Five years ago LaMama theater presented this wonderful ‘Coffeehouse Chronicles’ examining the contemporary puppet theater from the 1970s to 2015.I thought it would bring some joy to those that missed this wonderful event and others to repost in these difficult times.
Cheryl Henson introduces the evening’s agenda to the audience.
Federico Restrepo talks to the audience about his show “Undefined Fraction”.
Lake Simons performs an excerpt from “Wind Set Up”.
Amy Trompetter talks to the audience about her history performing political theater with puppets.
Roman Paska talks about his work and the 1970’s and it’s influences
Coffeehouse Chronicles #129 participants: L to R – Amy Trompetter, Arthur Adair, Roman Paska, Lake Simons, Michal Gamily, Cheryl Henson, Jane Catherine Shaw, Ralph Lee.
Here are 2 videos that include much of the afternoon’s discussions. Part 1 and Part 2
On May 1st and 2nd Abrons Arts Center hosted the ever so popular PS122 show Avant-Garde-Arama. Curated by Salley May and featuring numerous downtown performance artist. Friday night was hosted by Erin Markey and Penny Arcade and Sat night was hosted by Erin Markey and Carmelita Tropicana. The list of performers is as follows:
Friday night: Jennifer Miller & John Jasperse, Animals, niv Acosta, Theodora Skipitares, Rebecca Patek, The Ballez by Katy Pyle, Ismael Houston-Jones.
Sat night: John Fleck, Uzi Parnes and Ela Troyano, Half Straddle, Martha Wilson, Travis Chamberlain (for Jennifer Monsoon) Holly Hughes, Jack Ferver, Yin Yue Dance and the Institute for Psychogeographic Adventure.
This video is the OPENING sequence of both nights!
Here are some memorable images from both nights!
Salley May busts thru the “Social Reform” tissue and starts to cause havoc to society.
RCo-Hostesses Erin Markey and Penny Arcade start the show off right.
Representing ‘Movement Research’ – Jennifer Miller and John Jasperse in a dance duo.
Representing Dixon Place – ‘Animals’ performance group.
Representing PS122 – niv Acosta performed a ‘sing along’ with the audience.
Representing LaMama – Theodora Skipitares was projected on a video screen while 2 puppeteers performed on stage.
Representing BAX – The Ballez Dance duo with Katy Pyle
Representing Movement Research – Ishmael Houston-Jones dance a wonderful solo blindfolded.
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SATURDAY NIGHT
Carmelita Tropicana and Erin Markey hosted the Saturday night show with Salley May pitching in.
Representing LaMama – John Fleck performed a lovely solo with flashlight and courage.
Representing The Bushwick Starr – Emile Owens performed a solo on behalf of Half Straddle.
Representing Franklin Furnace – Martha Wilson performed as Tipper Gore.
Representing The New Museum – Travis Chamberlain (for Jennifer Monson) charmed the audience into moving in the theater.
Representing WOW – Holly Hughes performed a monolog.
Representing Abrons Arts Center – Jack Ferver with Reid Bartelme performed a ‘spoken word’ dance duo.
Representing Russell Projects – Yin Yue Dance company did a beautiful piece.
Also present in the show was:
Representing The Chocolate Factory – Rebecca Patek
Representing The Performing Garage/Wooster Group – The Institute for Psychogeographic Adventure
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Video of John Fleck, Yin Yue Dance, Half Straddle, Jack Ferver and Martha Wilson to coming soon!
Prometheus: Zeus refused to give fire to mortal men, but Prometheus stole fire and gave it to them. As punishment, Zeus bound him with cruel chainsm and drove a shaft through the middle, and set on him an eagle, which gnawed on his liver all day; but each night the liver grew again as much as the bird had devoured in the day before.
Io: Zeus lusted after Io, a young girl who refused his advances. He made her part cow to hide her. His wife Hera discovered her and then forced her to wander the earth without rest, plagued by a gadfly to sting her into madness. She wandered for many years traveling through Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Chorus (Daughters of Ocean)(Eliza McKelway, Alice Tolan-Mee, Trevor Wilson) with Prometheus (Jonathan Nosan)
Jonathan Nosan (Prometheus) and Allison Plamondon (Io) with Chorus
Jonathan Nosan reaches for Allison Plamandon in “Prometheus Within” at LaMaMa.
Catherine Jane Shaw throws dirt from the grave of the dead skeleton in her breast.
Catherine Jane Shaw manipulating the amazing puppet.
Mutant animals created by lab testing in “Prometheus Within” at LaMaMa.
Puppets representing all the innocent patients taken advantage of by legal cell sampling.
Vaudevisuals Year in Review – October 2016
Exhibition of photographs by Jim R Moore / ‘Finding Solitude’. 
