created by Rude Mechs, directed by Shawn Sides and written Kirk Lynn. Featuring: Thomas Graves, Heather Hanna, Joey Hood, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, E. Jason Liebrecht and Pail Soileau.

Rude Mechs will present the first work-in-progress showing of 'STOP HITTING YOURSELF.'

Rude Mechs will present the first work-in-progress showing of 'STOP HITTING YOURSELF.'

MetLife Foundation and Theatre Communications Group (TCG) announce the fifth round of recipients for the MetLife/TCG A-ha! Program: Think It, Do It, which supports the creative thinking and action of TCG Member Theatres with the goal of impacting the larger theatre community. Five theatres were awarded grants totaling $225,000 to either research and develop new ideas or experiment and implement innovative concepts.

Actors Theatre of Louisville's Artistic Director, Les Waters and Managing Director, Jennifer Bielstein announce the complete schedule of panel discussions during the 36th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays, running now through April 15, 2012. The Festival, which annually has a lineup of up to ten new world premieres will host four dynamic panel discussions that will feature national-known playwrights, theatre professionals, artists and local business leaders listed below. All panel discussions are FREE and open to the public. Tickets are required and can be reserved by calling the Actors Theatre Box Office at 502-584-1205 or in-person at 316 West Main Street, Louisville, 40202. Visit http://actorstheatre.org/ for more information.

I've Never Been So Happy hosted its opening night at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre on October 8, 2011 in Culver City, California.