FOLLOW THE CART

This piece is the second half of our exploration into the birth of Off-Off Broadway and what, for us, is its 50th anniversary celebration. It's an entertaining walk through the plays and events that inspired the three of us take on a life in the theater.

As we have delved into these plays – asking the question "What makes an artistic movement?" – we've come across so many exciting markers and heard incredible stories. For the West Village Fragments last fall, we focused on what had challenged or opposed the birth of OOB – cops, building inspectors, homophobia, basically, "the man."

In the East Village, we look at what propelled this movement forward – what kept it all rolling, so to speak. Who were the enablers, the tireless worker-bees, who championed the work of now legendary playwrights and theater-makers? What support was there so that the movement could thrive despite the many obstacles?

Today, over 400 groups make up Off-Off Broadway. We thank you for helping us celebrate the people, places and things that gave birth to America’s first alternative theater.

Do you have a space that you'd like to see come alive with art in a brief (but well-insured) explosion of performance excitement? Please talk to one of our producers after the show and give them your contact info. We’ll see you at the next peculiar work.

— Ralph, Catherine and Barry

THANK YOU!

OFF Stage: the East Village Fragments could not have been possible without the help of: Rev. Jacqueline Lewis Ph.D., Senior Minister, Scott Cocking, Teddy, Theo and Angel at Middle Collegiate Church; Ellen Stewart, Beverly Petty, Mia Yoo, and Gretchen Green and everyone at LaMaMa ETC; Barbara Yoshida; Tim Bissell and Michael Harrison at West Print; The Rev. John E. Denaro and James Solomon Benn at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery; Felecia Mayro and St. Mark’s Historic Landmark Fund; Community Affairs Officer Det. Jamie Hernandez, NYPD 9th Precinct; Dempsey’s Pub; Curtis Harwell; Johanna Adams and Blind Squirrel; Alexis Croucher; Materials for the Arts; Jimmy Carbone at Jimmy’s #43; Café Deville.

We’re also grateful to these people for their help and suppot: Kristin Marting and Katie Cunningham, HERE Arts Center; Ellie Covan and the entire staff at Dixon Place; Stephen J. Bottoms; Ken Glickfeld; Judith Malina and Hanon Reznikov of the Living Theater; Toni and Richard Sonet; Megan Terry and JoAnne Schmidman; Robert Patrick and his magnificent photo collection; Genevieve Reisman; Susan Bernfield, New Georges; Daniel Levy, Daniel T. Denver, Louis Tucci, C. Colby Sachs, Nomi Tichman, Clay Zambo, Evan Alboum, Alice Gallagher; Susan Stetzer, Paul Bartlett and Community Board 3; Tamara and 4th Street Arts Block; Iris at Event Insurance Brokers; Susan Shay; the congregation and staff of Judson Memorial Church.

AND, OF COURSE: The over 80 performers and 22 directors who have tirelessly and courageously joined us on this journey. Without them, there would be no OFF Stage.