Horse Head Presents THE JUDGMENT OF FOOLS by Bernardo Cubria

Absurdities abound in 2016, so this fall Horse Head invites you to blow off some steam, knock back a few and tell us what you really think. Hot on the heels of the close-quarters intensity of Lidless and following their award-winning immersive spectacle The Whale; or, Moby-Dick, Horse Head Theatre Co. is proud to announce the regional premiere of The Judgment of Fools by Houston's own Bernardo Cubría, directed by Philip Hays. The Judgment of Fools runs October 27 - November 12, 2016 at REC Room, 100 Jackson Street, Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. with bonus late night performances Saturdays at 10 p.m. Pay-what-you-can previews are Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 8 p.m.

The Judgment of Fools is a debauched vaudevillian social experiment-a comedy like no other. Building on the time-honored tradition of bouffon (that's fancy French clown lingo for talking back to the audience), spectators will be polled, prodded and poked as a convocation of "Fools" ask them to flex their judging muscles. Like the court jesters of olde, but in Converse All-Stars, these Fools will descend on Houston to reflect the folly of the world. But they need your help to make sense of it all. They want your thoughts. They want your opinions. They want your emojis, your re-tweets, your "Likes."

You see, the audience is the star of this show. Although The Judgment of Fools is mostly scripted (we'd guess 80% most nights), these Fools will mine the moments of the show from audience interactions.

Have you ever want to talk back to a character, during a show? This is your chance.

Have you ever wanted to bust out a real conversation with the person next to you? Do it here.

Have you ever wanted to just stop a friggin' play in the middle of a scene? Here, you can!

Equipped with "The Megaphone of Justice" (yes, it's a thing), Judgment audiences have the power to literally stop the show -- assuming your fellow audience members agree that the Fools have gone too far! If not, you're out of luck and may console yourself with a free, cheap-ass beer. So, you know, it's that kind of play.

For this production, HH will set up shop in Houston's newest non-traditional venue, REC Room. REC Room's mission boasts a restriction-free environment where audiences are encouraged to grab a drink mid-scene, post social media images and commentary during the show and to make themselves at home at the theater. "Like our REC Room hosts, Cubría's comedy The Judgment of Fools breaks all the rules of traditional theatre experiences," says HH Artistic Director Jacey Little. "Past Horse Head productions have focused on immersing audiences in the world of the play; but in The Judgment of Fools, we'll bring the play into the audience's world."

Judgment will be directed by Horse Head company member, star of last season's The Whale, and 2016 Houston Press Theatre Awards' "Best Utility Player," Philip Hays. "The Judgment of Fools is not an improv show, but it's not a sit-down-be-polite show either. It's not a play about politics, but it's not all fluff. It's not politically correct, but it's not a shame-fest. It's not a serious play, but it's not without its moments. It's not yo mamma's theatre. But hey, we're not judging."

The Judgment of Fools originally premiered as a co-production with Inviolet Theatre and INTAR Theatre in New York City, where it successfully ran for six months. The play was subsequently presented by Los Angeles's Ammunition Theatre Company as their inaugural full-length production. Horse Head is proud to present The Judgment of Fools as not only a regional premiere, but in new form, as the script will be developed and redrafted for this production in collaboration with playwright Cubría.

The only question is, have these Houston Press MASTERMINDs finally lost their minds? You tell us. Horse Head dares to say: judge not lest ye be fooled.

The Judgment of Fools will run from October 27 through November 12, 2016 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 8 p.m., with additional late-night performances on Saturdays at 10 p.m; and on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 8 p.m. CANCELLED PERFORMANCE: Friday, November 4, 2016. All performances are at the REC Room located at 100 Jackson Street in downtown Houston next to Minute Maid Park (77002). Ample street parking is available surrounding the theater. Box office & bar opens at 7 p.m. and pre-show fun begins at 7:30 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 and VIP (reserved seating) tickets are $45. Discounted student and industry tickets are available at the door. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.horseheadtheatre.org. For images, graphics and artist bios please click HERE to access our Dropbox.

Special Events - Pre-show fun starts at @ 7:30PM:

• Week One (Thursday - Saturday, October 27 - 29):- HALLO-WEEK-END COSTUME CONTEST

  • In honor of Halloween, a door prize will be awarded to the best costumed audience member.

• Week Two (Thursday November 3 & Saturday November 5): FOOL'S OPEN BALLOT

  • As practice for the upcoming vote, HH will host their own write-in election. Who would you like to see in the White House? A door prize will be awarded to the best nomination.

• Week Three (Wednesday, November 9 and Thursday - Saturday, November 10 - 12): VOTER APPRECIATION NIGHT

  • In honor of our nation's 57th (presumably) successful Presidential Election and in celebration of this great country's democracy, Horse Head will forcefully demand a $5 donation at the door for anyone who did NOT vote, publicly shame them and withhold all door prizes.

Horse Head is funded in part by grants from the Houston Arts Alliance on behalf of City of Houston.

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