adapted from Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi
by Joe Foust and Richard Ragsdale
directed by Joe Foust
WORLD PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
Opened Saturday, June 1, 1996
After Dark Award
Overall Technical Achievement
“The most sensational off-Loop show to hit the stage in a very long time… The production is truly remarkable.”
Chicago Tribune
“Breathtaking disregard for their own safety.”
Gay Chicago Magazine
“Simultaneously assaulting and seductive, and violently metaphoric.”
Newcity
Pa Ubu wants to conquer the world, and he’s just vile, unwholesome and stupid enough to do it. Jarry’s ether-inspired nastiness spawned Theatre of the Absurd and much more. We brought this French masterpiece to fresh glory in our world-premiere adaptation. We flushed those anemic, academic translations to serve up a platter of true pataphysical comedy. The code word was pshittrr.
Setting
Act I, Scene 1: The Ubu Home
Act I, Scene 2: A Room at the Ubu’s with a Magnificent Meal
Act I, Scene 3: The Same
Act I, Scene 4: The Same
Act I, Scene 5: The Same
Act I, Scene 6: King Wenceslas’ Palace
Act I, Scene 7: Secret Location
Act I, Scene 8: King Wenceslas’ Palace
Act I, Scene 9: The Courtyard of the Castle
Act II, Scene 1: A Secret Cave Under the Castle
Act II, Scene 2: The Courtyard of the Castle
Act II, Scene 3: Ubu’s Throne Room
Act II, Scene 4: The Killing Place
Act II, Scene 5: The Peasant Ghetto
Act II, Scene 6: A Dungeon in the Fortifications of Thorn
Cast
Pa Ubu … Nick Offerman
Ma Ubu … Anne McKernan
Captain Bung … Michael Goldberg
Palcontents … Dominic Conti (Coo)
… Ronald Donahue (Coochie)
… Gregor Tatro (Gyron)
King Wenceslas … Kevin Wade
Queen … Barb Thometz
Buggerass … Jim Slonina
Mikel, Laski, et al … John DeLeonardis
Czar Alexis, Oldes Peasant, et al … Christopher Johnson
Clerk, Messenger, Jester, et al … Michelle Primeaux
Aristotle, et al … Richard Ragsdale
Town Crier, et al … Sean Sinitski
Shade … Dimitri Podowski
Production Team
Asst. Director/Stage Manager … Linda Gillum
Scenographer/Lighting Designer … B. Emil Boulos
Production Manager … Nick Offerman
Stage Manager … Kara Loquist
Co-Producer … Greg Nishimura
Masks … Rob Kimmel (Palcontents)
… Stephanie Nelson (Ma & Pa Ubu/Bung/Laski)
Shade Design … Andrew Leman
Costume Designers … Angela DeCarlo (Royal Family/Czar/Bear)
… Kristen Jenson (Bung/Bung Soldiers)
… Christine Pascual (Palcontents)
… Sharon Sachs (Ma & Pa Ubu)
… Joe Foust (Russians/Peasants/Misc.)
… Kama Lindsay (Jester Hat/Misc.)
… Christine Birt (Misc.)
Set Design … Emil Boulos
… John DeLeonardis
… Scott Entenmann
… Joe Foust
… Steve Kruse
… Stephanie Nelson
… Nick Offerman
Asst. Technical Director … John DeLeonardis
Master Carpenter … Tim O’Brien
Scene Painters … Emil Boulos
… John DeLeonardis
… Scott Entenmann
… Joe Foust
… Martin McClendon
… Stephanie Nelson
… Gilaine Spoto
Audio Sculptor … Gregor Mortis
Fight Choreography … Joe Foust
… Julie Greenberg
… Jeff Jenkins
… Cast
Eccentric Acrobatics, Clown Choreography & General Cheap Bits … Jeff Jenkins and Julie Greenberg
Fight Captain … Michael Goldberg
Poster Design … Defiant Marketing Committee
Poster Layout … Jason Pettus
Board Operator … Katherine Ripley