The Yale Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of “Field Guide,” created by Rude Mechs and inspired by “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jan. 26-Feb. 17. Opening night is Feb. 1.
“Field Guide” features text by Hannah Kenah, direction by Shawn Sides, scenic design by Eric Dyer, costumes by Sarah Woodham, lighting by Brian H Scott, original music by Graham Reynolds, sound design by Robert S. Fisher, dramaturgy by Amy Boratko, technical direction by Steph Wasser, fight direction by Rick Sordelet, and stage management by Bianca Hooi.
The performing company is Mari Akita (Alyosha), Lowell Bartholomee (Fyodor), Robert S. Fisher (Smerdyakov), Thomas Graves (Ivan), Hannah Kenah (Grushenka, Katya, Grigory), and Lana Lesley (Dmitri).
“Strap on your snow shoes and join Rude Mechs on a surreal hike through one of the greatest—and longest! — novels ever written: ‘The Brothers Karamazov,’” says a description provided by the organizers. It continues: “A physical meditation on Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, ‘Field Guide’ enlists stand-up comedy, a dancing monk, and some old-school magic to explore faith, meaning, and morality.”
Rude Mechs is an Austin, Texas, based theater collective that has created a genre-averse slate of about 30 new plays since 1996. The group tours its original work nationally and abroad; maintains Rude Studios, a suite of studios in Austin for use by arts groups of every discipline; manages a scenic lending library; and runs a year-round arts education program for teens. Touring productions include “The Method Gun,” “I’ve Never Been So Happy,” “Get Your War On,” “How Late It Was, How Late,” “Cherrywood,” “Lipstick Traces,” “Match-Play,” “Now Now Oh Now,” and “Stop Hitting Yourself.”
“Field Guide” was created by Mari Akita, Lowell Bartholomee, Kenny Chilton, Madge Darlington, Eric Dyer, Robert Fisher, Aaron Flynn, Thomas Graves, Kevin Jacaman, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian H Scott, Shawn Sides, and Dallas Tate. It was commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre. Development and production support are provided by Yale’s Binger Center for New Theatre.
Tickets for “Field Guide” range from $12-$99 and are available online at yalerep.org, by phone at 203-432-1234, and in person at the Yale Rep box office, 1120 Chapel St. Student, senior, and group rates are also available.