Category Archives: Mary Lou Harris

What people are saying about Caravan to Oz – Timothy Bellavia

What people are saying about Caravan to Oz – Timothy Bellavia
bookcover2A must read for theater enthusiasts, academics and emerging performance artists!,August 29, 2014
By Timothy Bellavia
This review is from: Caravan to Oz: A family reinvents itself off-off-Broadway (Paperback)
Caravan to Oz is a chronicle of one of the most unique families of the off off Broadway stage and screen. The saga begins with Ann and George Harris, Sr. (Superman, 1978), where life and art converged in a small D.I.Y. garage theater in Florida. Just like the old Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney films Anne and George Sr. took themselves and their six “babes in arms” to acclaim to stages throughout New York City and Europe. The cast of this family memoir ranges from La Mama’s Ellen Stewart to Oscar winning actor / director Tim Robbins.
The candid pictures and narrations from the Harris siblings is a “how to survive guide” for any hopeful thespian or artist in this new depression era. The memoir answers every question, challenge, and tells it like it is … behind every TV, IMDB film credit or theater credit there is the day job or in the case of The Screaming Violets: Jayne, Eloise, and Mary Lou – a night job at the coat check at Studio 54.
Besides the nail-biting, high risk-taking for the sake of art making there is tragedy ranging from losing Hibiscus to HIV/ AIDS causes (the renowned performance artist and founder of the psychedelic theater troupe The Cockettes) to 9/11 and its effect on the Harris family and their own survival and need for further reinvention.
Caravan to Oz shares the highs and the “do or die” of the artist’s way (… and then some). What is refreshing is that book is full of living and not replete with backstabbing or name dropping of most memoirs. The names that are dropped however throughout the picture packed pages just happen to have graced the lives of Anne, George, Sr. Hibiscus, Walter-Michael, Frederic, Jayne, Eloise, and Mary Lou Harris. A must read for theater enthusiasts, academics or emerging D.I.Y. performers.
Timothy Bellavia is an Educator, Author,  and Owner/Founder at “We Are All The Same Inside”.
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50th Anniversary of The Harris Family coming to NYC and off off Broadway

50th Anniversary of The Harris Family coming to NYC and off off Broadway

harris family

 

George Harris II scouted out New York City in 1963 and found an apartment (no easy feat with six kids!) with the assistance of Ellen Stewart founder of off off Broadway’s La Mama ETC. The apartment was at 319 East 9th Street in the East Village and La Mama had the basement space. George Harris II and Jayne Anne Harris followed in August of 1964 and November 1 1964 is the day the rest of the Harris family arrived in New York City. Read more in the book “Caravan To Oz” . #caravantooz Available on Amazon:

Amazon – Caravan to Oz

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Theater for the New City

Theater for the New City

Theater-for-the-New-city

 

One of the off off Broadway theaters we grew up and performed in has a great Halloween party every year. If you haven’t experienced Theater for the New City on Halloween, it is worth the trip!!!! Click on the link for more information.

Theater for the New City Village Halloween Costume Ball

 

 

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Judson Poets Theater

Judson Poets Theater

RUMI

 

Mary Lou Harris and original Cockette, Rumi Missabu, resplendent from head to toe wearing Machine Dazzle Flower at Judson Memorial Church for Keeping the Tigers Away & The Blue Hour. Dedicated to the memory of Mario Montez, Marsha P. Johnson and Hibiscus aka George Harris III.  Mary Lou brought along the Harris family memoir, Caravan to Oz: a family reinvents itself off-off-Broadway. Judson Poets Theater was one of our Off Off Broadway homes.

Judson Arts Wednesdays

Judson Memorial Church – 2014

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The Screaming Violets and the Zone Brothers – 1982

The Screaming Violets and the Zone Brothers – 1982

Screaming Violets and the Fast

 

Paul Zone, Miki Zone and The Screaming Violets backstage at Danceteria in May of 1982. It was the memorial for Hibiscus aka George Harris III. He died of AIDS May 6 1982, Paul Zone has a new book about growing up in the New York underground scene.

Playground: Growing Up in the New York Underground

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