User:Oobspacer/Joyce Aaron

Joyce Aaron new article content ... Joyce Aaron, an actress who was a member of The Open Theater performed at Theatre Genesis, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and other small theatre venues during the 1960s.

Her involvement with The Open Theater included facilitating a workshop that helped actors deliver lines. One exercise used to overcome a loss of memory was jamming, repeating a word or phrase several times in succession, with possible changes until a line, new story or appropriate substitute came to them. One of Joyce Aaron's workshop students was Spalding Gray who mentions Joyce in his book The Journals Of Spalding Gray. This experience probably helped him develop his career of creation and delivery of various monologues.

Career
Early in her career Joyce Aaron became a member of the New York based Paper Bag Players.

Joyce met playwright Sam Shepard when she read for a part in "Up To Thursday" in which she was cast with Harvey Keitel. It was produced at Village South Theater November, 1964 and in February, 1965 was revived at Cherry Lane Theater with the same cast.

Early in 1965, while living with Sam Shepard, Joyce Aaron got a part in "The Knack", a play by Ann Jellicoe which was scheduled for production at the Harper Theatre in Chicago in April. Her co-stars were Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Skip Hinnant. Gerome Ragni and James Rado will later consider moving with the production to New York City.

In August, 1965 Joyce starred in "Slow Dance On the Killing Ground" by William Hanley in Rochester, New York. The cast included Joseph Buloff and Clarence Williams III.

In late 1965, Cafe La MaMa E. T. C. was threatened with closure due to failing fire department inspection with electrical deficiencies. Playwrights, Paul Foster and Robert Patrick coordinated a benefit titled "BbAaNnGg" to raise funds for necessary upgrades to satisfy the city's regulations. "BbAaNnGg", composed of three minute skits by at least twenty six authors was presented at Cafe La MaMa, 122 Second Avenue, Greenwich Village in New York City,  November 3 through 7, 1965. Joyce Aaron performed a monologue, "More! More! I Want More!" written for her by Remy Charlip, Michael Townsend Smith and Johnny Dodd. Joyce also performed with actor Jack London in a skit by Sam Shepard.

In January, 1966 Joyce acted in Sam Shepard's "Red Cross" at Judson Poets Theater. Jacques Levy directed this production that also starred Lee Kissman.

March of 1967 saw Joyce in New York City at The American Place Theatre as Salem in Sam Shepard's "La Turista" which opened on March 4, 1967. Her co-stars were Sam Waterston, Lawrence Block, Michael Lombard,and Joel Novack. This production was directed by Jacques Levy. In May, 1967 she was in "The Party On Greenwich Avenue" by Grandin Conover at Cherry Lane Theater.

She was recognized with an Obie Award for performance in the 1976 production of the play "Acrobatics" written by her and Luna Tarlo.

In January, 1983 she was featured with George Bartenieff, Crystal Field and Chris Tanner in "Growing Up Gothic", written by Clare Coss and directed by Margot Lewitin produced at Theater for the New City/Interart.

Exactly forty one years (September 17, 2002) after Ruth White opened at Cherry Lane Theatre in the premiere production of Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days (play)" Joyce Aaron appeared in the same role, Winnie and the same theater, directed by Joseph Chaikin. There is just one additional cast member, the barely observed Willie, mostly hidden by the pile of dirt which Winnie is sinking into .http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/02/movies/theater-review-beckett-s-earthy-idea-of-optimism.html

film and video
Members of The Open Theater including Joyce Aaron were featured with scenes from the ensemble production of "Fable". Margaret Croyden is host and interviews several cast members.

Joyce Aaron, along with Joseph Chaikin and Kevin O'Connor were the performers in the WNET-New York production of Sam Shepard's "Fourteen Hundred Thousand" January 20, 1967. She was also in the NET production of "Pavane" by Jean-Claude van Itallie, both productions being directed by Tom O'Horgan. The cast of "Pavane" included Ruth White, Cynthia Harris, James Coco, Alvin Epstein, Sudie Bond and Joseph Chaikin.