BUY TICKETS

"The Rudes continue to deepen their creative process and challenge themselves in new ways. And that results in smart, terrific theater that takes us some place new." - Jeanne Claire van Ryzin, Austin-American Statesman review of December 2008 workshop production.

I've Never Been So Happy, with music and lyrics by Austin Experimental Punk Grand Wizard Peter Stopschinski (Brown Whornet, Golden Hornet Project), and book and lyrics by Austin Experimental Theatre Mascot Kirk Lynn, fluxuates freely between high art and Hee-Haw, treating both with respect. The music pits a "Grand Ole Opry" style West against an "El Topo" style West. The writing butts lyric poetry up against bar jokes with finesse. The evening challenges what it means to "go to the theater" in the 21st century.

In the olden days of face-to-face interaction, folks sauntered down Main Street kickin' up a trail o' dust and hollerin' at the barber, "How's Jolene?" Now it's all checking out a video of a dude from Buenos Aires, remixing it, then posting it for others to chop and screw. This post-operetta (g)host town is the best of both worlds. The immediate participatory horizontal cultural (re)production, but without all the emoticons because you are standing in the yard of The Off Center with all of your Facebook friends gettin' drunk, makin' rope, bustin' imaginary mutton and drawin' maps of Texas land use in real time.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Rude Mechs in association with Center Theatre Group presents the World Premiere of
I’ve Never Been So Happy

A musical transmedia performance party from Rude Mechs
Book / lyrics by Kirk Lynn
Music / lyrics by Peter Stopschinski
Co-directed by Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley
Created by Rude Mechs
Scenic Design by Leilah Stewart
Lighting Design by Stephen Pruitt
Choreography by Dayna Hanson
Video Design by Miwa Matreyek
Costume Design by Laura Cannon
Featuring: Cami Alys, Kerri Atwood, Lowell Bartholomee, Noel Gaulin, Thomas Graves, Amy
Hackerd, Hannah Kenah, Jenny Larson, Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Erin Meyer, William Moses,
Eric Roach, Paul Soileau, Peter Stopschinski, Meg Sullivan and 4 fabulous violinists

ARTIST WEBSITE:

http://rudemechs.com/