Welcome to Machine Theatre
*company-created performance
*ensemble training
*vital new stagings of classic work
wee was made possible, in part, with funding by the Arts & Science Council and the N.C. Arts Council.
Mission - Accomplishments:
Machine Theatre is a group of actors, directors, designers, writers, musicians, and artisans creating new theatrical experiences for Charlotte, North Carolina and beyond. We are committed to the evolution of the performing arts through generation of new works for the stage, inventive adaptation of classic texts, and ensemble training.
Machine Theatre is a group of actors, directors, designers, writers, musicians, and artisans creating new theatrical experiences for Charlotte, North Carolina and beyond. We are committed to the evolution of the performing arts through generation of new works for the stage, inventive adaptation of classic texts, and ensemble training.
In less than a year and a half of incorporation, Machine Theatre has made a significant impact on a variety of audiences, performers, and community members. We produced four shows (twenty-five performances total) including an adaptation of Ionesco’s Bald Soprano, an original play about communication in modern America titled Mum’s the Word, and two productions of an original musical named ThomThom (if that bird won’t sing). These shows, performed at area venues Patchwerk Playhaus, CAST, and the Duke Energy Theatre of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, drew many enthusiastic audience responses and garnered critical praise from respected performing arts reviewers Perry Tannenbaum (Creative Loafing), Lawrence Toppman (Charlotte Observer), Ann Marie Oliva (Arts à la Mode), John Hartness (Charlotte ViewPoint), and Michael Solender (CLT Blog).
Additionally, Machine Theatre conducted eight workshops at StorySlam! Charlotte for performing artists with a focus on movement and play. We led similar workshops at the 61st annual Southeastern Theatre Conference in Lexington, Kentucky and Southern Holiday’s unified arts event in May of this year. We also organized performing arts appreciation and training sessions with Urban Ministries - a non-denominational outreach and resource center for Charlotte’s homeless population – under the guidance of counselor Penny Mann as part of the Urb’s Community Works 945 program.
Our Last Show - July 2010 - ThomThom Reviews:
"fulfills the promise and premise of a divine comedy" - Perry Tannenbaum, Creative Loafing
TANNENBAUM REVIEW
"dreamlike lunacy" - Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
TOPPMAN REVIEW
"original, mystifying" - Ann Marie Oliva, ARTS à la Mode
OLIVA REVIEW
"ThomThom is the best production I've seen out of [Machine Theatre] to date." - John Hartness, Charlotte ViewPoint
HARTNESS REVIEW
"Solid writing, fun staging, grand performances" - Michael Solender, CLT Blog
SOLENDER REVIEW
TANNENBAUM REVIEW
"dreamlike lunacy" - Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
TOPPMAN REVIEW
"original, mystifying" - Ann Marie Oliva, ARTS à la Mode
OLIVA REVIEW
"ThomThom is the best production I've seen out of [Machine Theatre] to date." - John Hartness, Charlotte ViewPoint
HARTNESS REVIEW
"Solid writing, fun staging, grand performances" - Michael Solender, CLT Blog
SOLENDER REVIEW
