Machinal

By Sophie Treadwell
Directed by Teri Incampo
Assistant Directed by Lily Kirn McMahon ‘24
by arrangement with Nick Hern Books

November 30-December 2, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Goodwin Theater, Austin Arts Center

Written in 1928 by journalist and playwright Sophie Treadwell, Machinal is a fearlessly frank examination of the machine-like modern world and one woman’s experience of the societal expectations thrust upon her. The play imparts sensations of isolation and restlessness by placing the audience inside the mind of the play’s protagonist as she struggles to navigate the stages of marriage and motherhood that those around her see as hallmarks of a “successful life.” What might personal fulfillment resemble if we look beyond the prescriptions of patriarchy and capitalism? What happens to those who fail to fit within the rules of society? Treadwell’s Machinal wrestles with these and many other complex questions in this timeless play.

MACHINAL SOUND DESIGN DEMOS

Listen to a sampling of the soundscapes produced by our sound designers Ben Craig ’24 & Ryan Le ’24 that have been inspired by Expressionist design aesthetics.