In celebration of the company's 40th Anniversary, The Music-Theatre Group (Diane Wondisford, Producing Director) presented "Music-Theatre Jam," a one-time-only happening featuring a treasure-trove of material from their past productions on April 9th in DUMBO.
"Music-Theatre Jam" featured scenes from
Richard Foreman and
Stanley Silverman's Dr. Selavy's Magic Theatre and Africanis Instructus, Hotel for Criminals,
Harry Kondoleon and
Gary Fagin's Disrobing the Bride,
Virgil Thomson and
Gertrude Stein's The Mother of Us All, Diedre Murray and
Cornelius Eady's Fangs, George W.S. Trow's The Tennis Game and Prison-Made Tuxedos, Susie Ibarra and Yusef Komunyakaa's Saturnalia,
Julie Taymor and
Elliot Goldenthal's Juan Darien, The Songs of
Mary Rodgers (with lyrics by
Marshall Barer and
John Forrester), Derek Bermel and Wendy S. Walters' Golden Motors, and Poppie Nongena by
Elsa Joubert (adapted by Hillary Blecher with music by
Sophie Mgcina).
Performances included the theatrical talents of
Brenda Currin,
John DiPinto (Music Director),
Rinde Eckert (Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Obie Award Winner),
Gary Fagin,
Laura Innes ("The Event"),
Alan Johnson (Music Director),
Gabriel Kahane, Yusef Komunyakaa, Teresa McCarthy,
Tshidi Manye (The Lion King),
Kenita Miller,
Milton Craig Nealy (The Full Monty, Caroline or Change),
Reg Rogers (Free Man of Color),
Henry Stram (Spring Awakening, Titanic) and
Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King).
The
Music-Theatre Group has held a singular place in the lives of culture-driven New Yorkers for 40 years. Founded by
Lyn Austin and currently led by Producing Director
Diane Wondisford, M-TG blurs the lines between music, theatre and opera. Internationally renowned for its commitment to the creation of work that embraces new art forms, M-TG has produced a stunning roster of seminal works including Dr. Selavy's Magic Theatre (1972) by
Stanley Silverman and
Richard Foreman; The Mother of Us All by
Virgil Thomson and
Gertrude Stein, directed by
Roland Gagnon (1972) and
Stanley Silverman (1983); Nightclub Cantata (1977) by
Elizabeth Swados; The Garden of Earthly Delights (1984) by
Martha Clarke and
Richard Peaslee; The Making of Americans (1985) by
Al Carmines and
Gertrude Stein, directed by
Anne Bogart; Vienna: Lusthaus (1986) by
Martha Clarke,
Richard Peaslee, and
Charles Mee; Juan Darien (1988) by
Julie Taymor and
Elliot Goldenthal; Cinderella/Cendrillon (1988) by
Jules Massenet, with additional lyrics by
Eve Ensler, directed by
Anne Bogart; Extraordinary Measures (1995) by
Eve Ensler and
William Harper, with
James Lecesne; Marco Polo (1996) by
Tan Dun and Paul Griffiths, directed by
Martha Clarke; Running Man (1999) by Diedre Murray and
Cornelius Eady, directed by
Diane Paulus; and Arjuna's Dilemma (2008) by
Douglas J. Cuomo, directed by
Robin Guarino. For more information, visit
www.musictheatregroup.org.
One Arm Red began in D.U.M.B.O Brooklyn, in 1999. One Arm Red's Founder and Artistic Director Adam Adams' mission is to develop interdisciplinary collaboration in the performing arts. One Arm Red's three multi-purpose spaces on the 9th floor at 10 Jay Street offer a home for artists and producing companies (among them
Music-Theatre Group) to develop & present new works for the theatre. For more information, visit
www.onearmred.com.
Photo Credit: Music-Theatre Group
Diane Wondisford (MT-G Producing Director), Eve Ensler, Michelle Steckler
Eve Ensler
James Lescene
Kenita Miller and Milton Craig Nealy
Brenda Currin
Reg Rogers
Laura Innes
James Lescene and Diane Wondisford
Alton Fitzgerald White and Tshidi Manye
Kenita Miller
Alton Fitzgerald White, Kenita Miller, Milton Craig Nealy
Gabriel Kahane, Henry Stram, Theresa McCarthy, Lily Green
Music-Theatre Group Board
