The Rude Mechanicals

04/01/2026

I will gift an entire bag of ducks to the first The Rude Mechanicals artist, or fan/audience member/patron, who can, from having heard my rambling explanations far too often, explain (by replying) the Shakespearean significance of this image.

Explanation must include:

-- Play that references the painting

-- Character who's speaking, and to whom

-- And why I always cut this joke (even if other directors don't).

Please, no googling. I'd rather hear a creative wild stab than some cut-and-paste wiki share.

Cheaters will get no duck.

12/04/2025

The ghostly and seasonal shivering was not feigned at Dickens Downtown Tuesday (Dec. 2), but our one-hour reading of "A Christmas Carol" rolled out splendidly nonetheless.

Largest crowd we've had yet for a Dickens performance, and I'm choosing to believe it wasn't just because fire burned nearby.

Coming up Saturday, Dec. 13 for the Art Market Holiday Extravaganza at Kentuck Queen City (Kentuck Art Center event and exhibit space, the old Queen City pool and bathhouse, also formerly Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum), we'll be back with two holiday, free and family-friendly options:

-- Holiday Singalong, 1 p.m., outdoors (on what was the old swimming pool). It's like caroling, but in one place, near the hot chocolate fountain. This laid-back tradition was created by The Tuscaloosa News in 2003, and with the exception of pandemic and bad-weather years, has continued every December since.

The RMs are picking up the baton and guiding, with the capable help of accompanist Judy Ransom, and various guest song-leaders. We'll provide the lyrics, you come with family, dogs, blankets and the whatnot. Do NOT forget your whatnot.

-- "A Christmas Carol" staged reading, 4 p.m., indoors. I've cut the text down to the Good Parts Version (ala "The Princess Bride"), so it runs just at an hour; 'twas 55 minutes at Dickens, but we may have dashered and dancered a bit quicker than usual, due to the cool winds.

For this event, we'll have live music accompaniment by Laurie Arizumi on harp (and keyboard SFX), and Jerrell Bowden on guitar. It includes a new original song, a breakup ballad between Belle and Scrooge, titled "Good as Gold." We'll have live children as well, because the other kind's just sort of dark for the season, Christmas Yet to Come Spirit be darned.

Questions? Contact me, MHC, through the bookoffaces, or at [email protected].

11/26/2025

For 2025, we're so full of the holly and the jolly we just might burst.

What the RMs are up to, in upcoming weeks:

Tuesday Dec. 2, Dickens Downtown:

Reading classic holiday and winter stories and poems near the Kentuck Courtyard of Wonders yule fire, running from 5:30 until event's end. The main feature will be a one-hour reading of "A Christmas Carol," beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Monday Dec. 8, tree-lighting ceremony prior to the West Alabama Christmas Parade:

On the county courthouse lawn, we'll be leading a 15-minute singalong, of all-familiar holiday tunes, from 6:05-6:20. Lyrics will be available. The parade itself begins at 6:30.

Saturday, Dec. 13, Kentuck Queen City, for the second annual Christmas Art Market:

At 1 p.m., we'll host the circa 2003 Holiday Singalong, running about 90 minutes, or until everyone's had their fill of sung figgy-pudding demands. This will be outdoors, near art and artists.

At 4 p.m., we're cooking up a staged reading of "A Christmas Carol." This will be indoors at KQC (the old bathhouse/MWWTM), and consist of the same tightly-cut script from Dickens Downtown, but with more ... stuff. Folks moving around, props, costumes, and sound effects and lights and such.

Dancing Fezziwigs! Tim, and other tiny tots aglow! Chained and unchained phantoms!

And Belle and Scrooge will sing the newly-composed song, "Good As Gold."

You know: Staged.

Contact Mark for more, either through this book of faces, or at [email protected].

Send a message to learn more

06/30/2025

Having to turn people away is not fun. But it's a sign of something.

Thanks to all who made it out to the three performances of "As You Like It," housed for the first time in Kentuck Queen City.

We're sad that rain and muddy grounds forced all the shows indoors; outdoors the numbers could have grown. Besides, we really wanted to play this pastoral comedy against the towering Queen City Park backdrop ... with the fountain as crown glory.

We'll be back next year, and although dates aren't set yet, we're planning to return to two full productions:

"The Taming of the Shrew"

and

A drum, a drum. ... Something wicked this way comes.

Keep your friends close, and your soon-to-be-regicides closer.

Send a message to learn more

06/27/2025

Indoor performance of "As You Like It," at Kentuck Queen City tonight (Friday June 27), due to rain.

Be safe. Storm should pass well before we start, at 8, but keep a weather eye out.

Pre-show music will start at 7:30. Seating is limited, but provided. We can hold 60 indoors.

Call me at 205-310-5287 if you need more.

06/12/2025

Coming up June 26-28:

The Rude Mechanicals present Shakespeare's comedy of love at first sight, duels between wits and the witless, pastoral music, all the world as a stage, and more, in "As You Like It."

Performances at 8 p.m. each night, Thursday June 26, Friday June 27, and Saturday June 28, at Kentuck Queen City.

New location for the group formed in 2003: The former Queen City Pool and Bathhouse, 1901 Jack Warner Parkway, adjacent to the Tuscaloosa Public Library, and across JWP from the River Market.

Performances will be indoors June 26, and outdoors on the old pool area, adjacent to the fountain and Queen City Park, June 27 and 28, weather permitting.

Bathroom and water fountain access in the former bathhouse will be available.

Live pre-show music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Free and family-friendly.

Warning: Show contains live, adorable children.

Bring blankets, chairs and other comfort material, or find seating on the bleachers. No glass containers.

For more, see www.facebook.com/TheRudeMechanicalsUA, or call 205-310-5287.

03/31/2025

Robert Huffman and Mark Hughes Cobb at The Sanctuary on 25th, with songs from centuries, decades, years, and days past.

6-9 p.m., Thursday, April 3. Fine dining and drinks, comfortable atmosphere, in a new Tuscaloosa joint where they are helping to keep live music and musicians thriving.

Send a message to learn more

03/03/2025

Auditions for The Rude Mechanicals' "As You Like It," June 2025 edition:

5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Kentuck at Queen City (the old Queen City Pool and Bathhouse, former Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum), 1901 Jack Warner Parkway.

No prepared work necessary. There'll be cold reads from sides, which we'll provide, featuring the characters Touchstone, Rosalind, Celia, Orlando, Jaques, Phebe and Silvius.

Questions? Write [email protected] and [email protected], or call/text 205-310-5287.

06/30/2024

"I hate ingratitude more in a man
Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood."

Lest we be guilty of crossing (puns always intended) Viola/Cesario: Sincerest thanks to all who came to enjoy with us our 20th anniversary performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

You not only showed in numbers (probably our biggest overall, or at least equivalent to earlier "Midsummer" productions, and "Macbeth"), but gave most generously.

Such largesse not only helped us pay for professional photography (by the great Porfirio Solorzano), but for odds and ends, and dinner with friends (at the lovely Roll Call, atop the Alamite).

The leftover, a healthy amount, will aid us in growth toward non-profit status. Look for more in the coming year.

We'll recall you not just by the numbers, of course, but by the shared time, the laughter, the awws and oohs at all sweet things.

You were in the room where it happened.

"Thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings."

06/26/2024

Tonight (Wednesday June 26th) and each night through Saturday June 29th. Giddyup.