Hamletmachine Digital Playbill

Directed by Ka-Ling Cheung
Scenic and Properties Coordination by Courtney Ross
Costume Coordination by Ana Yee
Lighting and Sound Design by John Salutz*
Production Stage Management by Logan Malczynski

*member, United Scenic Artists Local USA 829

This show runs approximately one hour with no intermission.

 CONTENT NOTE:

Hamletmachine contains: staged and stylized violence; references to suicide, mental illness, and incest; frank discussions of war and global conflict. 

DIRECTOR’S NOTE:

   There are different types of storytelling - oral, visual, written, and in our generation, digital. We tell stories to teach, to entertain, to connect, and to reflect on the world we live in. Heiner Müller did the latter with Hamletmachine in 1977. In 1986, in reference to Robert Wilson’s infamous production of Hamletmachine, Müller wrote that Hamletmachine “may be read as a pamphlet against the illusion that one can stay innocent in this our world.” It is April of 2024. 47 years since the birth of HamletMachine. 29 years since Müller’s death. I can only imagine, from wherever Müller is, he must be thrilled that his play is still being produced. However, I can also imagine that he must be devastated to know that the world he reflected in his work in 1977 is no different than the world we live in in 2024. One can easily argue that it is worse.

   What is Hamletmachine about? To be quite honest, I still don’t fully understand it. I don’t think anyone fully understands it. What I do know is that Hamletmachine has allowed me and my 15 co-creators, my assistant director, and our stage management and design team, the opportunity to discover and articulate what is important to us NOW. What is worth fighting for. What is worth taking action on. The timing of this production could not be timelier. This is an election year. A very important election year. I hope our interpretation of Hamletmachine will inspire you to think about what is important to YOU and what your role is in creating the world you want to live in. Reflection is necessary. So is Action. Let’s do our share so that the world reflected in plays in 2071 (47 years from now) will be a better one.

-Ka-Ling Cheung

CAST/DEVISERS

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