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The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets

NOV 9–JAN 21

Opening Night: FRI, NOV 17

Directed by Mark Jackson, musical direction by David Möschler, music and lyrics by Tom Waits, text by William S. Burroughs, original direction by Robert Wilson, original musical arrangements by Greg Cohen and Tom Waits, dramaturgy by Wolfgang Wiens

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Description

Wilhelm, a lowly clerk, and Käthchen, the daughter of a well to do forester, wish to get married. But Wilhelm must first demonstrate the brawny skills of a huntsman for Käthchen's father to approve. What to do? Along comes Pegleg with an offer Wilhelm cannot resist. Director Mark Jackson comments: “The Black Rider is a fairytale for adults about how fear and self-doubt can lead us to sell out our integrity for a shortcut to our hopes and dreams.”

Content Advisory

The Black Rider is 1 hour 50 minutes long with no intermission, and contains strobe effects, live and recorded gunshots, and some disturbing imagery.

Who's Who

The Cast

Rotimi Agbabiaka* Pegleg
El Beh Robert / Georg Schmid
Elizabeth Carter* Anne
Kevin Clarke* Old Uncle / Devil
Steven Hess Bertram / Old & Young Kuno
Grace Ng Wilhelm
Noelle Viñas Kätchen

The Band

Jacy Burroughs
Travis Kindred
Dave Möschler
Josh Pollock
Carolyn Walter

The Crew

Christine Crook, Costume Designer
Jessica Gallegos, Costume Design Assistant
Anton Hedman, Live Sound Technical Director
Mark Jackson, Director
Nikita Kadam,* Stage Manager
Heather Kelly-Laws, Production Assistant
Devon LaBelle, Props Designer
Dave Möschler, Music Director
Sean Riley, Set Designer
Matt Stines, Sound Designer
Allen Willner, Lighting Designer

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Sponsors

Production Sponsors

DeYoe Wealth Management
Nina & Claude Gruen
Pepi Ross & Jason Marks

2017 Season Sponsors

Peet's Coffee & Tea
Carol Amyx & Donald Kaufman
Kitty Bosher
Guy Tiphane

Black Rider is generously supported by grants from The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation and The Bernard Osher Foundation.

Reviews from Critics

"A bewitching and pitch-black fairy tale that’s as riveting as it is cheerfully macabre"
—Sam Hurwitt | THE MERCURY NEWS
"A production of such stunning grace and pleasure"
—John Wilkins | KQED (The Best Bay Area Theater of 2017)
"Sublime sensory power"
—Lily Janiak | SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"Sheer extravagance and theatricality"
—Emily S. Mendel | BERKELEYSIDE
"Exciting, provocative, and entertaining"
—Victor Cordell | FORALLEVENTS
"An off-beat, glorious marvel... the superb cast challenges our human willingness to sacrifice goodness to satisfy desire"
—Kim Waldron | THEATRIUS
"The Shotgun Players have got the show for you."
—Nicole Gluckstern | EAST BAY EXPRESS
"Hilarious and diabolical"
—Eddie Reynolds | THEATRE EDDYS
"There's a great deal of fun to be had in this shady fairy tale"
—Chad Jones | THEATREMANIA
"A heightened state of mind"
—Jeffrey Edalatpour | SFWEEKLY
"Jackson says he asked the actors to not tell him if they were playing the character as a he, a she or a they. He wanted to honor Wilson’s principles, who said he never told an actor or an audience what to feel."
—Emily Wilson | BROKE-ASS STUART

Reviews from the Seats

"Sublime acting and music"
—AUSTIN
"A new look at temptation, wrong choices and their repercussions"
—TATYANA
"Excellent... heartfelt... powerful"
—MICHAEL
"Magic"
—RAIN

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