December 2, 2024
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Theatre program announces its second show of the 2024-2025 season, “The Method Gun.” This daring and thought-provoking work by Kirk Lynn and the Rude Mechs, re-imagined under the direction of Professor Laura Standley, will take place December 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. and December 8 at 2 p.m.
“The Method Gun” takes audiences into the world of actor training, examining the intense and mysterious techniques of mid-century acting guru Stella Burden and her fiercely committed company of actors. Through a mix of archival material and imaginative storytelling, the play revisits the group’s final, tumultuous months of rehearsal for an ambitious nine-year staging of “A Streetcar Named Desire” — performed without its central characters.
Equal parts absurd, poignant, and hilarious, “The Method Gun” invites audiences to
consider the nature of artistic dedication. As the company grapples with the challenges
of their radical process, the play raises larger questions: What drives us to create?
How far will we go for art? What does it mean to seek truth onstage?
This re-devised production showcases the creativity and collaboration of MCLA Theatre
students, guided by Professor Laura Standley’s direction. With its blend of humor,
mystery, and emotional resonance, this theatrical event promises to entertain, challenge,
and spark conversation.
Tickets for all performances are available through MCLA’s community-serving cultural
events program, MOSAIC. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mcla.edu/themethodgun.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years.
The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in
additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for
liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility
for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
