A few years ago, our eccentric band of experimental performance artists decided to do something we’d never tried before: We decided to make political action part of our collective work. This was a new idea for us. We’d always described ourselves as a theater company with radical politics, making political art. But we’d never really […]
DIRECT ACTION COMMITTEE: fight like an artist. Read More »
While the primary, public facing elements of Applied Mechanics are the creative art we make (and you perhaps have seen), behind the scenes there is a vital, non-hierarchical administrative structure which we co-create. Applied Mechanics makes art and manages this art as a collaborative- where our seven company members share all the leadership, executive, and
COLLECTIVE DECISION MAKING Read More »
This spring Applied Mechanics partnered with Women’s Community Revitalisation Project (WCRP) and some of their community partners in order to work with young people in Point Breeze to make a piece of theater about their experiences of life and maintaining community in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. Due to closing of school districts and businesses in order
New Community Project in Point Breeze and an Interview with collaborator Nia Benjamin Read More »
Applied Mechanics would like you to meet Ian Crawford. He’s the Associate Artistic Director of Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City Missouri, and a monthly donor to Applied Mechanics. We are exceedingly grateful to our monthly donors for their continued support, which makes the work we do possible at every level; from our smallest administrative tasks
Meet Applied Mechanics’ Valentine: Ian Crawford Read More »
What brought you to the arts? My parents. They both love theater and we went to a lot of museums, concerts and other live performances growing up. There is a ton of art on the walls at my parent’s house. And I danced for a long time, mostly ballet. My mom’s parents were visual artists.
Introducing Our New Production Manager, Natalie Robin! Read More »
Applied Mechanics’ superstars Mary Tuomanen, Rebecca Wright and Maria Shaplin have spent the last month rehearsing and teching An Iliad at The Arden. It just opened on Wednesday, and you can catch it until December 15th. Mary T and Jordan McCree perform, Becky directed, and Maria did the lights. Applied Mechanics Associated Artist Bayla Rubin
Mary, Becky, and Maria tackle AN ILIAD at the Arden Read More »
Hey worlds and worldbuilders! It’s your friendly neighborhood mechanicians Izzy and Anita reporting back from the oh so fruitful and enlightening field, that was Radical World Building 2019! So many awesome things happened! Such an amazing group of humans! The room was filled with performance artists, gamemakers, storytellers, activists, public defenders, and students of art,
Izzy & Anita On Radical World-Building Read More »
A couple weeks ago I (Thomas Choinacky) sat down with Sam Tower to get the latest on her artistic journey. Sam is an Applied Mechanics Associated Artist and has also been our company Administrator for the past 2 years. This week marks her last week with Applied Mechanics, in her Administrator position. She is stepping
Creating Intentional Spaces: an interview with Sam Tower Read More »
by MARY TUOMANEN On April 13th, 2019, the warm breeze of real spring wafts into 338 Brown St in Philadelphia, and around us are 10 years of artifacts from Applied Mechanics shows. These included: A chandelier of 4 blue arms that spread, octopus-like, from a battery made of felt. (Some Other Mettle, 2012) A dj booth
10th Birthday Party Read More »
An abridged recounting of my Applied Mechanics history, by Thomas Choinacky. In 2009, through a Facebook message, I was asked by Becky Wright to work on a show called It’s Hard Times at the Camera Blanca. It was a show about a failing circus and we had holed ourselves up into a bar. I was
From trapeze artist to AIDS activist Read More »
Ruminations on Applied Mechanics’ beginnings, by Becky Wright Applied Mechanics staged its first show—an immersive adaptation of the Selkie myth—in my apartment on Cedar Avenue in 2009. We performed it three times in one night, on Valentine’s Day. We did not have our name yet. Here are some snapshots I remember from that process: Standing
I sat down with Associated Artist Emily Schuman to talk about her multifaceted work in the theater. From acting to props to illustrating to music, this powerful hybrid artist has become a fixture in the Philly scene and a cherished member of the Applied Mechanics community. In this conversation, she reflects on her many different
Ruminations of a Hybrid Artist: An Interview with Emily Schuman Read More »
By M Tuomanen A few months ago, we got an invitation from an art hero of ours. Performance artist Cynthia Hopkins asked us to join her as part of Bryn Mawr’s Wintery Mix series. To say we were stoked is an understatement. Cynthia’s work, hovering on the edge of concert and performance art —
Considering Heroes: the Bandits at Wintery Mix Read More »
This is the first of a set of interviews and hangouts with Applied Mechanics Associated Artists. As a core company of five, we are actually much more than that. Our Associated Artists help make Applied Mechanics run and these upcoming blog posts highlight each of these talented artists and their various activities. This may be
In this week’s post Thomas lyrically shares his artistic research while on an international adventure. I was asked why the city attracted me and honestly I forget what initiated it. It has been calling me so long (over 10 years) that now it is an ethos, a visceral need. Other friends reference how Berlin is
Space and the Body in Berlin Read More »
