ONLINE ISSUE
no. 5

A Partial Index of the
American Theatre for Poets, Inc.
1961–1965

Participant
Alan Marlowe

"So it was that on a bright and gusty spring day, I walked with James Waring, John Herbert McDowell, LeRoi Jones and Alan Marlowe to a notary's office, to complete the first steps in the process of founding the New York Poets Theatre. We were, the five of us, the founding members, and looking back I find it significant that Freddie wasn't there. [...]

What had happened was that Alan, living with Freddie and observing all of our lives, had realized that he was sitting atop a mother lode of unexploited, mostly untapped creativity (us), and saw how he could cash in on it. To do him justice, I believe he thought we could all cash in on it, at least that was his plan, and to do so we needed to incorporate as a non-profit organization.

So there we were, walking down the street in the windy sunshine in our trench coats, an envelope of papers in Alan's hand. There was Jimmy, tall and spectral with his pale face and long pointy nose, in his black trenchcoat (showers were threatening, though the sky was clear); and John Herbert, perky and determined, with his sandy hair consisting almost entirely of cowlicks and  and his owlish glasses; there was LeRoi moving softly, almost invisible, joking with John; and Alan very modish, in a well-cut raincoat that shouted "designer." He had put on one of his many suits for the occasion, and was, I am sure, more nervous at finding himself among so many of us than he was at the pending paperwork and government proceedings--which. however mild and unthreatening they may actually be, had made all of us vaguely suspicious and paranoid. Alan had already named himself President of the Corporation-to-Be. [...]

Plan was, we were going to make a theatre happen. One in which John's music, Jimmy's choreography and plays, Freddie's dances, my own and LeRoi's plays, all would have a place. Alan would direct and manage the fundraising (he had been a gay hustler in Europe, and demimonde/society personality in New York, and seemed to know some of the ropes)." -- Diane di Prima. Recollections of My Life as a Woman: The New York Years. New York: Viking, 2001.

Participated in:

Discontent of a Russian Prince (Play)
Director

10, 17, 30 December 1961 & 7 January 1962 at 3:30 & 8:30 PMOne-Act Plays by James Waring, John Wieners and Robert Duncan The Off Bowery Theatre
Faust Foutu (Act IV) (Play)
Director
Faust Foutu (Act IV) (Play)
Actor: Three

Edge: A Work for Dancers and Actors (Dance, Performance)
Actor

A Happening - Untitled (Performance)
Participant

Murder Cake (Play)
Actor: Dante
Love's Labor, an eclogue (Play)
Director
Three Travelers Watch a Sunrise (Play)
Actor: Third Chinese

13 March 1964, opening, continuing Thursdays, Fridays, and SaturdaysOne-act plays by Diane DiPrima, LeRoi Jones and Frank O'Hara The New Bowery Theatre
Murder Cake ((Play))
Actor: Dante
Love's Labor, an eclogue (Play)
Director
The Eighth Ditch (from The System of Dante's Hell) (Play)
Director

Shopping and Waiting (Play)
Director

The Blossom, or Billy the Kid (Play)
Director
The Blossom, or Billy the Kid (Play)
Actor: The Kid

Port (A Murder in One Act) (Play)
Director
Oklahoma Danger Remark or, A Luncheon Date with the Torpedos of Fu Manchu (A Musical Evocation of Florence Nightingale and her era) (Play)
Lighting Designer

Awake in Spain (Play)
Director

Shopping and Waiting (Play)
Director

Event Staff

10, 17, 30 December 1961 & 7 January 1962 at 3:30 & 8:30 PM
One-Act Plays by James Waring, John Wieners and Robert Duncan
The Off Bowery Theatre
Lighting Designer
22 March 1962
Performances by Allan Kaprow and Robert Whitman
Maidman Playhouse
House Manager
23 March 1962
New Dance Works
Maidman Playhouse
House Manager
24 March 1962
Variety
Maidman Playhouse
Production Supervisor
14 February-27 March 1964
One-act plays by Diane DiPrima, Frank O'Hara and Wallace Stevens
The New Bowery Theatre
Program Director
13 March 1964, opening, continuing Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
One-act plays by Diane DiPrima, LeRoi Jones and Frank O'Hara
The New Bowery Theatre
Program Director
22-31 May; 5-7, 11-13, 27 June; 3 July 1964
Film by Red Grooms and Rudy Burckhardt and a Play by Kenneth Koch
American Arts Project
Program Director
22-31 May; 5-7, 11-13, 27 June; 3 July 1964
Film by Red Grooms and Rudy Burckhardt and a Play by Kenneth Koch
American Arts Project
Stage Builder
19-21, 26, 28 June; 5 July 1964
Taped Reading by Antonin Artaud and a Play by Michael McClure
American Arts Project
Program Director
19-21, 26, 28 June; 5 July 1964
Taped Reading by Antonin Artaud and a Play by Michael McClure
American Arts Project
Stage Builder
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