NY Times: Meryl Streep, Diane Lane and Others on the Legacy of Elizabeth Swados

Eric Grode did a fantastic piece on Elizabeth Swados in The New York Times in conjunction with several projects that are currently happening, including productions of Runaways and Nightclub Cantata and the posthumous publication of her novel, Walking The Dog.

Randy Ruiz and Diane Lane in the original Off Broadway production of “Runaways.” 

Credit Martha Swope/Billy Rose Theater Division, NYPL for the Performing Arts      

"Her knowledge and precision in pronunciation of the ancient Greek texts were invaluable to everyone. There were sounds involved that are not part of the English language at all. She had confidence in her gut and in the guttural!" 

- Diane Lane

" For mentors to be truly great, they need to get something out of the relationship as well. And I think she really fed off working with young people. She had the drive and the energy and the curiosity of a teenager in many ways. And unlike many of us directors who sit behind the table and ask others to do crazy [stuff], she would be the first one on her feet doing it. She was the first one to be vulnerable." 

- Trip Cullman

Elizabeth Swados in 1991. Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times       

Read the full article HERE. 

Lots of News About Liz Swados

Elizabeth Swados Inspiration Grant Launches with Help from Diane Lane
Academy Award nominee and soon-to-be Broadway lead Diane Lane has committed $20,000 towards a four-year, $5,000 annual grant for NYC-based female educators vested in music in honor of composer Elizabeth Swados.

Created in partnership with the Ziegfeld Club, the Elizabeth Swados Inspiration Grant is open to any NYC-based female music educator with a minimum of five consecutive years of teaching experience and at least 20 teaching hours per week during a full school year.

Read the full article HERE

- - - - -

Encores! Off-Center will present Liz Swadows' hit show from 1977, Runaways from July 6 - 9, 2016 at City Center.  Tickets start at $25!  Don't miss this rare opportunity to see this great show!

For Tickets and Info: Click Here

- - - - -

Walking The Dog: Barnes & Noble Union Square

Join Meryl Streep and Taylor Mac reading excerpts from Liz Swadows' final novel, Walking The Dog, at the Union Square Barnes on June 20th!

Walking The Dog: Barnes & Noble Union Square

Monday, June 20, 2016

7:00pm - 8:45pm

Barnes & Noble Union Square

33 E 17th Street 

New York, NY 10003

Elizabeth Swados' MY DEPRESSION on HBO

La MaMa artist Elizabeth Swados premiered her HBO special, My Depression (The Ups and Downs of It) last night.

The New York Times said:

"it’s as charming and whimsical a discussion of depression as you’re likely to find. And as musical. Yes, the song “Suicide Mobile” (sung by Steve Buscemi) may be a little dark for some tastes, but, like the rest of this film, it’s honest and forthright as it talks about a condition often misunderstood and misrepresented."

Read the full review: HERE

You can watch it now on HBO GO with your subscription: HERE

Congratulations Liz!

TEMPEST - Story of a Production

We used Storify to collect all the pictures, posts, tweets and videos to capture the story of our first Tempest of the season (if you don't know, we've got two more coming, thus we call the project TEMPEST 3.

Enter the post to check it out!

TEMPEST 3: The Tide is Rising

The centerpiece of La MaMa's 53rd Season: LA MAMA EARTH will be Tempest 3: The Tide is Rising comprised of three very diverse productions of Shakespeare's final play, each from a unique perspective:

October 2 -November 2, 2014
TEMPEST
The world-premiere of a new production of TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Karin Coonrod, with music by La MaMa veteran composer Elizabeth Swados (La MaMa Cantata, Runaways, Kaspar Hauser). The international and intergenerational cast will feature Reg. E. Cathey (The Wire and House of Cards) as Prospero, and the 14-year-old star of Broadway's Billy Elliot, Joseph Harrington as Ariel. Director Coonrod notes similarities between Prospero's world and ours today, noting, "Prospero re-enacts power games on an island - just as Manhattan is an island - and it is the non-human Ariel who is fascinated by humanity's power to love and reminds Prospero of his humanity. The play demonstrates a juxtaposition of time present and timelessness - hence, we will begin the play with a pendulum swinging: a signal of impending disaster and a reminder of time moving forward. A warning."

Tickets: $40 Adults; $30 Students/Seniors. 10 @ $10 tickets are available for this performance, in advance only.  

To purchase: Click Here

November 20 - 23, 2014
THE TEMPEST
The U.S. premiere of Seoul, Korea's Mokwha Repertory Company production of THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Tae-Suk Oh. Inspired by a true story from the Korean Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, this TEMPEST is set in 5th century Korea and infuses Shakespeare's text with elements of traditional Korean folklore. With music played on Korean instruments and performed in richly layered costumes, this mind-bending production explores acts of nature as they are affected by acts of betrayal, love, forgiveness and reconciliation.  at the Ellen Stewart Theatre. 

Tickets: $30 Adults; $25 Students/Seniors. 10 @ $10 tickets are available for this performance, in advance only.  

To purchase: Click Here

December 11 - 21, 2014
NELLA TEMPESTA
The U.S. premiere of NELLA TEMPESTA by Motus Theatre. Italy's provocative and dynamic MOTUS Theatre Company explores questions of freedom, control and power in Nella Tempesta. Reflecting on the turmoil in our society - the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the consequences of the economic crisis and questioning of future landscapes - Nella Tempesta is created from fragments of novels by authors including: Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Aldous Huxley as well as Shakespeare's The Tempest and Une Tempête by Aimé Césaire. This version of The Tempest imagines the play about a world not as it appears to be ending, but a world on the verge of a new beginning. 

Tickets: $30 Adults; $25 Students/Seniors. 10 @ $10 tickets are available for this performance, in advance only.  

To purchase: Click Here

All TEMPEST 3 productions will be at the:

Ellen Stewart Theatre

66 East 4th Street

(between Bowery and 

New York, NY 10003

TEMPEST 3 Packages are available.  Buy before 9/15 and see all three TEMPEST 3 productions for only $60 (regular price: $100 if purchased separately).

Purchase a TEMPEST 3 Package: 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 

This Week @ The Club: GUNS - A CABARET

Originally created by amazing Elizabeth Swados with students and alumni of NYU Tisch Undergraduate Drama Department, GUNS: A CABARET comes to The Club @ La MaMa for three performances only! GUNS looks at the national obsession with firearms using rock and rap and humor.

Listen to a sample from the show:


La MaMa presents
GUNS: A Cabaret 
composed and directed by Elizabeth Swados 
Cast: Anna Bianco, Sam Finn Cutler, Jon Garrity, Alex Gibson, Katie Looney, Elliot Morse, Rachel Music, Jay Reed, Nick Rivera & Jon Sokolow (students and alumni of NYU Tisch Undergraduate Drama Department) 

March 7 – March 9, 2014 
The Club @  La MaMa
74 East 4th Street
(Between Bowery and 2nd Ave)

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; Ten $10 tickets are available, in advance, via phone, web or box office on a first come first served basis - no codes, no hassels.  Not available day of show!

For Tickets and Info: Click Here

Coming Soon: GUNS, A CABARET

GUNS: The Cabaret is a dark, funny, difficult cabaret/concert that takes on the issue that this country is both addicted to and identified with– guns. Featuring original songs by students and graduates of NYU who also serve as the musicians foe the piece. GUNS examines every aspect of our country’s relationship to the weapons that identify our violent core. The piece is extremely funny, also very scary, and at times tragic but always passionate about expressing what guns do in this country and in other countries. GUNS is a hybrid of  musical theatre and rock concert.  


La MaMa presents
GUNS: The Cabaret 
composed and directed by Elizabeth Swados 
Cast: Anna Bianco, Sam Finn Cutler, Jon Garrity, Alex Gibson, Katie Looney, Elliot Morse, Rachel Music, Jay Reed, Nick Rivera & Jon Sokolow (students and alumni of NYU Tisch Undergraduate Drama Department) 

March 7 – March 9, 2014 
The Club @  La MaMa
74 East 4th Street
(Between Bowery and 2nd Ave)

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors; Ten $10 tickets are available, in advance, via phone, web or box office on a first come first served basis - no codes, no hassels.  Not available day of show!

For Tickets and Info: Click Here