The Living Theater and the New American Cinema: NEWSREEL: JONAS IN THE BRIG, THE BRIG, STREET SONGS

The Living Theater and the New American Cinema:
THE BRIG, STREET SONGS, NEWSREEL JONAS IN THE BRIG

Friday, September 18, 10:00 PM
All screenings are at the Millennium Film Workshop,
66 East 4th Street, NY NY 10003.
Programs are subject to change.
Advance Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79742
Admission: $10 to benefit the HOWL ! HELP Fund
Cash only tickets available at the door two hours before showtime.

HOWL ! ARTS PROJECT 2009: FILM SERIES presents
The Living Theater and the New American Cinema

Introduction by Jonas Mekas, filmmaker, author, director of Anthology Film Archives:
NEWSREEL: JONAS IN THE BRIG, 1964, directed by Storm de Hirsch.
With Jonas Mekas and members of the Living Theatre. B/W, silent, 5 min. 16m print courtesy of the New York Film-Makers’ Cooperative.
“A newsreel of Jonas Mekas shooting his filmed version of ‘The Brig” on the set of the Living Theatre production. ” (Storm de Hirsch)

THE BRIG, 1963, directed by Jonas Mekas.
With members of the Living Theatre. B/W, sound, 68 min. 16mm print courtesy of the New York Film-Makers’ Cooperative.
“Part drama, part polemic, with shock-wave sound and a nightmare air that suggests Kafka with a Kodak, the movie does exactly what it sets out to do – seizes the audience by the shirtfront and slams it around from wall to wall for one grueling day in a Marine Corps lockup.” (Time Magazine)

STREET SONGS, 1983, directed by Jonas Mekas.
With Julian Beck and members of the Living Theatre. B/W, sound, 10 min. 16mm print courtesy of The New York Film-Makers Cooperative.
“Made in 1966/1983 ‘STREET SONGS’ is a 1966 performance, in France, of a section of the Living Theater’s ‘Mysteries and Smaller Pieces.” Based on a chance-determined scenario written by Jackson Maclow in 1961, STREET SONGS weaves militant political chants into a mandala of mantras. Julian Beck sits cross legged on an empty stage; the slogan he repeats – ‘Free All Men! Ban the Bomb! Stop the War! Free the Blacks! Change the World!’ – are both meditation and calls to action, as a crowd of voices answers each slogan and actors join him on stage to pace in a circle, clasp one another’s shoulders and collectively breathe ‘Ohmm…’” (the Village Voice)

Photo credit: The Brig film still by Jonas Mekas. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright Jonas Mekas.