ABOUT THE SHOW
Once a year at the Charity Ball a single worthy cause is selected to benefit from the Queen’s annual good deed. Families of note compete to find the citizens most deserving of assistance. This year, a socialite has discovered a wildman in the forest and brings him home to improve him. The wildman’s desire to save the natural world and to bring about an era of love and harmony is a sure-winner. Now she must teach him how to eat and dance, how to bow and flatter, how to behave in society so that his cause can be victorious.
Rude Mechs is currently embracing the fundamental beliefs underlying late-stage capitalism and indulging in some 1930’s Hollywood glamour. Part Pygmalion, part Busby Berkley, part self-help lexicon — all while tap-dancing around a queso fountain. STOP HITTING YOURSELF borrows from the plots of 1930’s musicals to dig into the contemporary conservative dilemma: how to honor steely individualism without disavowing the virtue of charity. Tap dancing, fine dining, and the missionary position will all be employed in order to help all Americans stop hitting yourself.
“At tonight’s party you were observed and those observations are currently being compiled into a list of the things you need to be taught. We have one month to perfect you. In one month, we’re going to have another party. The difference is at this next party, the Queen will be in attendance.” — Socialite
“Improvement. Succor. Fate. Queso. Wardrobe. Charity. Belief.” — Wildman
Some of the Many People Involved: Sam Accettulli, Hope Bennett, Madge Darlington, Thomas Graves, Scott Guthrie, Heather Hanna, Danny Herman, Matt Hislope, Hannah Kenah, Isaac Klein, Lisa Laratta, Lana Lesley, Jason Liebrecht, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian Scott, Shawn Sides, Paul Soileau, Dallas Tate, plus technicians, crew, and Rude Mechs company members keeping it awesome.
Stop Hitting Yourself is a commission of LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater. LCT3 produces shows by new playwrights, directors and designers – new ideas in a new space. Creation support for this project also comes in part from from The MAP Fund, a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts, because a great nation deserves great art. Click here for a full list of Rude Mechs sponsors and supporters.
