Coffeehouse Chronicles #148: Tom O’Horgan

The next and final Coffeehouse Chronicles of the 56th Season honors Tom O'Horgan and his long career with panelists, live performances and archival material from the La MaMa Archives.  This is a free/suggested donation event and will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 3pm.

Coffeehouse Chronicles #148: Tom O’Horgan

Featuring:

Suki Weston, Paul Foster, Albert Poland, Jim Rado, Marc Cohen, Thomas Kopache

The La MaMa Troupe: Marilyn Joan Roberts, Jacque Lynn Colton, Beth Porter and Mari Claire Charba

Hair Tribe: Marjorie Lipari, Natalie Mosco, Charles Valentino, Jared Weiss, Aileen Santiago

Anthony Hollock, Antwayn Hopper, Annie Golden and Debbie Andrews

Musical Director & Saxophone: Richard Cohen

Piano: Mark Oleszko

Bass: Dave D’arango

Guitar: Matt SanGiovanni

Drums: Aaron Drescher

More artists TBA

Coffeehouse Chronicles is a free educational performance series exploring the history and development of Off-Off Broadway from its inception within the Village “Coffeehouse Theatres” of the 1960s through today. Part artist portrait, part creative event, part history lesson, part community forum, it is our mission to provide a home, as did our founder Ellen Stewart, for personal and intimate engagement with art. Since 2005 La MaMa has presented more than 123 Coffeehouse Chronicles featuring personal oral accounts from artists of the day as well as conversations with present day artists who continue to work in the same bold, daring manner. Coffeehouse Chronicles are held on one Saturday each month (September through June). This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the city council.

Michal Gamily - Series Director

Arthur Adair - Educational Outreach

La MaMa presents

Coffeehouse 

Chronicles #148: 

Tom O’Horgan

Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 3pm

Ellen Stewart Theatre

66 E 4th Street; 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10003

Free Admission/Suggested Donation

For reservations and more information: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #147: Jean-Claude van Itallie

Our next Coffeehouse Chronicles honors the life and career of Jean Claude van Itallie
with panelists, live performances and including archival material from the La MaMa Archives.

Moderator
Rosemary Quinn and Wayne Maugans

Panelists
Jean Claude van Itallie, Bill Coco, Nancy Cooperstein Charney, Marianne de Pury & more TBA

Performers
Joyce Aaron Funk, Tina Shepard, Paul Zimet, Wayne Maugans 

MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

_____

La MaMa presents

Coffeehouse 

Chronicles #147: 

Jean-Claude van Itallie

Saturday April 28th at 3pm

The Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa

66 East 4th Street

(between Bowery and Second Avenue)

New York, NY 10003

Free/Suggested Donation

For more information and reservations: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #136: Theodora Skipitares

On Saturday, October 8 at 3pm Coffeehouse Chronicles #136 celebrates the work of Theodora Skipitares.  

Moderated by JoAnne Akalaitis 

Panelists: Andrea Balis, Claudia Orenstein

and Jane Catherine Shaw 

Theodora Skipitares is an interdisciplinary artist and theater director based in NewYork. Trained as a sculptor and theater designer, she began creating personal solo performances in the late 1970's, which revolved around the use of handmade objects that were worn on her body. Gradually she moved away from autobiography to explore social and historical themes. She introduced small 3-dimensional representations of herself into these performances, which she understood (later) to be puppets. She has created 25 works featuring as many as 300 puppet figures, live music, film, video and documentary texts. These projects include UNDER THE KNIFE, a site-specific history of medicine which took an audience to twelve different theater environments, and BODY OF CRIME, a history of women in prison. More recently, she created three plays about the Trojan War: HELEN, ODYSSEY, and IPHIGENIA. In 2014, she devised THE CHAIRS, a take-off on Ionesco's absurdist classic, and in 2016, she created SIX CHARACTERS, a response to Pirandello's play.

La MaMa presents

Coffeehouse 

Chronicles #136:

Theodora Skipitares

Saturday, October 8 at 3pm

Free/Suggested Donation

For Reservations and Info: CLICK HERE

John Vaccaro 1929-2016

Photo from the La MaMa Archives (click to enlarge)

This morning we learned of the passing of John Vaccaro.

John was the director of The Play-House of the Ridiculous, much of whose work was produced at La MaMa. He directed work by such downtown playwrights such as Tom Murrin, Kenneth Bernard, Paul Foster, Seth Allen, Tom Eyen, Jackie Curtis, William Hoffman, Rosalyn Drexler and of course Ronald Tavel.

In the  La MaMa "2d Repertory Season" announcement in The New York Times, John was quoted as saying, "Sometimes for $150 I could do a huge musical."  

Vaccaro was an important part of the history of off-off Broadway and in recent years appeared at La MaMa's Coffeehouse Chronicles.

We will miss seeing John around the East Village.  Rest in peace.

Browse the Digital Archive on John Vaccaro!

The New York Times Obituary 

La MaMa's Coffeehouse Chronicles

History told by the people who made it!

As the 54th season draws to a close, we look back at La MaMa's Coffeehouse Chronicles.  
Stay tuned for our announcement about La MaMa's 55th Season!

La MaMa Coffeehouse Chronicles

Series Director: Michal Gamily
Educational Outreach: Arthur Adair

Coffeehouse Chronicles #131: Mabou Mines

Our next Coffeehouse Chronicles (#131 for those keeping track!) will explore the history and legacy of Mabou Mines.  Mabou Mines is currently in rehearsal for the world premiere of Imagining the Imaginary Invalid, beginning performances on January 21.

So please join us on Saturday, January 30th at 3pm for a look back and a look ahead at this legendary company.  Admission is free, but the hat will be passed in keeping with the coffeehouse tradition.

Panelists & Performers Include:

Lee Breuer

Karen Kandel

Sharon Fogarty

Greg Mehrten

Clove Galilee

Maude Mitchell 

and the cast of Imagining the Imaginary Invalid.

La MaMa presents

Coffeehouse Chronicles #131: 

Mabou Mines

Panelists & Performers Include:  Lee Breuer, Karen Kandel, Sharon Fogarty, Greg Mehrten, Clove Galilee, Maude Mitchell and the cast of Imagining the Imaginary Invalid.

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 3pm 

The Club @ La MaMa
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

Tickets are FREE, reservations suggested - donations welcome!


For Info and Reservations: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #128: Dario D'Ambrosi & Teatro Patologico

A new season of Coffeehouse Chronicles begins on Saturday, October 17th examining Dario D'Ambrosi & Teatro Patologico in celebration of their 35th Anniversary at La MaMa and their groudbraking production of MEDEA, which will be playing at The Ellen Stewart Theatre from October 8 - 18, 2015.

Teatro Patologico was founded by Dario D'Ambrosi, one of Italy's most distinguished theater artists, who has made a career of productions about people with psychiatric disabilities, devising productions that portray their unique perspective on life. His stunning and visceral version of Euripides' tragedy debuted at La MaMa in 2011.  In 2012, it was presented at Wilton's Music Hall in London and was awarded the Wilton Prize as Best Show of the Season.  It has also been awarded the "Lupa Capitolina" Award in Rome, a Mayoral honour.

Coffeehouse Chronicles is curated by Michal Gamily.

Panelists: 
Dario D'Ambrosi  
Alessandra Belloni
Manuela Filiaci 
Fabio Granato
James Levin
Francessco Serra di Cassano

Moderator: 
James Levin 

Performers: 
Dario D'Ambrosi and members of Teatro Patologico

Video:

Screening material from previous shows of Dario D'Ambrosi and Teatro Patologico

Follow the behind the scenes action of MEDEA on Storify.

La MaMa Presents
Coffeehouse 
Chronicles #128: 
Dario D'Ambrosi 
& Teatro Patologico

Saturday, October 17, 2015 @ 3pm

The First Floor Theatre at La MaMa
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10001

Free Admission, Reservations Suggested

For Info and Reservations: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #127: Kinding Sindaw

The final Coffeehouse Chronicles of the season will focus on Kinding Sindaw. 

The dances of Kinding Sindaw originate from the royal court dances of the Maranao Sultanate- a repertory of the sacred, classic, and secular combining grace and vigor, dances that directly reflect their rich natural environment. Dancers imitate the graceful movements of birds, fish, butterflies, rivers, streams, and ocean trekking boats, celebrate fertility in vigorous choreography, sway delicately using colorful fans and scarves, and dramatically inspire through the martial art of silat.

Moderator: 

Ellen Anisha Guro

Panelists include: 

Potri Ranka Manis

Anne Berryl 

Corotan Naguit

Malaika Queano

Corky Lee (Photographer)

Special Guest:
Kira Danganan-Azucena
Deputy Consul General,  Philippine Consulate of New York

Performances include:

Yakan

Tiboli

Meranao

Maguindanao

Silat Martial Arts

Kulintang Ensemble | music pieces

Chants for Lemlynay | the epic of the Tiboli people

Chants for Darangen | the epic of the Meranao people

Coffeehouse Chronicles Curator: 

Michal Gamily 

La MaMa presents
Coffeehouse 
Chronicles #127: 
Kinding Sindaw

Saturday, June 13rd, 2015 @ 3pm
(The day after  Philippines Independence Day!)

Tickets: FREE!

The Club @ La MaMa
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery & Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

For Free Reservations & Info: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #124: Ping Chong

La MaMa resident artist, Ping Chong, is the topic of Coffeehouse Chronicles #124 on March 14, 2015 at 3pm, curated by Michal Gamily.

Ping Chong's work at LaMaMa has included Kindness, Deshima, Nosferatu, Elephant Memories, Kwaidan After Sorrow and Cry for Peace among many others . His work has also been presented at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Brooklyn Academy of Music among many other places.

He is the recipient a Guggenheim Fellowship, a USA Artist Fellowship, two BESSIE awards, two OBIE awards and the 2013 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award.

Theatre Communications Group has published two volumes of his plays The East West Quartet and Undesirable Elements: Real People, Real Lives, Real Theater.

Moderator

Victoria Abrash

Panel

Ping Chong

Alvin Eng

Talvin Wilks

Performer

Moriamo Akibu

La MaMa presents
Coffeehouse 
Chronicles #124: 
Ping Chong

Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 3pm

The Club @ La MaMa
74A East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

This is a free event, but the hat is passed in keeping with the La MaMa tradition.

For reservations and more info: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #123: Edgar Oliver

The next edition of Coffeehouse Chronicles will focus on performer, playwright and poet Edgar Oliver.

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Edgar Oliver has lived and worked in New York City since 1977. Edgar has been active in New York's downtown theatre and performing arts community since the early 1980s. He is also one of the most beloved storytellers of the acclaimed storytelling organization The Moth. Over the past thirty years, he has produced work that the New Yorker's Hilton Als calls "emotionally grand," while the Moth's George Dawes Green has described him as "the world's greatest living raconteur."

His plays, many of which were produced at La MaMa and in which he also performed as a stage actor, include The Drowning Pages, Hands in Wartime, The Ghost of Brooklyn, The Lost Bedroom, Motel Blue 19, Mosquito Succulence, The Poetry Killer, and The Seven Year Vacation. Edgar has also been a sought-after actor in myriad other plays, most notably with the Axis Theatre Company under the direction of Randy Sharp. Among his most important achievements are three acclaimed one-man shows: East 10th Street: Self Portrait with Empty House (directed by Randy Sharp); Helen & Edgar (directed by The Moth's Catherine Burns); and most recently, In the Park (also directed by Randy Sharp). In his review of East 10th Street, the New York Times' Ben Brantley called Edgar "a living work of theatre all by himself." Brantley subsequently described Helen & Edgar as "utterly absorbing."

Moderator: 

Naomi Gold

Panelists: 

Edgar Oliver

Helen Oliver Adelson

Brian Butterick

Michael Laurence

Kevin Malony

Hapi Phace

Angela Rogers

Performers: 

Angela Rogers

Ben Williams

The Coffeehouse Chronicles series is curated by Michal Gamily.

La MaMa presents 

Coffeehouse 

Chronicles #123: 

Edgar Oliver

Saturday, February 28th at 3pm

The Club @ La MaMa

74A East 4th Street

(between Bowery and Second Avenue)

New York, NY 10003

This is a FREE event, but in keeping with the La MaMa tradition the hat will be passed for donations.

For reservations and info: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #122: Yara Arts Group

Founded in 1990, Yara Arts Group, a resident company at La MaMa, is a collective of artists of Asian, African, Latino, Eastern and Western European ancestry , who come together to create original work on Eastern themes. Using a collaborative approach, Yara Arts brings together fragments of plays, poems, songs, myths and historical sources to create original work that is reflective of culture they explore.


The 122nd  edition of Coffeehouse Chronicles (curated by Michal Gamily) will focus on Yara Arts Group with live performances and videos from past Yara Arts Group shows.

Moderated by Svitlana Matviyenko, panelists include: Virlana Tkacz , Watoku Ueno and Wanda Phipps. And performances by Meredith Wright, Marina Celander, Shigeko Suga and projections by Volodymyr Klyuzko.  And perhaps a sneak preview of their upcoming production of Dark Nights, Bright Stars.

La MaMa presents 
COFFEEGOUSE 
CHRONICLES #122: 
YARA ARTS GROUP

Saturday, January 31st at 3pm

The Club @ La MaMa
74A East 4th Street 
(between Bowery and Second Avenue) 
New York, NY 10003

This is a free event; donations accepted when we pass the hat in the La MaMa tradition.

For Free Reservations and more info: CLICK HERE

Coffeehouse Chronicles #120: Judith Malina

In conjunction with her appearance in Theodora Skipitares's adaptation of THE CHAIRS, Coffeehouse Chronicles #120 on Saturday, May 31st, will focus on Judith Malina.  

Malina is an actress, writer, director, and co-founder of the Living Theater. Founded in 1947 as an imaginative alternative to the commercial theater by Judith Malina, the German-born student of Erwin Piscator, and Julian Beck, an abstract expressionist painter of the New York School, The Living Theatre has staged nearly a hundred productions performed in eight languages in 28 countries on five continents – a unique body of work that has influenced theater the world over. A life long pacifist, anti death penalty activist and self-described leader of “the beautiful non-violent anarchist revolution”, Judith Malina’s work has continually challenged the forms, content and style of the theatre and its relationship to and with the audience. 

Panel: 

Evangeline Morphos (moderator)

George Bartenieff 

Karen Malpede

Cindy Rosenthal

Tom Walker

Penny Arcade

Mark Hall Amitin

Performances:

- Excerpts from Judith Malina’s play No Place to Hide / performed the Living Theatre Ensemble

- Excerpts from Julian Beck’s book The Life of the the Theatre / performed by alumni of Hostra University

- Songs from Judith Malina’s plays The History of the World (music by Sheila Dabney) and Korach (music by Steve Taylor) / performed by Thomas Walker

- Musical performance by Sheila Dabney

- Reading by Judith Malina

La MaMa presents
Coffeehouse 
Chronicles #120: 
Judith Malina

Series Director: Michal Gamily
Educational Outreach:  Arthur Adair

Saturday, May 31st @ 3pm

The Club @ La MaMa
74 East 4th Street
(between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

FREE! 
(But the hat will be passed in keeping with the Coffeehouse tradition)

For Tickets and Reservations: Click Here

Coffeehouse Chronicles #119: Tom Murrin

In conjunction with The Tom Murrin Full Moon Performance Festival, the next edition of Coffeehouse Chronicles (Saturday, April 19th) will be dedicated to examining Tom's work.

Panel:

Sarah Maxfield (moderator)

Jo Andres

Michael Arian

John Gernard

John Jesurun

Patricia Sullivan

and

John Vaccaro

Performances by:

Saint Fortune

Julie Atlas Muz

Ruby Lynn Reiner

Steve Buscemi

James Tigger! Ferguson

La MaMa presents
Coffeehouse 
Chronicles #119: 
Tom Murrin

Coffeehouse Chronicles:
Director Series: Michal Gamily
Educational Outreach: Arthur Adair

Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 4pm 
Free Admission

The Club @ La MaMa 
74 East 4th Street 
(between Bowery and Second Avenue) 
New York, NY 10003

For Reservations and Information: Click Here

Coffeehouse Chronicles #118: Elizabeth Swados

Ellen Stewart and Elizabeth Swados

The next installment of Coffeehouse Chronicles, on Saturday, March 29th, will examine the career of Elizabeth Swados. 

The panel will include Bob Hershon (moderator), Emma Tattenbaum-Fine, Rebecca Keren, Preston Martin, Kris Kukul, Federico Restrepo, Liz Swados, and a special video appearance by Andrei Serban.  

Performances will include: excerpts from from works by Liz Swados including: Runaways, The Haggadah, The Reality Show and sxcerpts from Trojan Women performed by Great Jones Repertory Company 

Coffeehouse Chronicles Series Director: Michal Gamily 

La MaMa presents 

Coffeehouse Chronicles #118 

Elizabeth Swados 

Saturday, March 29, 2014  - 3 to 5pm

The Club @ La MaMa

74 East 4th Street

Between Bowery and 2nd Avenue

New York, NY 10003

Admission is Free

For information and free reservations: Click Here 

Hilto Als Reflects on Adrienne Kennedy In Anticipation of Coffeehouse Chronicles

In anticipation of this Saturday's Coffeehouse Chronicles examining and celebrating Adrienne Kennedy, Hilton Als joins La MaMa in looking back at the career and life of the extraordinary Ms. Kennedy.

In 1976, La Mama hosted an operatic version of Kennedy’s outstanding 1966 play “A Rat’s Mass,” directed and composed by Cecil Taylor. Now, on Jan. 25, La Mama will present a panel that addresses Kennedy’s life and work.

Read the entire article: HERE

La MaMa presents
CoffeeHouse Chronicles #117:
Adrienne Kennedy

Saturday, January 25th - 3pm 

The Club @ La MaMa

74 East 4th Street
New York, NY 10003

Admission is FREE.

For More Information: Click Here

CoffeeHouse Chronicles #117: Adrienne Kennedy

The next edition of CoffeeHouse Chronicles celebrating Adrienne Kennedy, will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 3pm in The Club at La MaMa. Erik Ehn will moderate a panel that includes Alisa Solomon, Evan Yionoulis, Robert Heide, Charlotte Brathwaite and Rebecca Clark.

Performances: 

Scenes from SHE TALKS TO BEETHOVEN directed by Charlotte Brathwaite

Excerpts from THE OWL ANSWERS & FUNNYHOUSE OF A NEGRO directed by Rebecca Clark

Screenings: THE VOYAGE

Documenary footage of The Kennedy family journeying to West Africa fall 1960 on The Queen Mary. It was during this trip that FUNNYHOUSE OF A NEGRO was written.

Excerpts from films which influenced Adrienne Kennedy’s work & archival performance footage to be named later will also be included.

Coffeehouse Chronicles Series Director: Michal Gamily

Coffeehouse Chronicles #116: Richard Schechner and East Coast Artists

Coffeehouse Chronicles continues on November 23rd with “Richard Schechner and East Coast Artists: Reimagining the Classics in Performance, Rehearsal, Workshop and Training” 

Saturday, Novemver 23rd at 3pm
La MaMa First Floor Theater
74A East 4th Street

Richard Schechner and East Coast Artists:
Reimagining the Classics in Performance, Rehearsal, Workshop and Training

Curated by Michal Family and Saviana Stanescu

Panel: Richard Schechner | Saviana Stanescu (moderator)| Paula Murray Cole | Jennifer Lim | Frank Wood | Ulla Neuerberg-Denzer | Ralph Denzer | Joan Macintosh | Daphne Gaine

 Discussing & screening selected clips from Schechner’s work, including: Dionysus in ’69 | Faust Gastronome| Three Sisters | Yokastas/Yokastas Redux | Waxing West, Harvest, Timbuktu

 Live demonstration: Paula Murray Cole will lead a rasaboxes performance 
technique workshop.

Admission is free, but the hat is passed in keeping with the coffeehouse tradition.

For more info: Click Here

Coffeehouse Chronicles #115: Joseph Chaikin “Cup of Joe”

A new season of Coffeehouse Chronicles kicks off on Saturday, October 19th with Joseph Chaikin: “Cup of Joe”.

Curated by Michel Gamily and Wayne Maugans, Joseph Chaikin: “Cup of Joe” panelists will include: 

Jean-Claude van Itallie

Bill Coco

Paul Zimet

Ellen Maddow

Harry Mann

Jun Maeda

Mark Hall Amitin

Beverly Emmons

Wayne Maugans

Nancy Gabor

Anders Cato

There will also be performances of:

Savage Love
(4 short pieces – 10 minutes)
Performed by Harry Mann & Clea Rivera / Created by Joseph Chaikin and Sam Shepard


The Serpent
(10 minutes of work in progress)
Directed by Tina Shepard / performed by students from NYU’s ETW studio.

Admission is free, but the hat is passed in keeping with the coffeehouse tradition.

For more info: Click Here