The Theatre of the Ridiculous movement as a theatrical genre started in New York in 1965 with The Play-House of the Ridiculous. The spin-off group, The Ridiculous Theatrical Company, formed in 1967. The Theatre of the Ridiculous made a break with the dominant trends in theatre of naturalistic acting and realistic settings and brought elements of queer/camp performance to avant-garde theatre. Cross-gender casting was common, scenarios improvised, and players often recruited from non-professional sources, such as drag queens or other “street stars.” In a reference to Martin Esslin’s concept of a theatre of the absurd, in 1965, Ronald Tavel promoted the first “Ridiculous” performances with the one-line manifesto: “We have passed beyond the absurd: our position is absolutely preposterous.” With original Theatre of the Ridiculous company members Everett Quinton, Beth Dodye Bass, Julia Campanelli, Geraldine Dulex, Eureka, Jim Freeman, Chris Johnson, Lenys Sama, Kevin Scullin, and Jenne Vath. Afternoon Screening: 5:00pm Scenes from the Ridiculous edited clips from Ridiculous Theatrical Company 60 min Evening Program: 6:30pm Excerpted play readings Conquest of the Universe or When Queens Collide by Charles Ludlam Turds in Hell by Charles Ludlam and Bill Vehr Grand Tarot by Charles Ludlam
New York City, NY; NYC