Naked Angels (theater company)
Encyclopedia
Naked Angels is an American theater company founded in 1986 and based in New York City
. It was named after John Tytell
’s book about the Beat Generation, Naked Angels. It is notable for having produced plays on controversial social topics, such as the critically acclaimed Broadway transfer Next Fall
, and for featuring many Hollywood stars.
Naked Angels was originally based out in a former picture-frame factory on West 17th Street in Manhattan
. It "soon became the 'it' place for a generation of about-to-be famous young actors and playwrights."
One of the company's longtime efforts is "The Issues Project", featuring plays or groups of plays focusing on socially relevant issues, often in collaboration with organizations like Amnesty International
, The Center for American Progress
, Project A.L.S. and The Culture Project. Also known are the group's long-running "Tuesdays@9" cold reading
series, where new playwrights, novelists, short-story writers, and actors get together to review work that is still being written.
Known for "glamorous parties" and "provocative productions", after the first decade the group seemed to have lost the focus on theater. In 1995 the venue on 17th Street (often called "The Place") was closed and by that time many of the early members had gone on to fame in Hollywood or on Broadway
.
In an 2005 attempt to revive the company, Jenny Gersten became artistic director in February. In 2008, Geoffrey Nauffts became Artistic Director. Since then several new works have debuted, notably a set of 14 one act play
s called Armed and Naked in America. relating to the effects of war
. In 2011, Andy Donald became Artistic Director.http://broadwayworld.com/article/Naked_Angels_Announces_Andy_Donald_as_new_Artistic_Director_20010101
People identified as co-founders include:
playwrights:
Actors and directors:
People associated with the company:
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was named after John Tytell
John Tytell
John Tytell is an American writer and academic, whose works on such literary figures as Jack Kerouac, Ezra Pound, Allen Ginsberg, Henry Miller, and William S. Burroughs, have made him both a leading scholar of the Beat Generation, and a respected name in literature in general. He has been a...
’s book about the Beat Generation, Naked Angels. It is notable for having produced plays on controversial social topics, such as the critically acclaimed Broadway transfer Next Fall
Next Fall (play)
Next Fall is a play written by Geoffrey Nauffts. The play is about two gay men in a committed relationship with a twist, with one being devoutly religious and the other an atheist. The play revolves around their five-year relationship and how they make it work despite their differences...
, and for featuring many Hollywood stars.
Naked Angels was originally based out in a former picture-frame factory on West 17th Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. It "soon became the 'it' place for a generation of about-to-be famous young actors and playwrights."
One of the company's longtime efforts is "The Issues Project", featuring plays or groups of plays focusing on socially relevant issues, often in collaboration with organizations like Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, The Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
, Project A.L.S. and The Culture Project. Also known are the group's long-running "Tuesdays@9" cold reading
Cold reading (theatrical)
Cold reading is a term used by actors and other performers in theatre, television, film, and performance fields. A cold reading is a reading aloud from a script or other text without any rehearsal, practice or study in advance...
series, where new playwrights, novelists, short-story writers, and actors get together to review work that is still being written.
Known for "glamorous parties" and "provocative productions", after the first decade the group seemed to have lost the focus on theater. In 1995 the venue on 17th Street (often called "The Place") was closed and by that time many of the early members had gone on to fame in Hollywood or on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
In an 2005 attempt to revive the company, Jenny Gersten became artistic director in February. In 2008, Geoffrey Nauffts became Artistic Director. Since then several new works have debuted, notably a set of 14 one act play
One act play
A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. In recent years the 10-minute play known as "flash drama" has emerged as a popular sub-genre of the one-act play, especially in writing competitions...
s called Armed and Naked in America. relating to the effects of war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. In 2011, Andy Donald became Artistic Director.http://broadwayworld.com/article/Naked_Angels_Announces_Andy_Donald_as_new_Artistic_Director_20010101
Participants
The theater company has a long list of co-founders and participants in its many productions over the years.People identified as co-founders include:
playwrights:
- Kenneth LonerganKenneth LonerganKenneth Lonergan is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director.-Background and education:Born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, Lonergan began writing in high school at the Walden School .His first play, The Rennings Children, was chosen for the Young Playwright's Festival in...
- Frank PuglieseFrank PuglieseFrankie Pugliese a TV writer and artistic director. He won a WGA Award for Homicide: Life on the Street episode Night of the Living Dead. He is also a playwright.- Sources :...
- Nicole BurdetteNicole BurdetteNicole Burdette is a playwright and actress. She wrote the play Chelsea Walls, which she adapted to film in 2001. She is a co-founder of the Naked Angels . She also gave the company their name....
Actors and directors:
- Jon Robin BaitzJon Robin BaitzJon Robin Baitz is an American playwright, screenwriter, television producer and sometime actor.-Life and career:Baitz was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Edward Baitz, an executive of the Carnation Company. Baitz was raised in Brazil and South Africa before the family returned to...
- Joe MantelloJoe MantelloJoseph Mantello is an American actor and director best known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked, Take Me Out and Assassins, as well as earlier in his career being one of the original Broadway cast of Angels in America...
- Ned EisenbergNed EisenbergNed Eisenberg is an American actor known for his recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Roger Kressler....
- director Jenifer EstessJenifer EstessJenifer Estess was a Moline, Illinois-born theatre producer. She began her career as an actor after graduating from New York University with a B.A. in drama. She was a co-founder of the Naked Angels theatre company in Manhattan; she was its producing director until 1993...
(Producing Director until 1993) - director Pippin ParkerPippin ParkerPippin Parker is an American playwright and theatre director. He is Director of The New School for Drama.He is one of the co-founding members of Naked Angels Theater Company in New York City where he was Artistic Director...
(former Artistic Director) - Toby Parker
- Tim Ransom (former Artistic Director)
- Geoffrey Nauffts http://www.nakedangels.comhttp://www.imdb.com(became Artictic Director in 2008)
- actress Gina GershonGina GershonGina L. Gershon is an American film, television and stage actress, singer and author, known for her roles in the films Cocktail , Showgirls , Bound , Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back , Face/Off , The Insider , Demonlover , Category 7: The End of the World , P.S...
- actor Rob MorrowRob MorrowRobert Alan "Rob" Morrow is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Don Eppes on Numb3rs and as Dr. Joel Fleischman on Northern Exposure, a role which garnered him three Golden Globes and two Emmy Award nominations for "Best Actor in a Dramatic Series."-Personal life:Morrow was born in...
- actress Mary Stuart MastersonMary Stuart MastersonMary Stuart Masterson is an American film, stage and television actress and director.-Early life:Masterson was born in New York City to writer/director Peter Masterson and actress Carlin Glynn. She has two siblings: Peter Masterson Jr., and Alexandra Masterson, who are both involved in the...
- actress Helen SlaterHelen SlaterHelen Rachel Slater is an American actress and singer-songwriter.She appeared in the title role in the 1984 film Supergirl. In the following years she starred in several very successful comedy-drama films such as Ruthless People, The Secret of My Success, and City Slickers...
- actor and producer Fisher StevensFisher StevensFisher Stevens is an American actor, director and producer. His most recent successes include the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film The Cove and 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film Crazy Love...
- actress Marisa TomeiMarisa TomeiMarisa Tomei is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987...
- actress Nancy TravisNancy TravisNancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady , Married to the Mob , Air America , Internal Affairs , So I Married an Axe Murderer , Greedy , and Fluke...
People associated with the company:
- actor Matthew BroderickMatthew BroderickMatthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
and his wife actress Sarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
, who first started dating at Naked Angels where Sarah's brothers Toby and Pippin were co-founders - Actor Chris StackChris StackChristopher "Chris" Stack , is an actor who took over the role of Dr. Michael McBain on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live from December 3, 2007, to June 17, 2009. Stack temporarily returned as Michael though July 14 to 16, 2009...
- playwright Daniel Reitz
- playwright Stephen BelberStephen BelberStephen Belber is an American playwright , screenwriter and film director.-Early life:Belber was born in Washington, D.C.. He studied philosophy as an undergraduate at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and moved to New York at the age of 25. There he unwittingly moved in with a roommate with AIDS,...
- director Charlie Stratton
- numerous others