There is always wonderful performances when you see Circus Amok in the parks. I attended the Tompkins Square Park performance on Sept 14th (one of 5 parks they performed in) and had so much fun! Here are a few photographs and video from the show.
The audience was growing an hour before the show began.Jennifer Miller on stilts announces the beginning of the show.
The Circus Amok even has a tiger trainer.
The audience filled the entry way to the park with children and adults.The Circus Amok clowns had plenty to do and say about America.Jennifer Miller leads the audience through the show with her charming patter.The show always presents wonderful props and scenery to illustrate the theme.Juggling rings and clubs are always a great addition to the circus.
The pyramid balancing of founder/director Jennifer Miller was the finale.
Video Excerpts from the Circus Amok Tompkins Park show.
Celebrating the work of Yoshiko Chuma & The School of Hard Knocks
Moderator for the evening was Gayle Tufts.
A ‘free’, interactive, educational series exploring the history and development of Off-Off Broadway from its inception within the Village ‘coffeehouse theatres’ of the 1960’s through today. Part artist portrait, part history lesson, part community forum.
Here are a few photographs from the evening’s event.
Brian Moran (one of the original members of School of Hard Knocks)performs a dance improv.
Moderator Gayle Tufts and Yoshiko do a little duo together.
Yoshiko Chuma slyly approaches the microphone.
Panel #1 – Left to Right: Yoshiko Chuma, Gayle Tufts, Deborah Jowitt, Brian Moran, Lori E. Seid.
Deborah Jowitt talks about her experiences watching Yoshiko Chuma over the years.
Brian Moran talks about his time performing with Yoshiko Chuma and The School of Hard Knocks.
Yoshiko talks about her work with the company in the early days of it’s formation.
Lori E. Seid talks about her time working with the company as lighting designer and stage manager.
Ursula Eagly talks about her time with Yoshiko using a powerpoint presentation.
Ursula’s powerpoint was very informative as what countries Yoshiko had worked in and the people she worked with.
Gayle Tufts talks with photographer/painter Bob Flynt about his photographs of Yoshiko and the company.
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PANEL #2 – Allyson Green, Elise Bernhardt and Gabriel Berry.
Allyson Green talks about Yoshiko’s work and it’s impact on her.
Elise Bernhardt talks about her inspiration from Yoshiko’s work.
Gabriel Berry discusses her work making costumes for Yoshiko and the company.
Yoshiko Chuma and Robert Black perform a duo with his bass.
Robert Black behind Yoshiko in their duo.
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PANEL #3 – Jodi Melnick, Ursula Eagly and Mizuo Peck. (no photos)
Gayle Tufts talks to the audience about her work performing in Germany/Austria.
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During the evening their were photographs of Yoshiko Chuma’s early performance days by Dona Ann McAdams, a scene from a film by Jacob Burckhardt (It Don’t Pay to be an Honest Citizen)1984
VIDEOS
During the panel discussion Deborah Jowitt reads excerpts from her reviews and experiences watching Yoshiko Chuma & The School of Hard Knocks. Brian Moran talks about his early days working with Yoshiko Chuma &The School of Hard Knocks.
Recollections and remembrances of working with Yoshiko Chuma & The School of Hard Knocks by Lori E. Seid. Introduced by Gayle Tufts. Part of the LaMama Etc series.
An example of the dance work done by Yoshiko Chuma & School of Hard Knocks is demonstrated by dancer Megumi Eda in a short solo piece.
During the evening Yoshiko Chuma and Robert Black engaged in an improv with nothing but his bass and bow and Yoshiko's dancing. Nicky Paraiso sings and Dane Terry and Nicky do a piano relay.
One of the talents Gayle Tufts has is singing. Here she sings a song she wrote. Accompanied by Nicky Paraiso on the piano and Robert Black on Bass.
Part of the Coffehouse Chronicles #125.
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Here is a video of the last Avant-Garde-Arama performance that was presented at that site.
Here is a compilation video I made from photographs and video I shot at the Friday, June 17th AGA. It has the stills from the show embedded in the video of the finale WRECKING BALL! It was a great show. Murray Hill hosted the evening. Very Funny! The following performers were on hand to add pizazz to the night’s festivities. Tom Murrin (the Alien Comic), Tigger, John Kelly, Lucy Sexton (the Factress), The Dazzle Dancers, Julie Atlas Muz, Hank and Cupcakes. The show finished with a accordion solo by Geo and everyone sang the Ethyl Eichelberger song ‘We Are Women Who Survive”.
In the basement was the Lori E. Seid cafe.
In this homage to the mood goddess Luna Macaroona on the occasion of the April Full Pink Moon, AUNTS presented a stellar lineup of performances and a touch of mayhem. The list was a ‘who’s who’ of the downtown performance scene. Hosted by Lucy Sexton.
Lucy Sexton hosted the Full Moon show with joy and pizazz which was evident on her face throughout the night.
LaMama’s ‘The Club’ program director Nicky Paraiso holds up the program for the festival and gets the show started.
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Opening this wonderful evening of performances was Antonio Ramos and his peculiar ‘barbie doll’ fantasy.
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Salley May and her ‘Pink Full Moon’ piece was wonderful. Pedro J. Rosado(L) on stage with Salley.
Pedro J. Rosado (on floor) Louis Belle Ethyl May, Salley May and Annabel Clare Sexton Daldry fight to the finish.
Annabel Clare Sexton Daldry, Salley May, Pedro J. Roasdo, Lucy Sexton,Alice Klugherz and Louise Belle Ethyl May take curtain call.
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Brooke O’Harra (at computer) and Sharon Hayes (standing) interpret a Tom Murrin performance using projection and monolog.
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Katy Pyle and Jules Skloot start their piece in the back of the theater above the audience.
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Stan Baker performs his ‘infamous’ and hilarious hilarious ‘Human TV’.
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Alice Klugherz performs a solo movement/monolog.
Alice Klugherz ends the piece in a stark, bold costume undulating to the floor.
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Periodically during the show Lucy Sexton would liven up the crowd with her charm.
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Rob Erickson (LUMBEROB) performed his “Tom’s Alien Flight School’ routine.
Utilizing electronic equipment and his voice LUMBEROB created an audio track that was brilliant.
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Heidi Dorow and Diana Y Greiner adorn mask and performed with Julian Fleisher as dj.
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Introducing the “Westchester Free Theater” was a lovely woman who had a lot to say about Theater.
The Westchester Free Theater company members danced and sang a song accompanied by a live music trio.
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Suddenly from the audience a voice (Chris Tanner) is heard singing a lovely song.
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After taking a short hit from his metal flask Biff Locamp (James Godwin) addresses the audience.
Jonathan Ames talks about his friend Tom Murrin and introduces the “Battle of the Sexes” boxing match.
In this corner – Introducing “The Impact Addict” – David Leslie
Another good try for both contestants as the match moves to the 2nd round.
Sonya gets her right fist into David’s gut as cigar yielding Galinsky spots the fighters while leaning on the wall.
Jonathan Ames holds up the winner Sonya’s arm.
Jonathan holds up David’s arm as he is a winner too!
After the boxing match David Leslie sits ringside with his adorable son Brooks looking startled.
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Enticing the audience to open their Luna Receptors, Lucy Sexton, Laurie Berg (AUNTS producer) and James Godwin celebrate a great night in honor of a great legend.
Still from video. Tom Murrin talking to the Luna Macaroona via his Luna phone.
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Stage Manager Lori E.Seid was so vital to making this great evening possible!
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More shows for the next two weeks! Make sure you come and celebrate by seeing one of these fun shows.
Saturday night was the second of a two night celebration of performance artist Tom Murrin (aka Alien Comic) presented at the gorgeous Abrons Arts Center in the Lower East Side.
Last night was the first night of two ‘Avant-Garde-Arama‘ presented at the lovely Abrons Arts Center in the Lower East Side.
A Tribute to the late downtown luminary performance artist Tom Murrin, aka Alien Comic, in celebreation of his 28 years of performing in Avant-Garde-Arama.
Brave Nude World Study #1: Etude en Nude -Directed by Lulie Atlas Muz
Dynasty Handbag
Here are some images from the evenings festivities.
Salley May with Louise Belle Ethyl May and Annabel Clare Sexton Daldry.
CoHost Jonathan Ames does one of his ‘hairy calls’.
Dynasty Handbag cohosted the show with Jonathan Ames.
Starting off the “Brave Nude World Study” piece was Mat Fraser singing an amazingly beautiful song.
Julie Atlas Muiz on stage photographing the ‘Etude en Nude’ dancers.
Alice Klugherz performing on stage in a monolog followed by dance.
Dynasty Handbag had the audience in laughter with her wild dance improv.
Cornelius Loy mesmerized the audience with his therimin music and hypnotic stare.
David Leslie dances in a space suit as Tom looks on from the moon.
Avant-Garde-Arama curator Salley May host the ’40seondStreet’ segment of the show.
Audience member dances for himself with audience watching but not hearing the music.
James Godwin performs a ‘bunraku’ style puppet piece.
Elevator Repair Service curtain call after their play.
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Avant-Garde-Arama curator Salley May (with Louise Belle Ethyl May and Annabel Clare Sexton Daldry) and a host of other wonderful fans of Tom Murrin get together and dance to celebrate his legacy and performance work at "Avant-Garde-Arama'.
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Bringing together a cast of Felliniesque performers including Annie Lanzillotto and Heather Lewerenz was Salley May.
Salley May and Pedro J. Rosado Jr.
Another wild scene from the Salley May piece.
Salley May (with Heather Lewerenz) gathering up her lost possessions.
Summoning the spirit of Ellen Stewart (played by Agosto Machado) who spoke so kindly of the people continuing the work she started.
Tom Murrin (l) and cast from the Full Moon show celebrating the Finale of the show with candles and cupcakes
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COMMENTS
FULL MOON CREW HISTORY
BY
TOM MURRIN/ALIEN COMIC
I started doing shows every full moon in Seattle in 1974. These were comic ritual salutes to Luna Macaroona, the moon goddess, and over the years I’ve done them all over the world, at the entrance to the Star Ferry on Hong Kong, outside Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, and in a public park in Bombay, India. And I still do them wherever I happen to be.
In the early ‘80’s I met up with 4 women performers, all dance majors at Ohio University, Athens Ohio, who relocated to New York: Jo Andres, Mimi Goese, Anne Iobst and Lucy Sexton, and we did performances and workshops together. In the mid-80’s Annie and Mimi were living in an apartment on 14th St. near 6th Ave., and on full moon nights we would have performance parties for our friends. I’d do a full moon salute, Annie would organize a fashion show and we might all end up on the roof dancing in the moonlight. Our friend Bill Schaffner, a master technician and stage manager, came to one party and afterwards went to Mark Russell, the artistic director of P.S. 122, and asked him if we could do a full moon show at P.S. when it happened that the moon was full and the house was “dark”, or had no other show on. Mark said, “Sure,” and that was the birth of The Full Moon Crew.
Bill produced all of our shows at P.S. 122. At each show, over the next few years, the audience would sit in the middle of the room, at tables and chairs, beer was served, and we would set up our acts around the room. I’d go first and set the tone with a full moon salute to Luna, and introduce the others. We always had 2 guest acts as well, like Ethyl Eichelberger, John Kelly, or Steve & Mark (Steve Buscemi and Mark Boone, Jr.). So there would be 3 acts, an intermission, and 3 more acts. Mimi would do something frightening, like one night entering from outside the 2nd floor window. Jo would stage a visual magic show; with dance, music, movies, slides and flowing fabrics. And Annie & Lucy, who performed as DANCENOISE, would always close the show. Since they almost always ended their act naked, under a shower of stage blood, no one could follow that.
In the mid-‘90’s and after that, I continued doing Full Moon Shows, at various other venues, sometimes with members of the Full Moon Crew, but often with other performers on the downtown scene. I remember one a few years ago at Dixon Place where my guests were Jonathan Ames, who told stories, Julie Atlas Muz, who did a strip tease inside a huge white balloon, and Mangina (Patrick Bucklew) who wore a plastic bubble over his head which, for a second, became ignited. Luckily he survived with no injuries. Luna seems to watch over those who honor her special night.
Coffeehouse Chronicles’ Michal Gamily introduces the event.
(l to r) Miss Joan Marie Moossy, Joe E. Jeffries, Mark Russell, Lori E. Seid, John Kelly
Black Eyed Susan performing a short piece written for her by Ethyl Eichelberger.
Still from short film by Peter Hujar featuring Ethyl Eichelberger shown at event.
Coffeehouse Chronicles #151 Panel and performers.
