Rude Grooms Will Bring A Two-Night Halloween Production Of THE WITCH OF EDMONTON To Queens

Queens-based Rude Grooms will mount a limited Halloween engagement of the rarely seen 1621 play The Witch of Edmonton in partnership with The Astorian and Long Island City Artists. The play was written by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford and will be led by actor-manager Kate Pitt (The Way of the World at the Folger Theatre, Rude Grooms' Much Ado About Nothing) and associate produced by Emma Montoya Hills (Associate General Manager, HERE Arts Center). The production will play the Plaxall Gallery on October 28th at 7:30pm and The Astorian on Halloween, October 31, at 7:30pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made at rudegrooms.com.

The Witch of Edmonton is an unnerving tragicomedy inspired by the true story of Elizabeth Sawyer, a woman accused of witchcraft during the reign of James I. Mistreated by her neighbors and abandoned by her community, Elizabeth turns to supernatural powers to aid her in her revenge against her tormentors. Though they may at first appear virtuous, everyone in this small town has something to hide and Elizabeth has just the thing to sniff them out...

This production features interactive games and surprises for the audience. Costumes are encouraged.

The Acting Company includes Pitt alongside J. Clint Allen* (Pericles, Two River Theater Company), Devon Glover (acclaimed Hip-Hop artist The Sonnet Man), Adriane Moreno (Period Sister at HERE Arts Center), Will O'Hare (Rude Grooms' Secret Sonnet Hunt, Henry V with Passion in Practice at Shakespeare's Globe), Deb Radloff* (Rude Grooms' Much Ado About Nothing, Caucasian Chalk Circle at Classic Stage Company), Yael Reich (RENT 20th Anniversary Tour), Eric Simpson (Dr. Faustus, Yale University), and Montgomery Sutton* (Rude Grooms' Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe).

Dance choreography is by Bridget Bose (Rude Grooms' Much Ado About Nothing, Guilty Pleasures Cabaret) and wardrobe is by Laura Piccoli (Rude Grooms' Much Ado About Nothing).

Actor-Manager Kate Pitt says "The Witch of Edmonton examines the role of women within a small community. Whether as wives or witches, outcasts or accomplices, the women in this play pursue their desires to the full bent. All the characters are led by their passions, but some have more than mortal help in achieving their ambitions..."

Rude Grooms' Master of the Revels Montgomery Sutton adds, "the names of those who wrote The Witch of Edmonton may not be as familiar as their contemporary William Shakespeare, but the twisted, dark, and subversively hilarious world they create resonates with shocking clarity today. We are thrilled to partner with The Astorian and Long Island City Artists to bring this uniquely ghoulish event to Queens. Come ready to laugh, scream, and be a part of the devilish antics in Edmonton through a series of games for the audience. Even better, join in costume or other grisly Halloween attire."

Groundling (standing) tickets may be reserved for $10; reserved seats available for $25 at the Plaxall Gallery and from $20-30 at The Astorian. To buy your tickets or learn more, visit www.rudegrooms.com

 

ABOUT RUDE GROOMS

Rude Grooms is a Queens-based Startup Theatre Experiment rooted in the Elizabethan Tradition: we build cutting-edge theatrical experiences to provoke, inspire, & entertain, and we train Actor-Creators to tell their stories more clearly, bravely, & impulsively.

 

COLLABORATING ARTISTS

Devon Glover (Cuddy Banks). REGIONAL: Richard III (Salty Shakespeare); As You Like It (Southern Shakespeare); A Town Divided *co-writer* (Southern Shakespeare); Fences (Canopy Roads); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare In Yosemite); UPCOMING: As You Like It (Shakespeare in Yosemite). WEBSITE: www.SonnetMan.com; TWITTER: @thesonnetmannyc; IG: @thesonnetman.

Emma Montoya Hills (Associate Producer). OFF-BROADWAY: Associate General Manager, HERE Art Center. Company Manager, Symphonie Fantastique (HERE). Producer: Period Sisters (HERE), Associate Producer, Shaken Not Stirred (The Django), Producer, Emerson Looses Her Miand (New York Winterfest), General Manager, Precious Things (The Attic at Theatre Row). Twitter & IG: @esmhills

Adriane Moreno (Susan) OFF-BROADWAY: Period Sisters (HERE Arts Center); Empire Travel Agency (Woodshed Collective); Denmark(Access Theater). FILM: Desiree, Bev, Gold. UP NEXT: Not A Gift (FringeNYC). TRAINING: NYU

Will O’Hare (Sir Arthur). RUDE GROOMS: Debut. LONDON: Henry V (Passion in Practice at Sam Wanamaker Theatre); BROADWAY: Mary Poppins, The History Boys; OFF-BROADWAY: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre For A New Audience), Bullet For Adolf (Children At Play), The Bomb (International Wow Company), Expense of Spirit (International Wow Company); TORONTO: Hamlet (Why Not Theatre), King Lear (Hart House Theatre).

Kate Pitt (Actor-Manager, Kate) does theater. A generous amount. Mostly Shakespeare. Sellsword writer/director/dramaturg/coach. Previously with Rude Grooms: Much Ado About Nothing; other recent work: Assistant Director, The Way of the World (dir. Theresa Rebeck). B.A. Yale (History). Additional Training: RADA, Shakespeare & Company, Double Edge. Four years in Public Programs at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Former All-American foil fencer and current novice swing dancer. @KatePitt.

Deb Radloff (Elizabeth Sawyer). With Rude Grooms: Dogberry/Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing. OFF-BROADWAY: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Classic Stage Company); A Brand New World (Three Act Theatre at Theatre Row). OFF-OFF BROADWAY: Much ADO About Nothing(M.O.D theatre), Mother Knows Best (Best Emerging solo artist at the United Solo); Brewed (NYC Fringe). REGIONAL: Northern Stage; Denver Civic Theatre; Pericles, Othello, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure (Nebraska Shakespeare Festival); Richard III, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It (The Old Globe). NEW MEDIA: Micro musical show: The New Peggy, The Pulp Tales Of Gwendolyn Gween. M.F.A, The Old Globe/USD. Repped by Professional Artists. IG: @debfindingherwin

Yael Reich (Winnifred). NATIONAL TOURS: Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! Farewell Tour, RENT 20th Anniversary Tour. REGIONAL: Man of La Mancha, West Side Story (Bigfork Summer Playhouse), Winter Wonderettes (Hippodrome Theatre), A Servant to Two Masters (Constans Theatre), Othello (Florida Players Stages). UP NEXT: Evita  (National Tour). Website: www.yaelreich.com; Twitter & IG: @yaellily.

Montgomery Sutton (Frank). With Rude Grooms: Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. LONDON: Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe); OFF-BROADWAY: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New York Classical Theatre); REGIONAL: Henry V (Cape Fear Regional Theatre); The Winter’s Tale (Seven Stages Shakespeare); Love’s Labours Lost, King Lear, Richard III, Measure for Measure (Trinity Shakespeare); One Man, Two Guvnors (Florida Studio Theatre); Booth, Gruesome Playground Injuries (Second Thought Theatre), Theatre Three, Uptown Players, Circle Theatre, Dallas Children’s Theater, Shakespeare Dallas. FILM/NEW MEDIA: Trouble with Women, 1865. montgomerysutton.com; Twitter & IG: @montgomerysutto