Reginald and Gunderson Learn to Live

Inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, this play follows Reginald and Gunderson as they find themselves in an unfamiliar place with no memory of who they are and where they have come from. Once they get dragged into a plot to cover up a major wrongdoing of one of the world’s many corporate overlords, they must pull up their britches high and figure out who they are going to be in this world. Will they let lies be force fed down the gaping mouths of the masses, or will they break down the unhappy façade that the world has constructed for itself for the sake of doing the right thing?

This show was performed as part of BNT's 2019 fall one act festival. All four one act plays performed were directed by different directing teams. In the week preceding tech, the four casts performed together for the first time, learning to work together as a unit. As the first of the one act plays presented, Reginald and Gunderson Learn to Live, based on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, had a lot to live up to in terms of theme--and boy did they deliver.

This one act play was written by Michael Warker and submitted to BNT. We chose this play out of a handful of promising shows. The script was then worked on continuously by our literary team in collaboration with Michael. BNT  Alexander Walter to direct. Alex, along with other BNT one act directors, spent days hosting auditions and narrowing down the cast to 6 talented actors. The BNTeam went to work starting rehearsals and productions meetings. The production team had an interesting challenge on their hands, designing and producing 4 shows all within one space to be performed in sequence. 

Email BNT at brandnewtheatre@gmail.com to contact Michael or ask permission to read the entire play

bringing a story from script to stage is never an easy task. However, what is unique about BNT productions is that as the rehearsal process begins, the script is still continuously changing. Not only is the literary team working on it, but now designers, directors, and actors all can help to shape the story on that fundamental level. The script is always the playwright's, however, and the suggestions made are up to their discretion.

Email BNT at brandnewtheatre@gmail.com to contact one of these actors or designers

Woman understudy: Tess Aubert