Queer Theatre at La MaMa (1962-1980)
May 3, 2016 3:55 PM Subscribe
Queer Theatre at La MaMa (1962-1980): This exhibit, which was created by Pooja Desai, a student in NYU’s Program in Archives/Public history, looks at theatrical experiments from La MaMa’s early years (1962-1980) through a queer lens. Using objects from La MaMa’s Archives, Desai reconstructs a history of the plays, production companies, playwrights, and directors who presented work on La MaMa’s stages that either reflected a “queer sensibility” or were relevant to queer/trans/LGBTQA audiences.
I love La Mama! I worked there for 5 yrs, with Yara (one of their resident theater companies) and saw so much ridiculously awesome (both good and terrible) experimental theater. It was truly a formative influence.The performances there cover the entire breadth and depth of the human experience, and were (are) an excellent way to learn about humanity and experiences that I never considered and to challenge myself to recognize that it's not just "art" it is real life for so many.
They do sets of very affordable tickets (10 tickets for each show at $10) to encourage the local community to attend, and it's an awesome way to see cool theater on a budget. (normal prices are usually $20-25 same as other off broadway shows)
La Mama is also awesome because Ellen Stewart built it out of a tiny dream, a black woman running a theater company in the 1960's, focusing primarily on highlighting underrepresented artists. Both minority wise- giving black experimental theater a locus, as well as a home for stories that resonate internationally- I worked on Buryat (Mongolian)epics and Japanese theater while there.
Basically go see a show at La Mama.
posted by larthegreat at 6:48 AM on May 4, 2016
They do sets of very affordable tickets (10 tickets for each show at $10) to encourage the local community to attend, and it's an awesome way to see cool theater on a budget. (normal prices are usually $20-25 same as other off broadway shows)
La Mama is also awesome because Ellen Stewart built it out of a tiny dream, a black woman running a theater company in the 1960's, focusing primarily on highlighting underrepresented artists. Both minority wise- giving black experimental theater a locus, as well as a home for stories that resonate internationally- I worked on Buryat (Mongolian)epics and Japanese theater while there.
Basically go see a show at La Mama.
posted by larthegreat at 6:48 AM on May 4, 2016
This is terrific. I don't get to see nearly enough experimental theater, being in a small suburb of Boston, but this is a reminder to go and find some and to go and make some.
posted by xingcat at 12:26 PM on May 4, 2016
posted by xingcat at 12:26 PM on May 4, 2016
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posted by larrybob at 4:53 PM on May 3, 2016