Ellen Stewart News

Over 70 productions of local and international artists representing six continents - North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia -- will visit the stages of La MaMa during the 2016-17 season, the company's 55th year of presenting world-class experimental music, theater and dance, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director.

Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now invigorates New York City January 5-15, 2017, with its fifth annual explosion of provocative and pioneering opera- and music-theatre, curated by co-founding producers, Kristin Marting (of HERE), Beth Morrison (of Beth Morrison Projects) and Kim Whitener (of HERE).

La MaMa presents, in association with Columbia Stages, the world premiere advance staging of Baby Fat, Act 1, a Screeching Weasel Rock Opera. Baby Fat: Act I boasts music and lyrics by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel ('Cool Kids') and libretto by Ben Weasel (after Victor Hugo and Francesco Maria Piave). Michael Scholar, Jr. (The Black Rider) directs this November Theatre production, scheduled for a strictly limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre at 66 East 4th Street, NYC from July 21 - July 23.

THE BARDY BUNCH: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady, the musical parody by Stephen Garvey that gained cult status during its Off-Broadway run in 2014, is excited to announce casting for its limited engagement in Chicago, September 15 through November 27, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue.

La MaMa presents, in association with Columbia Stages, the world premiere advance staging of Baby Fat, Act 1, a Screeching Weasel Rock Opera. Baby Fat: Act I boasts music and lyrics by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel ('Cool Kids') and libretto by Ben Weasel (after Victor Hugo and Francesco Maria Piave). Michael Scholar, Jr. (The Black Rider) directs this November Theatre production, scheduled for a strictly limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre at 66 East 4th Street, NYC from July 21 - July 23.

The Archives of La MaMa just launched La MaMa's Digital Collections Website (catalog.lamama.org). Its development was made possible by a generous 'hidden archival collections' grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. The site, which premieres on June 27, 2016 as part of La MaMa's 55th anniversary season, is freely available for use by artists, scholars, educators, and the interested public. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the collection!

La MaMa proudly presents I'm Bleeding All Over The Place: A Living History Tour, conceived and directed by Brooke O'Harra, text by Brooke O'Harra and Casey Llewellyn, with Erin Courtney, Kristen Kosmas and Heidi Schreck, and original music by Brendan Connelly. I'm Bleeding All Over The Place runs from June 16 - 26, 2016 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City.

La MaMa, presents in association with Columbia Stages the world premiere advance staging of BABY FAT: Act I, a Screeching Weasel Rock Opera. BABY FAT: Act I boasts music and lyrics by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel ("Cool Kids") and libretto by Ben Weasel (after Victor Hugo and Francesco Maria Piave). Michael Scholar, Jr. (The Black Rider) directs this November Theatre production, scheduled for a strictly limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre at 66 East 4th Street, NYC from July 21 - July 23.

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.

La MaMa presents I'm Bleeding All Over The Place: A Living History Tour, conceived and directed by Brooke O'Harra, text by Brooke O'Harra and Casey Llewellyn, with Erin Courtney, Kristin Kosmas and Heidi Schreck, and original music by Brendan Connelly. I'm Bleeding All Over The Place runs from June 16 - 26, 2016 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City.

Red Shark Productions presents WINE AND SPIRITS, a new comedy by Thomas Ott directed by Mel Williams at The Playroom Theater (151 W.46th St.) running June 1st through 19th. Jennifer Yadav is producer. The cast features Carolyn Seiff*, Carla Briscoe*, Christine Seisler*, Zoe Anastassiou, Hailey Heisick, Ryan Salvato and Scott Zimmerman*. *(member of Actors Equity)

Dixon Place announced the recipient of the 4th Annual 2016 Tom Murrin Performance Award, also known as "The Tommy." A transformative career opportunity for an emerging NYC-based artist or company, this year's award will be presented to Laurie Berg, known for her absurd, darkly humorous choreography and living collages. The 4th Annual Tommy Award presentation will take place at the Howl! Happening Gallery (6 East 1st Street) at 4pm as part of the Luna Macaroona Full Moon Performance Series. The event is free to attend. Featured performers include Agosto Machado, Nora Burns, Miss Joan Marie Moossy, Pedro J. Rosado Jr., Monstah Black, Jacqueline Zahora, Patricia Sullivan, Louise Belle Ethyl May, Annabel Clare Sexton-Daldry, Joe E. Jeffries, Nicky Paraiso, Black Eyed Susan and more.

Nine world premieres and three American premieres highlight the 2016 La MaMa Moves Dance Festival, running April 29 - May 29, 2016.  Contemporary issues of gender, current ideas about the environment, questions about politics and culture are threaded through the works of the 17 artists representing many nations and generations.

CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - a new musical extravaganza inspired by the wildly popular 80's pop song and the Bronx native who wrote it, Kid Creole - will be given its world premiere production by La MaMa, with previews starting May 20 prior to opening night May 23 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in New York City.  CHERCHEZ LA FEMME is directed by Angie Kristic, with choreography by Kyndra Reevey.

Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir is the winner of the 2016 Edwin Booth Award. The Award ceremony will take place Monday, May 9, 2016 beginning at 6:30pm in The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, at 34th Street. Admission is FREE but seating is limited. Reservations: awalls@gradcenter.cuny.edu

SIX CHARACTERS - a new puppet and multi-media work created by the renowned writer-director Theodora Skipitares, and inspired by Luigi Pirandello's classic play SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR - will be given its world premiere production this spring, presented by La MaMa in association with Skysaver Productions at theEllen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.), with performances now to April 16. Press opening is April 3. SIX CHARACTERS is directed, designed and adapted by Theodora Skipitares and marks a milestone as the 25th play she's created in 30 years on stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

To accompany the world premiere of their latest original work, I Will Look Forward to This Later, presented by New Ohio Theatre as part of the Archive Residency, a collaboration between the New Ohio and IRT Theater, The Assembly is curating a post-show conversation series. Talkbacks will feature artists from a multitude of disciplines sparking inter-generational dialogue on the topic of sustaining a life, and career, in the arts world.

Nine world premieres and three American premieres highlight the 2016 La MaMa Moves Dance Festival, running April 29 - May 29, 2016.  Contemporary issues of gender, current ideas about the environment, questions about politics and culture are threaded through the works of the 17 artists representing many nations and generations.

Kitchen Table Works announces the New York revival of Leonard Melfi's BIRDBATH. Set in 1960s Manhattan, the story centers around a young woman and man who are closing up a late night diner on Valentine's Eve.

LA MaMa presents COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES #132 'TALKING BAND' -- tonight, March 12, 2016 at 3 to 5 p.m. -- Located at, La MaMa, Downstairs (66 East 4th Street, NYC).