Our History
On Every Link A Heart Does Dangle; or Owed by Tim J. Lord
The Lark May 10 - May 19 2019
The town of Thebes was once the jewel of Southern Illinois, but the river has turned poisonous, the crops are failing, and pregnant women and their unborn babies are dying mysterious deaths, all while the town's leader has locked himself away, leaving the residents to cast about for answers. Suspicion falls on Mellie, a young woman born with a serious disability. Despised from birth by the gods and barely tolerated by the rest of town, it falls on her and the other women of Thebes to wrest power from the man who has led them to catastrophe in this radical reimagining of the Oedipus myth.
BareBones® are public presentation of plays-in-progress that are in the later stages of development. They are The Lark’s most intensive development workshops, with plays receiving three weeks of rehearsal and up to eight public performances.
The Cast:
Rin Allen, Chloe Bell, Stephanie Berry, Kimberly Chatterjee, Vichet Chum, Madison Ferris, Andy Lucien, Christina Pumariega and Jasmin Walker
The Team:
Director / Meredith McDonough
Production Stage Manager / Alexander Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager / Peter Royston
Related Press Coming Soon...
BareBones® are public presentation of plays-in-progress that are in the later stages of development. They are The Lark’s most intensive development workshops, with plays receiving three weeks of rehearsal and up to eight public performances.
The Cast:
Rin Allen, Chloe Bell, Stephanie Berry, Kimberly Chatterjee, Vichet Chum, Madison Ferris, Andy Lucien, Christina Pumariega and Jasmin Walker
The Team:
Director / Meredith McDonough
Production Stage Manager / Alexander Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager / Peter Royston
Related Press Coming Soon...
"Accessing Artistry" - A National Convening To Discuss Inclusive Training Practices
The Julliard School (Sponsored by Yale School Of Drama & The Ruderman Family Foundation) January 9th 2019
The Apothetae (Gregg Mozgala, Founding Artistic Director and Sara Buffamanti, Director of Education & Applied Practice) began conversations with Yale School of Drama in November of 2017 to discuss the inclusion of actors with disabilities in their graduate acting training program. Jessy Yates (Spirits Of Another Sort, The Elephant Man, Telethon! Teenage Dick *workshop at Florida Studio Theatre) is now in her first year of study, and we have been assisting with her on-boarding process. These efforts culminated in a national convening, developed by Gregg Mozgala and Sara Buffamnati, in January of 2019 with representatives of most major MFA acting training programs from across the country. More details on The Apothetae's work with YSD and the "Accessing Artisty" convening coming soon...
Theatre For All- An Acting Training Program for Disabled, Early Career Professional Actors
Queens Theatre September 16th - September 28th 2018
In March of 2017, The Apothetae presented "Spirits of Another Sort" at Queens Theatre. This led to a strong partnership between our two organiations, and the eventual creation of Theatre For All, a training program specifically for early-career Deaf and disabled actors. Gregg Mozgala, Founding Artistic Director was essential in securing funding for the launch of this program. He & Sara Buffamanti, Head of Education & Applied Practice were instrumental in this initiative's creation. Such a program is long overdue.
"If I could go back in time to the start of my career, I would want to be part of Theatre For All. Representation matters. Not only on the stage and screen, but in training environments like the one Queens Theatre has so painstakingly and passionately created," Mozgala said. "There is no other program like it in the country. Queens Theatre understands that truly inclusive theater is about reflecting the experience of ALL of us."
-Gregg Mozgala, Founding Artistic Director
"If I could go back in time to the start of my career, I would want to be part of Theatre For All. Representation matters. Not only on the stage and screen, but in training environments like the one Queens Theatre has so painstakingly and passionately created," Mozgala said. "There is no other program like it in the country. Queens Theatre understands that truly inclusive theater is about reflecting the experience of ALL of us."
-Gregg Mozgala, Founding Artistic Director
Teenage Dick by Michael Lew / Presented by Ma-Yi Theater Company
The Public Theatre June 12th - July 29th 2018
A brilliantly hilarious take on Richard III, Shakespeare’s classic tale of power lust, TEENAGE DICK reimagines the most famous disabled character of all time as a 16-year-old outsider in the deepest winter of his discontent: his junior year at Roseland High. Picked on because of his cerebral palsy (as well as his sometimes creepy Shakespearean way of speaking), Richard is determined to have his revenge and make his name by becoming president of the senior class. But as he manipulates and crushes the obstacles to his electoral success, Richard finds himself faced with a decision he never expected would be his to make: is it better to be loved or feared?
Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Present Laughter, Hand to God) directs Mike Lew’s (Tiger Style!) devastatingly funny, sharply written new play about perception, disability, and the lengths we’re willing to go to rise above our station in life… and high school.
TEENAGE DICK was commissioned and developed by The Apothetae, a company dedicated to plays that explore and illuminate the "Disabled Experience."
Press and Information Coming Soon...
Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Present Laughter, Hand to God) directs Mike Lew’s (Tiger Style!) devastatingly funny, sharply written new play about perception, disability, and the lengths we’re willing to go to rise above our station in life… and high school.
TEENAGE DICK was commissioned and developed by The Apothetae, a company dedicated to plays that explore and illuminate the "Disabled Experience."
Press and Information Coming Soon...
The Apothetae At Lark National Playwriting Fellowship & Initiative
The Apothetae & The Lark Launch Unprecedented Playwrighting Fellowship For Disabled Writers
September 2017 - September 2019
"Targeted support to Disabled playwrights is essential to a culture of equity, access, and
inclusion and can provide visibility for the issues they face both personally and
professionally within the cultural sphere and landscape. Only by seeing Disabled
individuals on stage and behind the scenes can real, essential and measurable change
take place."
inclusion and can provide visibility for the issues they face both personally and
professionally within the cultural sphere and landscape. Only by seeing Disabled
individuals on stage and behind the scenes can real, essential and measurable change
take place."
A Place For Exposure: New Initiative To Nurture Writers With Disabilities
A Feature Article in American Theatre Magazine about The Apothetae at Lark Fellowship & Initiative
A Feature Article in American Theatre Magazine about The Apothetae at Lark Fellowship & Initiative
Inaugural Fellow & Finalists September 2017 - September 2019
Tim J. Lord
The Apothetae & Lark's Second National Convening September 15, 2017
Five Conversations About Disability
Thoughts & reflections from the Second Apothetae & Lark National Convening
Thoughts & reflections from the Second Apothetae & Lark National Convening
"Spirits Of Another Sort" A Midsummer Night's Dream Workshop (2017)
Conceived By The Apothetae In Collaboration With Performance Lab 115
Queens Theatre March 2nd - March 5th 2017
The Cast:
Sara Buffamanti* as Hermia, Danielle Coles as Starveling the Tailor/Moonshine, Sarah Folkins as Peter Quince the Carpenter/Lion,
Liz Eckert* as Helena, Christopher Imbosciano* as Puck/Egeues, Marty Keiser* as Demetrius, Anthony Michael Lopez* as Oberon/Theseus,
Michael Melendez as Snout the Tinker/Wall, Caitlin Michelle as Titania/Hippolyta, Sylvia Morsillo as Flute the Bellowsmender/Thisbe,
David Skeist* as Lysander, Nicholas Whitley as Bottom the Weaver/Pyramus, Jessica Yates as First Fairy/Philostrate
The Team:
Director / Alice Reagan
Education Coordination & Producer / Sara Buffamanti
Lighting Design / Miriam Crowe
Production Stage Manager / Mark C. Hoffner*
Assistant Stage Manager / Mary Harmer
Fight Choreographer / Kyle Knauf
*Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
"How Shall We Find The Concord Of This Discord" - "Spirits Of Another Sort" (2017) Post-Mortem
Thoughts & reflections on the workshop production by Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala
Sara Buffamanti* as Hermia, Danielle Coles as Starveling the Tailor/Moonshine, Sarah Folkins as Peter Quince the Carpenter/Lion,
Liz Eckert* as Helena, Christopher Imbosciano* as Puck/Egeues, Marty Keiser* as Demetrius, Anthony Michael Lopez* as Oberon/Theseus,
Michael Melendez as Snout the Tinker/Wall, Caitlin Michelle as Titania/Hippolyta, Sylvia Morsillo as Flute the Bellowsmender/Thisbe,
David Skeist* as Lysander, Nicholas Whitley as Bottom the Weaver/Pyramus, Jessica Yates as First Fairy/Philostrate
The Team:
Director / Alice Reagan
Education Coordination & Producer / Sara Buffamanti
Lighting Design / Miriam Crowe
Production Stage Manager / Mark C. Hoffner*
Assistant Stage Manager / Mary Harmer
Fight Choreographer / Kyle Knauf
*Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
"How Shall We Find The Concord Of This Discord" - "Spirits Of Another Sort" (2017) Post-Mortem
Thoughts & reflections on the workshop production by Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala
Association Of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP)|New York The Creative Mind Plenary Session
New York Hilton Grand Ballroom January 7th 2017
The Presenters:
Liz Lerman, Choreographer & Founder of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
Camille A. Brown, Founder & Artistic Director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers (13:08)
Gregg Mozgala, Founder & Artistic Director of The Apothetae (20:42)
Paola Prestini, Composer & Executive Director of National Sawdust (36:31)
Maysoon Zayid, Comedian/Actress/Writer/Tap Dancer (45:40)
A Call To Act(ion)!
A transcript of Artistic Director Gregg Mozgala's presentation
Ed Roberts, The Disability Rights Movement and the ADA
An article published by the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) on the 78th anniversary of Ed Robert's birth
Liz Lerman, Choreographer & Founder of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
Camille A. Brown, Founder & Artistic Director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers (13:08)
Gregg Mozgala, Founder & Artistic Director of The Apothetae (20:42)
Paola Prestini, Composer & Executive Director of National Sawdust (36:31)
Maysoon Zayid, Comedian/Actress/Writer/Tap Dancer (45:40)
A Call To Act(ion)!
A transcript of Artistic Director Gregg Mozgala's presentation
Ed Roberts, The Disability Rights Movement and the ADA
An article published by the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) on the 78th anniversary of Ed Robert's birth
"Telethon!" A Virtual, Theatrical Event Produced by The Apothetae & The Lark
September 6th - September 29th 2016
The Performers:
*In Order Of Appearance*
Gregg Mozgala (Founder & Artistic Director of The Apothetae), Evan Ruggiero (Evan & The S'Evan Legs)
Pamela Sabaugh (Immaculate Degeneration), David Harrell (A Little Potato And Hard To Peel)
Lloyd Suh (Director of Artistic Programs at The Lark), Anita Hollander (Still Standing), Ryan Haddad (Hi! Are You Single?)
Jessica Yates (Cerebral Pussy)
The Team:
Video Direction & Content Management / Kris Thor
Communications & Social Media / Anna Kull, Communications Director @ The Lark & Olivia George, Communications Intern @ The Lark
"Telethon!" was filmed at The New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, Stone Street Studios, The Lark & Stuyvesant Town (NYC)
What Was The Telethon?
The story behind the real 'Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon', and why The Apothetae and The Lark felt it was necessary to work to reclaim this, "fixture of the American mediascape over the latter half of the twentieth century."
Thank You For Tuning Into "Telethon!" (A Letter From Gregg Mozgala)
*In Order Of Appearance*
Gregg Mozgala (Founder & Artistic Director of The Apothetae), Evan Ruggiero (Evan & The S'Evan Legs)
Pamela Sabaugh (Immaculate Degeneration), David Harrell (A Little Potato And Hard To Peel)
Lloyd Suh (Director of Artistic Programs at The Lark), Anita Hollander (Still Standing), Ryan Haddad (Hi! Are You Single?)
Jessica Yates (Cerebral Pussy)
The Team:
Video Direction & Content Management / Kris Thor
Communications & Social Media / Anna Kull, Communications Director @ The Lark & Olivia George, Communications Intern @ The Lark
"Telethon!" was filmed at The New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, Stone Street Studios, The Lark & Stuyvesant Town (NYC)
What Was The Telethon?
The story behind the real 'Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon', and why The Apothetae and The Lark felt it was necessary to work to reclaim this, "fixture of the American mediascape over the latter half of the twentieth century."
Thank You For Tuning Into "Telethon!" (A Letter From Gregg Mozgala)
Teenage Dick by Michael Lew (Public Studio Series)
The Public Theatre March 24th - April 2nd 2016
The Cast:
Liesel Allen Yeager (Clarissa), Cindy Cheung (Elizabeth), Shannon DeVido (Buck), Nick Dillenburg (Eddie) Gregg Mozgala (Richard),
Carra Patterson (Anne)
The Team:
Director / Moritz Von Stuelpnagel
Scenic Coordination / Ryan Howell
Costume Design / Montana Levi Blanco
Lighting Design / Lucrecia Briceno
Sound Design / M. Florian Staab
Movement Director / Emily Pope
Violence Movement / Robert Westley
Production Stage Manager / Kat West
Stage Manager / Rob Chikar
Stage Management Intern / Jhanae Bonnick
Wardrobe Supervisor / Julia Bowers
Richard On Richard
An interview with Artistic Directors, Gregg Mozgala (The Apothetae) & Michael Patrick Thornton (The Gift Theatre)
Shakespeare's Deleted Scenes
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, The New York Times asked four contemporary writers to envision lost and rebooted scenes from some of the playwright’s works.
Teenage Dick at 2016 Eugene O'Neil National Playwriting Conference
Liesel Allen Yeager (Clarissa), Cindy Cheung (Elizabeth), Shannon DeVido (Buck), Nick Dillenburg (Eddie) Gregg Mozgala (Richard),
Carra Patterson (Anne)
The Team:
Director / Moritz Von Stuelpnagel
Scenic Coordination / Ryan Howell
Costume Design / Montana Levi Blanco
Lighting Design / Lucrecia Briceno
Sound Design / M. Florian Staab
Movement Director / Emily Pope
Violence Movement / Robert Westley
Production Stage Manager / Kat West
Stage Manager / Rob Chikar
Stage Management Intern / Jhanae Bonnick
Wardrobe Supervisor / Julia Bowers
Richard On Richard
An interview with Artistic Directors, Gregg Mozgala (The Apothetae) & Michael Patrick Thornton (The Gift Theatre)
Shakespeare's Deleted Scenes
To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, The New York Times asked four contemporary writers to envision lost and rebooted scenes from some of the playwright’s works.
Teenage Dick at 2016 Eugene O'Neil National Playwriting Conference
The Penalty by Clay McLeod Chapman & Robert M. Johanson (A Chamber Version)
The Library @ The Public Theater December 18th 2015
The Cast:
Sara Buffamanti (Sophie Ferris), Erc Graise (Blizzard), Anthony Michael-Lopez (Dr. Ferris) Evan Ruggerio (Emcee)
Anita Hollander, Sarah Knolles, Eli Pauley & Jessica Yates (Chorus/Burlesque Performers)
Gregg Mozgala (Stage Directions)
The Team:
Director / Kris Thor
Composer / Robert M. Joahnson
Musicians / Joel Howard, Beau Moore, Hunter Moore
Equity Stage Manager / Geoff Boronda*
Casting Director / Kate Murray*
Line Producer / Yuvika Tolani*
Literary Manager / Jesse Alick*
*The Public staff
Photo Credit:
© Eric Sams/Eric Sams Creative Direction & Design
There's A Blizzard Coming Our Way
Learn more about the play and the rehearsal process (with photos & video)
Blizzard On Blizzard
An interview with Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala and actor, Eric Graise (Blizzard)
Sara Buffamanti (Sophie Ferris), Erc Graise (Blizzard), Anthony Michael-Lopez (Dr. Ferris) Evan Ruggerio (Emcee)
Anita Hollander, Sarah Knolles, Eli Pauley & Jessica Yates (Chorus/Burlesque Performers)
Gregg Mozgala (Stage Directions)
The Team:
Director / Kris Thor
Composer / Robert M. Joahnson
Musicians / Joel Howard, Beau Moore, Hunter Moore
Equity Stage Manager / Geoff Boronda*
Casting Director / Kate Murray*
Line Producer / Yuvika Tolani*
Literary Manager / Jesse Alick*
*The Public staff
Photo Credit:
© Eric Sams/Eric Sams Creative Direction & Design
There's A Blizzard Coming Our Way
Learn more about the play and the rehearsal process (with photos & video)
Blizzard On Blizzard
An interview with Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala and actor, Eric Graise (Blizzard)
Downsizing Camus by Todd Bauer
CRIPFEST/Brooklyn Academy of Music July 25th 2015
"Downsizing Camus" by Todd Bauer
Directed by Kristjan Thor
The Cast:
Sara Buffamanti, Gregg Mozgala, Eli Pauley and Pamela Sabaugh
Reviews and Related Press
Bauer on Camus
An interview with Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala and "Downsizing Camus" Playwright, Todd Bauer to learn more about the play and the rehearsal process (with photos).
Directed by Kristjan Thor
The Cast:
Sara Buffamanti, Gregg Mozgala, Eli Pauley and Pamela Sabaugh
Reviews and Related Press
Bauer on Camus
An interview with Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala and "Downsizing Camus" Playwright, Todd Bauer to learn more about the play and the rehearsal process (with photos).
Good Dancer by Emily Chadick Weiss
Finalist: Mixed Blood Theatre's Disability Visibility Project
May 27th 2015
Mixed Blood Theatre's Disability Visibility Project/HowlRound
Disability Visibility/Mixed Blood Theatre
The Lark/The Apothetae Convening: A National Conversation at the Nexus of Disability & Theatre
Lark Play Development Center May 14th 2015
On May 14th 2015 The Lark Play Development Center and The Apothetae collaborated on a national convening which brought together stakeholders from all over the country to discuss issues facing the Disabled Community within the Theatre community.
The goals of the convening were to:
Assemble a diverse network of artists and leaders in the field who are stakeholders in the advancement of disabled artists, to discuss current and planned initiatives that are being undertaken, allow for the sharing of resources or creation of potential partnerships and provide a forum for strategizing next steps toward the advancement of disabled artists in the theater.
To read more about the day itself, check out, A Place Of Exposure: Theatre, Disability & The Apothetae
Event Organizers:
Gregg Mozgala, Artistic Director, The Apothetae
Lloyd Suh, Director of On-Site Programs, The Lark Play Development Center
Steering Committee:
Claudia Alick, Associate Producer, Community, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Jack Rueller, Artistic Director, Mixed Blood Theatre
Sharon Jensen, Executive Director, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
The goals of the convening were to:
Assemble a diverse network of artists and leaders in the field who are stakeholders in the advancement of disabled artists, to discuss current and planned initiatives that are being undertaken, allow for the sharing of resources or creation of potential partnerships and provide a forum for strategizing next steps toward the advancement of disabled artists in the theater.
To read more about the day itself, check out, A Place Of Exposure: Theatre, Disability & The Apothetae
Event Organizers:
Gregg Mozgala, Artistic Director, The Apothetae
Lloyd Suh, Director of On-Site Programs, The Lark Play Development Center
Steering Committee:
Claudia Alick, Associate Producer, Community, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Jack Rueller, Artistic Director, Mixed Blood Theatre
Sharon Jensen, Executive Director, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance - A Reading & A Conversation About Disability On Stage
New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts November 3rd 2014
Bradley Cooper as Joseph Merrick
Check out more photos and our blog post about the reading-
The Elephant In The Room The Cast:
Seth F. Abrams, Scott Barton, David Harrell, Anita Hollander, Matthew Joffe, Gregg Mozgala & Jessica Yates The Team: Director / Heidi Handelsman Photo Credit: © Lori Grinker/Lori Grinker Photography |
Matthew Joffe as Jospeh Merrick
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"Spirits Of Another Sort" A Midsummer Night's Dream Workshop (2014)
Conceived By The Apothetae In Collaboration With Performance Lab 115
Ensemble Studio Theatre August 13th & August 14th 2014
Regan Linton as Hippolyta/Titania
Workshop Production Photos- Spirits of Another Sort
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #1- Origins
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #2- Same/Different
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #2.5- "How Now?"
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #3- Where Are All The Actors?
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #4- An Assumption of Competence
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #5- The Best In This Kind Are But Shadows
E Tu, Apothetae? The Shakespeare Society Residency @ The Public Theater
A Midsummer Night's Dream Panel Excerpts On Soundcloud
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #1- Origins
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #2- Same/Different
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #2.5- "How Now?"
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #3- Where Are All The Actors?
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #4- An Assumption of Competence
Spirits of Another Sort Workshop Journal #5- The Best In This Kind Are But Shadows
E Tu, Apothetae? The Shakespeare Society Residency @ The Public Theater
A Midsummer Night's Dream Panel Excerpts On Soundcloud
The Penalty by Clay McLeod Chapman & Robert M. Johanson
Dixon Place June 14th - June 29th 2013
Reviews and Related Press
Production Photos of "The Penalty"
Listen to all of the original songs from the production on Soundcloud
Dixon Place Promo Video/Work Sample- Blizzard & Sophie Meet (1:26)
Vaudevisuals Interview With Playwright, Clay McLeod Chapman
Vaudevisuals Interview With Artistic Director, Gregg Mozgala
The Choice For The Penalty