La Mama Announces Its 57th Winter And Spring Season

LA MAMA continues its 57th season this Winter and Spring with a roster of singular artists from around the globe as they present new works, both USA and World Premieres alike, on such topics as social inequality, immigration, racism and homophobia, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director.

While La MaMa's original landmarked theaters at 74 E 4 St are undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, the spring and fall works will be presented at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre and The Downstairs (66 E. 4 St.) and La MaMa Galleria (47 Great Jones Street) in the East Village, kicking off January 24, 2019.

2019 Highlights Include:

GENERATION NYZ is conceived by Ping Chong, directed by Sara Zatz and Kirya Traber, written by Zatz and Traber in conjunction with the play's cast of eight international performers as they bravely speak their truths about coming of age in New York City. Ping Chong + Company is a resident theater of La MaMa ETC since 1978, and Generation NYZ is part of Ping Chong + Company's Undesirable Elements series. It was originally commissioned by The New Victory Theater where it premiered in January 2018. (Revival: January 24 February 3)

MAGIC AGENCY | CHAPTER 6: BEHIND THE RED CURTAIN by LILAC Co. A group performs psychic recoveries of fragmented people as party entertainment, helping people rescue their lost selves in this new work written and directed by Sean Edward Lewis. (January 31 - February 3 2019)

CITY OF NO ILLUSIONS by The Talking Band. A funeral home at the edge of our country, a borderland between the living and the dead, becomes a refuge for two asylum seekers. A new play with music from the multiple OBIE award-winning Talking Band: written and directed by Paul Zimet, with music by Ellen Maddow. (World Premiere: February 8 - 24)

CHINA FRINGE THEATER FESTIVAL (February 8-16)

Three U.S. premieres from mainland China

THE DICTIONARY OF SOUL. A live work of performance art and physical theater, performed by the Physical Guerrillas, a group founded in 1997 and directed by LI Ning, theatre and film director, physical education researcher and practitioner, curator, and a graduate from the Fine Arts Education Department of ShanDong Art Academy. (U.S. Premiere: February 8 - 9)

TWO DOGS (Opinions On Life) is one of the most popular plays on mainland China, coming to La MaMa in a production directed by Meng Jinghui, one of China's most influential theatre directors, Artistic Director of Beijing Fringe Festival and Beijing Bee Hive Theatre. In TWO DOGS, two dogs journey to the big city to pursue their dreams, only to have their adventures rudely disrupted by reality. Physical comedy and improvisation combined with a grunge-punk rock aesthetic create a highly amusing and thought-provoking performance. (U.S. Premiere: February 10 - 11)

THE STORY OF XIAOYI is an interactive psychodrama performed by Shanghai Huidiji Public Psychological Care Center. Based on real stories and psychosocial counseling cases, and comprised of four major sections, Dramatic Presentation , Interactive Experiences , Volunteer Interpretation , and Hui Diji's Heart Forum. Shanghai Huidiji Public Psychological Care Center was launched in 2011 in China as a non-profit professional organization that provides mental health care services and spiritual guidance for the public. It aims to provide spiritual guidance to promote the general welfare of Chinese society. Directed by Sun Xinlan (U.S. Premiere: February 15 - 16)

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BROOKLYN UNITED LIVE 2019!, a high-octane, one-of-a-kind drum and dance corps comprised of 33 dynamic, talented Brooklyn public school kids ages 5 to 17, returns to La MaMa with its new dance and musical work, BROOKLYN UNITED LIVE 2019, which weaves together live drumming, performance, text and dancing with documentary footage that follows this unforgettable group of youngsters as they prepare to make their debut on the legendary Apollo Theater for the first time. (Return Engagement: February 21 March 3)

DYING IN BOULDER depicts the story of a quest for a 'good death', as a dying Caucasian-American Buddhist woman in Boulder, Colorado enlists her reluctant mixed-Filipino family in micro-managing her impending Buddhist funeral rites. Written by Linda Faigao-Hall and directed by Ian Morgan. (World Premiere: February 28 March 17)

55 SHADES OF GAY is a fictional story about the first gay marriage in Kosovo, which as of now has not yet taken place. The play follows a same-sex couple applying for a marriage license in a homophobic provincial town. Written by Jeton Neziraj, the play delves into what it means to be young and gay in this new nation where despite laws legalizing gay marriage, coming out as gay is a perilous choice. (New York Premiere: March 7 - 17)

NOW MY HAND IS READY FOR MY HEART: INTIMATE HISTORIES John Jesurun directs Nicky Paraiso's deep exploration of an artist's life, investigating aging, identity, sexuality, class and race. This work is celebration of a particular artistic community as it grows older and continues to make work, both individually and with each other. Choreographer/dancers Jonathan Gonzalez, Lance Gries, Jon Kinzel, Paz Tanjuaquio & Vicky Shick collaborate and perform with Mr. Paraiso. (World Premiere: March 22 April 7)

THE FAT LADY SINGS written by renowned playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie, and directed by David Schweizer, the production is a loud, no-holds barred, in-depth exploration of the hidden myths that have brought current America to its knees. Jean-Claude has won an Obie, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. (World Premiere: March 21 April 7)

THE FEVER examines how we assemble, organize and care for those around us. Who will you be when our eyes are on you, and what will we see when we all look your way? Conceived by 600 HIGHWAYMEN and co-presented by La MaMa, The Public Theater,

and Onassis USA as part of the Onassis Festival 2019: Democracy Is Coming. (Return Engagement: April 11 28)

BACH & BLEACH is an ode to the power of the imagination and to the emotional power of Bach, when a viola player and a cleaning lady accidentally meet on stage. Bach's music unlocks the imagination of the cleaning lady and shows her she is more than what she believes. Directed by Erwin Mass, Bach & Bleach features eight young talented musicians, a mix of Dutch and local New York premier musicians. (U.S. Premiere: April 11 - 21)

THE FLOOR IS LAVA. In high school Sean was voted Most Likely to Succeed. Ten years later and not where he expected to be in life, he reunites with his high-school buddies at the launch party of their friend's hugely successful app. Set in a world consumed by social media, 'The Floor Is Lava' follows a group of millennials struggling with success, jealously, and the true meaning of connection. Written by Alex Riad; Directed by Glory Kadigan. (World Premiere: May 9 - 19)

MESSIAH a brand new play by Nia Witherspoon centers on Malika, a teenager on the trans-spectrum, who creates an alter-ego named Messiah, a popular basketball-ball star and aspiring rapper. When Messiah's secret is revealed at 16, all comes crashing down, and a fatal mistake is made. Against the musical backdrop of hip-hop, the ring shout, and the wailing of ghosts, Messiah must find a way home. Written by Brooklyn-based, Nia O. Witherspoon. (World Premiere: May 23 June 2)

STONEWALL 50 CELEBRATION PERFORMANCES

Various productions set June 6-30

GLOBAL GAY. The U.S. premiere of Global Gay dramatizes the plight of queer people around the world as they claim their human rights in the face of authoritarian regimes and homophobic cultural norms. Paris-based director and designer Salvino Raco have crafted a provocative narrative that challenges audiences to abandon their complacency and squarely confront the issues faced by many millions of LGBTQ people outside of Europe and North America. (U.S. Premiere: June 6 - 9)

13 FRUITCAKES is a series of 13 staged musical vignettes depicting the stories of 13 significant LGBTQ figures in history that affected humanity for the better by way of through their work in the art, culture, and philosophy. Created by Byungkoo Ahn & Gihieh Lee. Directed by Byungkoo Ahn. Music by Gihieh Lee. (World Premiere: June 13 - 16)

CONTRADICT THIS! A BIRTHDAY FUNERAL FOR HEROES. Dito Van Reigersberg (Martha Graham Cracker), K. Elizabeth Stevens and John Jarboe delve heel first into gay iconography, exploring and exploding subjective stereotypes of what it means to be gay. Expect drag, table dancing, power ballads, gender deconstruction, and more. Created by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret. (World Premiere: June 20 - 30)

LA MAMA'S SQUIRTS: NEW VOICES IN QUEER PERFORMANCE: La MaMa curates some of the most exciting voices from New York City's queer performance world, across the generations to pose questions, honor legacies and ignite the present.

Furthermore, the 57th Season will also include the contemporary dance festival, La MaMa Moves!, an annual signature event taking place in all La MaMa venues, and is curated by Nicky Paraiso. This unique and diverse program is devoted to presenting a full-range of contemporary dance forms and genres including post-modern, experimental, hip-hop and house forms, ethnic-fusion, burlesque, swing dance, aerial, and hula. This wide range of dance programming supports La MaMa's commitment to presenting diverse performance styles that challenge audience's perception of dance and reflects La MaMa's longstanding mission to performance that transcends politics and unifies cultures.

La MaMa's wildly popular family series LA MAMA KIDS returns this season with a line-up of productions and workshops from artists including family shows and workshops throughout the season by artists such as Ping Chong + Co, Chinese artists Liu Xiaoyi and Wang Yin, Jane Catherine Shaw, Sova Theater and Dan Safer.

La MaMa's COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES, the Saturday afternoon educational performance series exploring the history and development of Off-Off Broadway, continues this season. Winter/Spring Coffeehouse Chronicles will look at the work of Ethyl Eichelburger, John Jesurun, Polish playwright Stanis aw Ignacy Witkiewicz and more to be announced.

CULTUREHUB the art and technology incubator, founded by La MaMa and Seoul Institute of the Arts, return with their CoLab series, an intensive educational summer program offered to local teens. As well as ARTCADE CON, an interactive exhibit of independent video game art; and distance workshops.

LA MAMA ARCHIVES. La MaMa Archives continues to expand access to archival video footage that document the work performed on La MaMa stages. The digital collection can be accessed at http://catalog.lamama.org. For more information visit www.lamama.org/programs/archives

For more information about La MaMa's 57th season, visit http://lamama.org/

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