Karel Capek’s R.U.R. opens at UT Dallas Nov. 8

by PegNews wire

Karel Capek’s ground-breaking play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), directed by faculty member Thomas Riccio, will run at The University of Texas at Dallas Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 8-17, at 8:00 p.m. in the University Theatre.

The play, first produced in 1921, is widely credited with popularizing the word “robot.” The Czech word “robota” means “drudgery” or “servitude.” The robots– actually androids to modern audiences– were created to do work humans did not want to do and are generally exploited. The robots are given sentience and eventually rebel against their creators, destroying all the humans on Earth except one.

Capek’s drama questions the meaning of humanity, explores class stratification and offers poignant warnings against seemingly omnipotent corporations and the dangers of misusing technology.

Riccio will use the 1921 setting for the production and blend melodramatic and expressionistic styles. Jeff Stover, multiple Leon Rabin Award winner and UT Dallas staff member, will design the lighting for R.U.R. Jennifer Ables, who recently completed a season with the Oklahoma Shakespeare, will design costumes. Dale Seeds, an award-winning set designer from Ohio, will create an expressionistic, period set. UT Dallas faculty member Frank Dufour will create the play’s sound design.

Source: UT Dallas