Feature: THE RUSTIC MECHANICALS Are Set To Embark On Their First Tour Of 2018 For Their Production Of RICHARD III

The Rustic Mechanicals, West Virginia's only Shakespeare troupe, will be heading out on their first tour of 2018 with their production of Richard III. The tour, aptly named The Naked Villainy Tour, will begin in the troupe's hometown of Clarksburg, WV before heading to Morgantown, WV; Wheeling Park High School; Brooke High School; Weirton, WV; Wheeling, WV; Romney, WV; and Keyser, WV.

Performance Schedule: April 12th and 13th, 2018 at The VTC Cabaret in Clarksburg, WV; April 14th and 15th, 2018 at the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV; April 20th and 21st, 2018 at The Striplight Theater in Weirton, WV; April 22nd, 2018 at The Troy Theatre on the Wheeling Jesuit University campus in Wheeling, WV; April 27th, 2018 at Hampshire County High School in Romney, WV; and April 28th, 2018 at The Indie on Main in Keyser, WV.

The Rustic Mechanicals, founded by Celi Oliveto, is part of the Vintage Theatre Company - a large group of performers which together comprise multiple theatrical groups - all of which excel in a specific type of performance art. From improve to classical Shakespeare, Vintage Theatre Company (VTC) is sure to have a production to cater to all tastes. The group averages three tours a year.

VTC's founding Producer and Artistic Director, Jason A. Young, would like to cordially invite audiences to experience their rendition of the Shakespearian classic Richard III. This stirring tale of lust, ambition, and murderous treachery will be updated and brought to life by the talented individuals in The Rustic Mechanicals and is sure to leave audience members on the edge of their seats.

Richard III begins just as the long and savage civil war amongst two royal families ends. As the newly crowned King Edward accepts the seat of power his younger brother, Richard, begins a treacherous plot to claim the crown as his own. With the aid of other equally monstrous members of the court, Richard embarks on his merciless and cold-blooded plot to murder his brother and claim the crown, a prize which he has obsessed over throughout his life.

The Rustic Mechanicals are now in their fifth season, having grown from a small group of only seven actors to an impressive roster of nearly thirty artists. "Touring Shakespeare is a 400-year-old tradition," said Young. "These troupe members understand the nobility of the work and the heritage they are a part of. I fully expect this tour to be a labor of love for us all."

That labor of love will be headed by Joshua Brooks, in the eponymous role of Richard III. "Playing villains is always the most fun, but there's an inherent challenge in finding and conveying their humanity," said Brooks. "With a character like Richard III, the challenge is even greater because he possesses no discernable shreds of decency, compassion, empathy, or restraint: a true sociopath."

Oliveto, who serves as Director for this production, spoke about the cast and crew, stating, "It's an honor to work with such talented, dedicated individuals. This show requires actors to put themselves in really difficult situations emotionally. To tell this story, people need to perform courageous, almost fantastical situations, but root all their emotional content and behavior in reality." Oliveto went on to say that, "it's a challenging piece, and I'm grateful that these mechanicals are more than up to the challenge."

The first stop on this tour is at The VTC Cabaret in Clarksburg, WV, the troupe's home. "It is always nice when we can debut our shows in some friendly confines," says Young. The show will have a soft opening on April 12th, 2018 with an official opening on April 13th, 2018. Not only will guests be treated to a performance on the tour's official opening night, but The VTC Cabaret will also be unveiling their new dinner theater option.

April 12th, 2018 will be a "Pay-What-You-Will" preview event. Doors will open at 6:30 PM with the show beginning at 7:00 PM. There will be no set ticket price, rather audience members are encouraged to pay whatever they can spare to help support the troupe.

April 13th, 2018 will serve as the official opening night and promises a "Shakespeareance" unlike any other. Fifty lucky members of the audience will be treated to a gourmet dinner, a pre-show question and answer session with members of the creative team, a live performance of the show, and a post-show dessert meet and greet reception. Reservations are required for this event and will go fast, as there are only 50 available. The cost is $75 per couple of $40 per individual. The menu will include stuffed cranberry apple roasted pork loin, lemon garlic roasted chicken, roasted root veggies, golden mashed potatoes, a savory caramelized onion bread pudding, salad, homemade bread, fresh fruit, cheese, and vegetable starters. Dinner begins at 6:30 PM with curtain at 8:00 PM, immediately followed by the reception.

After their nights in Clarksburg the troupe will head toward the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV for performances on April 14th at 7:00 PM and April 15th at 2:00 PM. Tickets cost $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for students and seniors.

The second week of the Naked Villainy Tour takes the troupe to the northern panhandle to perform a few educational shows at both Wheeling Park High School and Brooke High School. Afterwards, there will be performances at The Striplight Theatre in Weirton, WV on April 20th and 21st, 2018 and The Troy Theatre located on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University on April 22nd, 2018.

The performances on April 20th and the 21st in Weirton, WV will begin at 8:00 PM and will cost $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for students and seniors. The show in Wheeling, WV on April 22nd, which is Shakespeare's 454th birthday, will begin at 2:00 PM and will be free for all audience members and will include a free reception.

Speaking about the packed weekend, Young said, "This is a big weekend for us. We have five shows in four days and our second straight Shakespeare's birthday show on Sunday."

The tour's final weekend takes the troupe to the Potomac Highlands where they will perform an additional educational performance at Hampshire County High School in Romney, WV as well as a public performance at The Indie on Main in Keyser, WV.

Tickets for the April 27th performance at Hampshire County High School in Romney, WV are $10.00, with the show will beginning at 7:00 PM. Tickets for the April 28th performance at Indie on Main in Keyser, WV will cost $12.00 for adults and $7.00 for students, while that show will begin at 8:00 PM.

Performing in Romney and Keyser will be new experiences for The Rustic Mechanicals. "This will mark our first full weekend the troupe has had in the Potomac Highlands," said Young. "We have never been to Romney or Keyser, so that is exciting; and we are still working on finding ways to maybe visit some other communities in the region for some other special events."

The cast for this production includes Daniel Crowley as Buckingham, Isaac Covey as Catesby, Sean Marko as Lord Hastings, Bailey Kershner as Queen Margaret, Kayla Hudimac as Queen Elizabeth, and Samantha Huffman as the Duchess of York. James Matthews will be seen as Clarence and the Cardinal; while John O'Connor will be portraying King Edward, the Lord Mayor of London, and the Archbishop; and Travis Teffner will be playing Rivers and Richmond. Rounding out the cast is Sarah Young as Lady Anne and Tyrrel, and Kyle Stemple as Prince Edward and several other roles.

Technical Direction for this production will be handled by David Byard, Production Design by Trina Byard, Fight Choreography by Cliff Williams and Dylan Myers, Dramaturgy by John Shirley, and Tommy Schoffler will be serving as the production's Movement Coach.

For more information about The Naked Villainy Tour of William Shakespeare's Richard III, you can e-mail VintageTheatreCo@gmail.com, call 1-855-VTC-8588 or visit the Vintage Theatre Company's Website.

Richard Allen is a contributing editor for Broadway World covering theatre throughout WV and the tri-state area. He also writes freelance for various other publications. You can check out his page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richardallenwrites and you can contact him via e-mail at richardallenwrites@gmail.com.

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