• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Rude Mechs Forced to Bring Theater to the People After Losing Venue

August 16, 2017 by Dustin Vegas 1 Comment

Rude Mechs Theater in Austin

Rude Mechs is taking Austin back, one district at a time (Credit: Rude Mechs via Flickr)

Last year, Austin lost over 30,000 square feet of artistic performance space. Think about that for a second.

Austin is an artistic city. We have built a huge portion of our economy around it. The arts attract tourists and transplants, and businesses follow them here. The arts are the foundation for so much of what makes Austin the vibrant city that it is.

But the sad fact is that Austin has become a victim of its own success. As people and money flow into the city, the price of doing business here increases. Rent goes up, and creative hubs begin to shutter. We might not notice the immediate impact, but over time, the trend erodes a big part of what originally made Austin attractive and lucrative. Eventually, the rest of the food chain can suffer.

Rude Mechs is an Austin ensemble theater company standing against the erosion. Founded in 1995, Rude Mechs has been providing Austinites with local theater for decades. The team is comprised of five artistic directors and 23 company members. Rude Mechs has put on countless original performances over the years, and also tours the United States with its crew of passionate theater lovers.

Rude Mechs Theater Performance

Rude Mechs has been mixing genres for over 20 years (Credit: Rude Mechs via Flickr)

Last year, Rude Mechs lost The Off Center, a performance space they had called home for 18 years. Now the ensemble is effectively homeless. Rather than accepting the final curtain call, Rude Mechs decided to take their genre-defying style of theater to the streets.

10 Events in 10 Months

Rude Mechs Independent Play in Austin

Rude Mechs performing one of its independent plays (Credit: Rude Mechs via Flickr)

Every month for the next 10 months, Rude Mechs will be hosting its crushAustin theater series. These performances will take place in 10 different city districts. Each performance will be completely unique in both content and formatting. One month may feature standup comedy, while the next month could be an interactive, audience-driven production. You won’t know until it shows up in your backyard (literally).

The idea is part protest and part labor of love. CrushAustin is not just a passionate response to Rude Mechs losing its long-term theater space. It’s much more than that. Rude Mechs wants to show Austinites what we are losing when we allow our arts to disappear in front of our eyes. The Rude Mechs team says it best:

“Austin has raised us, made us who we are, but now it needs some looking after, some care and attention as Austinites try to figure out what kind of city we want to be, what we value, and what our civic life should look like.”

By spreading independent performance across the city, Rude Mechs wants to include the city in its performances. Every venue the group performs at will have its own atmosphere and potential. Not to mention its own audience bringing a unique energy to each one-time-only event.

Upcoming Performances From Rude Mechs

Rude Mechs Original Theater Performance

Rude Mechs is famous for off-the-wall and creative original works (Credit: Rude Mechs via Flickr)

The second performance in the crushAustin series will take place on August 27, 2017, and it’s free to the public. Lana Lesley and Peter Stopschinski will be performing Grageriart, a music-focused piece, at Carousel Lounge in District 4. This performance will be mostly experimental as the two performers take on the Home Shopping catalogue.

September 24 will be crushAustin’s long-awaited standup comedy workshop. The performers will work hand-in-hand with the audience during a night of laughs that will end with a final set by you. Yep, you will be the final act.

October 28 will be the largest party crushAustin will throw the entire year. The whole team will be involved in creating a night you will never forget. It will be a fundraiser, so be sure to bring some cash to keep performance art alive in Austin.

Visit Rude Mech’s website for more information about the rest of the shows in the crushAustin series. Performances will run through April 2018, and every performance stands on its own. You won’t be missing out on an ongoing storyline if you miss an event. The group exceeded its recent Kickstarter goal of $10,000, raising $14,000 in just five days. But there’s more work to do.

 

@DustyVegas wants to know:

Have you seen a Rude Mechs theater performance?

Filed Under: Entertainment, Theatre

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Steve Labinski
Steve Labinski
5 years ago

I saw the Rude Mechs several times.

0
Reply

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9 | Rainbow on the Creek

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, Lakefest 2023, and more! Deal Alert – Check […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9 | 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of June 9 which include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, Austin Pride Block Party Kick Off, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 | Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of June 5, 2023, include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter in Concert, The Haunting of the Tavern, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin […]

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 - celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Get ready to make this Austin Memorial Day weekend unforgettable! Whether you are looking forward to Memorial Day fireworks 2023 Austin or Memorial Day weekend concerts, there are a number of things to do on Memorial Day weekend Austin. Here are some fun Memorial Day festivals 2023 events to help you make the most of […]

Mother's Day Specials in Austin 2023 - 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Mother’s Day Specials in Austin 2023 – 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Welcome to our ultimate guide to Mother’s Day specials in Austin 2023! It’s time to show the extraordinary moms in our lives just how much we adore them. To make this year’s celebration truly unforgettable, we’ve scoured through the city’s top shops and stores to compile an extraordinary list of 125 awesome deals and promos! […]

Recent Posts

  • Father’s Day Deals 2023 in Austin – 25 Verified discounts and freebies from retail stores near you!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!
  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • Father’s Day Events Austin – 10 Best Things to Do on Fathers Day 2023 include Beer, BBQ, Concerts, Father & Daughter Dance and more!
  • Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!
  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x