La MaMa Blogs: 88 Years of Theater: Mabou Mines + The Talking Band

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

88 Years of Theater: Mabou Mines + The Talking Band

This January, La MaMa will present two world premieres. This really isn't news, many of the shows at La MaMa are world premieres. But the two world premieres in opening in January are from companies that have worked at La MaMa for years and together, Mabou Mines (founded in 1970) and The Talking Band (founded in 1974) have 88 years for theater making between them.

First up, La MaMa presents Mobou Mines' Imagining the Imaginary Invalid. This was a piece that was originally conceived by the late Ruth Maleczech (Mabou Mines Artistic Director) in collaboration with Julie Archer, Clove Galilee, and Valeria Vasilevski. Imagining The Imaginary Invalid is now directed and choreographed by Clove Galilee, Ruth's daughter, and stars OBIE award winning actor Marylouise Burke.

Opening on January 22, 2016, is The Talking Band's production of Burnished By Grief – A Romantic Comedy. Written and Composed by Ellen Maddow, Burnished By Grief: A Romantic Comedy is a love letter to the chaos of cramped New York City living.

We thought we'd look back at some of the Mabou Mines and Talking Band productions over the years:

THE RED HORSE ANIMATION (1971), Mabou Mines

Joanne Akalaitis, Ruth Maleczech and David Warrilow