R.U.R., THE TRUTH QUOTIENT Headline Resonance Ensemble's 10th Season, 1/9-2/2

Resonance Ensemble announces its 10th anniversary season with "Connecting Circuits" featuring two shows in rep, a classic play and new play with resonating themes. This season includes the classic 1920 play R.U.R. by Karel Capek, adapted by Lee Eric Shackleford, directed by Valentina Fratti in rep with THE TRUTH QUOTIENT, by award-winning playwright Richard Manley, directed By Eric Parness. The season will run from January 9 - February 2, 2013 at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42 Street). Tickets are $19.25 (includes a $1.25 facilities fee) and can be purchased through Telecharge by calling (212) 239-6200 or at www.telecharge.com.

R.U.R. by Karel Capek, adapted by Lee Eric Shackleford, directed by Valentina Fratti
Karel

Capek's classic R.U.R. originated the word "robot," and for nearly a hundred years, the play has been considered a classic, translated into every major language on the face of the planet. The plot is centered on a factory that makes artificial beings used in the service of humans. While at first these "robots" seem content with their function as domestic servants, a hostile rebellion soon arises that threatens the very existence of the human race. Lee Eric Shackleford's adaptation brings the play's characters, language, and themes into a modern vernacular while remaining as faithful as possible to Capek's intentions and vision. R.U. R was first seen in NYC in 1922 where it ran on Broadway for 184 performances and featured Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien as robots in their Broadway debuts. It has rarely been produced in New York since.

THE TRUTH QUOTIENT, by Richard Manley, directed by Eric Parness

THE TRUTH QUOTIENT takes place a few years from now, in a foreseeable future, when overcoming loneliness and feeling loved are no less of a challenge, but technology offers more solutions to those who can afford them. David is a wealthy entrepreneur who, despite great business successes, feels something is missing in his life. To ameliorate this nagging emptiness, he turns to a new company called Nureál, which promises real companionship from artificial beings. THE TRUTH QUOTIENT has already received significant attention and accolades, winning the Ashland New Play Festival, and being named a finalist for the STAGE International Script Competition, Reverie Productions' Next Generation Playwriting Contest, the Woodward/Newman Award, and the Dayton Playhouse FutureFest.

Resonance Ensemble's 10th Anniversary Season, CONNECTING CIRCUITS, features R.U.R. and THE TRUTH QUOTIENT, January 9 - February 2, 2013 at the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Performances schedule: Tuesday at 7PM; Wednesday – Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 2PM & 8PM; Sunday at 2PM & 7PM (see below for specific shows). 

Tickets are $19.25 (includes a $1.25 facilities fee) and can be purchased at Telecharge by phone 212.239.6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. 

For more information about Resonance Ensemble, visit www.ResonanceEnsemble.org.

RICHARD MANLEY (playwright, The Truth Quotient) After two decades of success as a copywriter and advertising executive, Richard Manley started a second career writing stage plays, which he has been doing full time for the past five years. Pulling from many years' worth of personal journals, he rediscovered his passion for the sound of the language and its potential to entertain and provoke and inspire. When he returned to the States from a sabbatical in Paris six years ago, he sold his business and structured a lifestyle that would allow him to write stage plays full-time. His plays (and awards) include: The Truth Quotient (Winner of the John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award and the Ashland New Play Festival); Life is Mostly Straws (Winner of the Pillars Playwriting Prize, Todd McNerney National Playwriting Award, and the Long Beach Playhouse New Works Festival); Quietus (part of the 2011 TRU Play Reading Series and finalist for the Reva Shiner Playwriting Contest); An Ignorant Man (Winner of the W. Keith Hedrick Award and Brevard New Play Competition,), Even the Wee Waves (Winner of the Oglebay Institute's Towngate Prize); as well as award-winning one-act plays including Thank Emily, Witlacks, Apparently Not, and Chew Toy Research.

More Articles by This Author...