PETE’s

Aw, Hell

June 26-July 12

Venue: Reed College Performing Arts Building

“…ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta”

[…and he made a trumpet of his ass]

Dante’s Inferno, Canto XXI

Grotesque amorality, operatic annoyances, and peeved pagans

Demons on their lunch break. Virgil as a shady tour guide. A tenants association meeting as torture, food and sex combined in unholy ways, and confusion about which door leads to the blood pool. Join PETE as we fail our classical literature test, defile the sacred, and joyfully abandon hope.

Using Dante’s Inferno as a catalyst, we abandon hope and enter the messy, disgusting, offensive truth of the human condition. Aw, Hell is a journey down the drain, in which we act regrettably, break vows, lie to ourselves and end up boiling in a river of blood. 

Content Warning: This play contains very naughty language, simulated sex with people and inanimate objects, scatological humor, and rampant blasphemy. Discretion is advised.

Aw, Hell features performances from PETE members Rebecca Lingafelter, Cristi Miles, Damaris Webb, Roo Welsh, and Amber Whitehall in collaboration with guest performer and renowned clown Emily Newton. Aw, Hell features original text by PETE company member Chris Gonzalez and is directed by founding member Jacob Coleman, in collaboration with clown dramaturg Sascha Blocker.

PETE’s iconoclastic designers & company members will be creating our immersive version of hell, integrating design with performance in a way that only designers who have been collaborating for more than a decade can. Peter Ksander is designing the set, Miranda k Hardy is designing lights, Jenny Ampersand will design costumes, Mark Valadez is designing sound, Trevor Sargent is creating video and special systems, and Maggie Heath will design props.

Aw, Hell

Created by PETE

Text by Chris Gonzalez

Direction by Jacob Coleman

Performers: Rebecca Lingafelter, Cristi Miles, Emily Newton, Damaris Webb, Roo Welsh, Amber Whitehall

Designers: Jenny Ampersand, Maggie Heath, Miranda k Hardy, Peter Ksander, Trevor Sargent, Mark Valadez

Clown Dramaturg: Sascha Blocker

Production Manager: Molly Gardner

Stage Manager: Kristina Mast