Political Satire Get Your War On Opens Off-Bway, Jan. 11

By: Dec. 13, 2006
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Austin, Texas-based ensemble Rude Mechanicals (a.k.a. Rude Mechs) return to New York with the Off-Broadway premiere of Get Your War On - a new play by Kirk Lynn (Lipstick Traces) et al adapted from David Rees' popular internet and Rolling Stone Magazine comic "Get Your War On" - with preview performances starting January 9, 2007 prior to its official opening January 11 at 59E59 Theatres (59 East 59th Street). Shawn Sides directs.
 
"Rude Mechs' adaptation of David Rees' savage and hysterical internet comic cusses and spits its way through six years of disappointment, shock, and awe at the sins of the current administration, exhuming images of pop culture and politics already lost in our collective short-term memory. With five actors, some microphones, and old-school overhead projectors, Get Your War On represents stunned and outraged Americans as they react to 9/11, the Bush administration, and its 'totally awesome' War on Terror," as press notes describe.
 
The cast of Get Your War On includes Ron Berry, Jason Liebrecht, Lana Lesley, Kirk Lynn, and Sarah E. Richardson. The production features lighting design by Brian Scott; costumes design by Laura Cannon; sound design by Robert S. Fisher and scenic design by Leilah Stewart.
 
Originally produced in Austin, Texas, the play has been presented at the Live Arts Festival in Philadelphia; Diverse Works in Houston, Texas; Woolly Mammoth in Washington, D.C .; and Ballroom Marfa in Marfa, Texas.
 
David Rees "was working a crummy magazine job when Operation: Enduring Freedom inspired him to create his cartoon 'Get Your War On.' The satire about the war on terrorism became an Internet phenomenon. 'Get Your War On' now appears in every issue of Rolling Stone. Sales of two 'Get Your War On' books have raised almost $100,000 for land-mine removal in western Afghanistan. 

The production is being presented as part of the Under the Radar Festival, a look at new theater on shuffle play that embraces the vitality of contemporary theater in all of its many guises. The festival features 11 full-scale performances at The Public Theater and 4 off-site performances at partner theaters. Work from all points in the U.S. to the UK, France, Canada, and Bolivia are featured this year. Under the Radar runs January 17-28, 2007.
 
A festival tracking new theatre, Under the Radar Festival 2007 is a program of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Annual Members Conference, with major funding by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The festival is produced by Mark Russell and The Public Theatre. For more information, visit www.undertheradarfestival.com.
 
Get Your War On contains adult language and content.
 
Performances run January 9-28 at 59E59 Theatres (59 East 59th Street); Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:15pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15pm and 10:30pm; Sundays at 3:15pm; with an additional performance on Monday, January 22 at 5:00pm. (Please note: there is no performance on Tuesday, January 23.) Tickets are $25; $15 students. Tickets are available at the 59E59 Theatres box office or through Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.ticketcentral.com.
 
For more information about this production and all things Rude Mechanicals, visit www.RudeMechs.com.  Visit www.getyourwaron.com for more information.

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