THE LA MAMA CANTATA Returns To Ellen Stewart Theatre

Elizabeth Swados' new music theatre work THE LA MAMA CANTATA -- given its world-premiere for two performances in November -- returns by popular demand to the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) for two additional performances during the holiday season on December 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's artistic director Mia Yoo.

The December 30th performance of CANTATA will be live-streamed, allowing audiences world-wide to watch the performance. The performance will be followed by a Talk-Back with the creator and cast of LA MAMA CANTATA, with questions to be taken from both the broadcast and theatre audiences.

THE LA MAMA CANTATA is a musical depiction of the life and times of Ellen Stewart, La MaMa's late founder and artistic director, with a text comprised of Ms. Stewart's own words and those of others who wrote about and knew the legendary woman affectionately called "Mama."

As it travels through several decades of Ms. Stewart's and La MaMa's inseparable histories -- beginning with Ms. Stewart's arrival in New York from Louisiana via Chicago and her early career as a fashion designer for Saks Fifth Avenue -- THE LA MAMA CANTATA captures the tenor of those seminal times in the 50's and 60's when it seemed wildly improbable that a woman of color could open a theatre "dedicated to the playwright and all aspects of the theatre," thus creating the off-off-Broadway movement.

Ellen Stewart began La MaMa -- her 'pushcart' as she called it -- in a storefront in the East Village in 1961. With her indomitable spirit in a neighborhood she loved, she built La MaMa into an internationally renowned theatre company that is presently celebrating its 50th anniversary season.

Written, composed and directed by Elizabeth Swados -- one of Ellen's 'babies' whose professional relationship with Ms. Stewart dates back to when Swados was an aspiring 18-year-old folk musician -- LA MAMA CANTATA is performed by a cast of 18 accompanied by a piano and percussion ensemble.

As noted by numerous audience members, the joyous, breathtaking manner in which the ensemble of young performers -- most of them too young to have had but little experience at La MaMa or in the company of Ms. Stewart -- brings to life the character and spirit of the theatre and its founder is a testament to the timelessness of both.

In his review in Nytheatre.com, Martin Denton noted, "Like the best works at La MaMa over the years, the CANTATA is a dazzling showcase of diversity and imagination. The cast of 18 is alarmingly talented. They communicate Ellen's words, commentary for her collaborators, along with passages from St. John and Corinthians to honor Ms. Stewart's spiritual side with passion and joy. Swados' score is magnificently varied, and filled with emotion."

THE LA MAMA CANTATA was given its world premiere on Monday, November 7, on what would have been Ms. Stewart's 92nd birthday. Ms. Stewart died at age 91 in January 2011.

About THE LA MAMA CANTATA, Ms. Swados says, 'It is as funny as it is celebratory and a memorial to Ellen. It's about La MaMa and its philosophies and influences on world theatre. The music is meant to reflect the whole world and the many uses of rhythm and voice at La MaMa through the years. La MaMa is a magical place and being part of it is like going around the world."

Ms. Swados also notes, "Since Ellen had such a vast multifaceted incomprehensible character, I didn't dare try at this stage to cast one woman to depict her. It's more fun and more like her to have six people playing her, including one guy. I hope this technique will give the audience a sense of what a rare, beautiful and crazy-making world it was to be in her presence."

Ms. Swados -- who founded the Great Jones Repertory at La MaMa with Ellen Stewart and Andrei Serban -- collaborated with Ms. Stewart on the company's productions of SEVEN AGAINST THEBES, ANTIGONE and MYTHOS OEDIPUS, to name a few, and with Mr. Serban on the celebrated Greek TRILOGY: MEDEA, ELECTRA and THE TROJAN WOMEN, along with GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN and CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE.

Elizabeth Swados is perhaps best known for her Broadway and international smash hit RUNAWAYS, for which she received 5 Tony Award nominations for book, music, lyrics, direction and choreography. She has composed, written, and directed for over 30 years. Some of her works include the Obie Award winning FRAGMENTS OF A GREEK TRILOGY at La MaMa, ALICE AT THE PALACE with Meryl Streep at the New York Shakespeare Festival and GROUNDHOG, NIGHTCLUB CANTATA, THE RED SNEAKS and THE BEAUTY INSIDE. Her work has been performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, at La MaMa, Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Carnegie Hall, and locations all over the world. She has also composed highly-acclaimed dance scores for well-known choreographers in the US, Europe and South America. Recent musical works include YERMA and KASPAR HAUSER at the Flea. Ms. Swados is a 5-time Tony nominee for book, music, lyrics, direction and choreography for RUNAWAYS and winner of 3 Obie Awards.

Tickets to LA MAMA CANTATA are $25 and $20 for students/seniors. To purchase tickets, call the La MaMa box office at 212 475 7710 or visit www.lamama.org

ABOUT LA MAMA
La MaMa is a remarkable arts institution with a world-wide reputation for producing cutting-edge work in theater, dance, performance art, and music. Founded in 1961 by theater pioneer and legend, Ellen Stewart, La MaMa has produced and presented more than 3,000 theatrical productions to date and is a vital part of the fabric of cultural life in New York City and around the
world.

La MaMa provides a supportive home for artists and takes risks on unknown work. Artists such as Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Blue Man Group, David and Amy Sedaris, -and others whose names you haven't heard of yet - began their careers at La MaMa. International Artists introduced to America by La MaMa include Tadeusz Kantor, Andrei Serban, Kazuo Ohno and, more recently, the acclaimed Belarus Free Theatre.La MaMa has been honored with more than 30 OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, and, in 2006, Ellen Stewart was recognized with a special TONY Award for "Excellence in the Theatre."