Remembering Everett Quinton

We at La MaMa are heartbroken to learn that award-winning actor, director, designer, playwright, and downtown legend Everett Quinton has sadly passed away at the age of 71. He was a member of The Ridiculous Theatrical Company and the romantic partner and collaborator of the group’s founder and artistic director Charles Ludlam. When Ludlam died of AIDS, Quinton took over as the company’s artistic director from 1987–1997. He continued to work in theatre and frequently appeared in La MaMa productions, such as Now the Cats With Jewelled Claws (2011) and The Etiquette of Death (2012). In the past decade, he directed many Ridiculous theater revivals, including Conquest of the Universe or When Queens Collide at La MaMa in 2017. Quinton pushed the limits of camp performance and has undoubtedly left his mark on generations of queer theatre artists. 

Photo by Theo Cote of Everett Quinton in the 2017 revival of Charles Ludlam’s Conquest of the Universe or When Queens Collide at La MaMa

Everett Quinton and Charles Ludlam attending the Obies in 1985

Photo by Ves Pitts of Chris Tanner and Everett Quinton in The Etiquette of Death (2012) at La MaMa

Dan Fishback and Everett Quinton at La MaMa’s 51st Gala in 2013

Photo by Anita and Steve Shev of Philip Campanaro, Charles Ludlam, Black-Eyed Susan, Everett Quinton and Ethyl Eichelberger in The Artificial Jungle (1986) by The Ridiculous Theatrical Company

6 Questions with Timothy White Eagle of THE INDIGO ROOM

Interview with Timothy White Eagle, the co-creator, lead performer, and production designer of The Indigo Room, an immersive ritualistic theater and installation work that moves from a vibrant chaotic carnival into the belly of the whale.

Interview by Allison Hsu and Rachel McCauley

Camera by Harsh Alurkar/Pundit
Edit by Theo Cote

Timothy White Eagle is a mixed race visual and performance artist trained in traditional ritual and embodiment practice. Mediums include photography, performance and installed space. Recipient of WAA/Advancing Indigenous Performance award in 2019, Seattle City Artist award in 2020 and 2022 Timothy toured as an artistic director with Taylor Mac on his Pulitzer Prize finalist “A 24 Decade History…”.

Harvey Fierstein Donates $250K Matching Grant to La MaMa

 Harvey Fierstein Donates $250K Matching Grant to La MaMa

‍The donation will help complete the renovation and restoration of the historic theatre, where the four-time Tony winner got his start.

BY LOGAN CULWELL-BLOCK
JANUARY 04, 2023

Read the article in Playbill.

Harvey Fierstein has donated a $250,000 matching grant to La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club's capital campaign, with funds going to help complete the renovation and restoration of the company's building in NYC's East Village.

The four-time Tony-winning actor and writer, who got his start at the landmark Off-Off-Broadway institution, is encouraging the public to make their own donations so his matching grant can be used in full.

"[La MaMa founder] Ellen Stewart, La MaMa, called us her babies and tended to us in the nurseries that were her theatres," says Fierstein in a statement. "Every artist needs a safe place to develop, to experiment, to engage other artists, to seek the feedback of audiences, and to grow. I, and thousands of other artists, found that place to be La MaMa ETC. Please join in this effort to modernize and strengthen the nursery for the generations of theatre artists and audiences to come. There’s no better way to support the arts than by supporting the arts."

Fierstein, currently represented on Broadway with Funny Girl (for which he penned a new book), made his La MaMa acting debut in Andy Warhol's Pork, later appearing in Robert Patrick's The Haunted Host. He would go on to debut much of his early work as a playwright at the Off-Off-Broadway theatre, including the three one-act plays that would later collectively become Torch Song Trilogy; the work earned Fierstein his first two Tony Awards (Best Actor in a Play and Best Play) when it transferred to Broadway in 1982.

"Harvey is a revolutionary artist who breaks boundaries using his heart and his mind to speak truth through his work," shares La MaMa Artistic Director Mia Yoo. "He paved the way for so many other artists who came after him, helping to shape La MaMa's legacy. We are deeply grateful for his gift which will help ensure that artists of all identities can continue to pursue their creative dreams at La MaMa."

Among the improvements planned for the historic building are ADA accessibility on all floors, an enlarged lobby, dedicated community space, an outdoor terrace, and a building-wide data network.

To donate to the campaign, visit lamama.org.