La MaMa Presents NOW MY HAND IS READY FOR MY HEART: INTIMATE HISTORIES

La MaMa is proud to present the world premiere of now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories, the newest work from Nicky Paraiso, an award-winning 40-year veteran of the New York City performance community. In a deep exploration of an artist's life, Paraiso investigates aging, identity, sexuality, class and race. Directed by MacArthur Fellow John Jesurun, now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories is also a multi-disciplinary celebration of an artistic community as it grows older and continues to make work, both individually and with each other. Paraiso is joined by choreographer/dancers Irene Hultman, Jon Kinzel, Vicky Shick, and Paz Tanjuaquio in performance and as collaborators. now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories is scheduled to run at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E 4th St) from March 22 through April 7.

For 40 years, Paraiso has been a fixture in New York City as an actor, musician, writer, performance artist and curator. His career includes formative years with Jeff Weiss, Meredith Monk, and Yoshiko Chuma; celebrated performances with Anne Bogart, Jessica Hagedorn, Dan Hurlin, Robbie McCauley, and Ralph Pena, to name a few; and a trilogy of autobiographical solos (Asian Boys, 1994, Houses and Jewels, 1994, House/Boy, 2004) that explore his Filipino-American identity, sexuality, and the enduing theme of "home" within immigrant communities. Paraiso is also the Programming Director for the Club at La MaMa and Chief Curator for the La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival.

As an artist, now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories marks Paraiso's most ambitious work to date and the first time he is leading a company of fellow artists and collaborators. While rooted in Paraiso's own journey from Queens to the world stages, the intimate, visceral work creates parallels across race and gender while bridging the generational gap that exists between dance and theater communities in New York.

"I've been blessed to work in the companies of vanguard artists who have been mentors and then later colleagues," says Paraiso. "It has been my dream to collaborate with choreographer/dancers who are at the peak of their creative powers and performance capabilities as I have always been mesmerized by the virtuosity, rigor, and generosity of performers."

The creative team for now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories includes Gabriel Berry (costume design), Joe Levasseur (lighting design), Irene Hultman and George Emilio Sanchez (dramaturgy), and Caleb Hammond (production management).

Eleven performances of now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories will take place March 22 - April 7 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 E 4th Street. General admission tickets, which are priced at $30 ($25 students/seniors) plus $1 facility fee, are available at lamama.org and by calling OvationTix at 212.352.3101. The first ten tickets to every performance are available for $10 each by using the code "10AT10".

Photo by Theo Cote