In A Nutshell: Richard Caliban has worked as a playwright and director across the country and internationally in the UK, Budapest and Uzbekistan. He was Artistic Director of critically acclaimed, award-winning Cucaracha Theatre where he wrote and directed many of his plays over fourteen seasons. His work has also been seen at The Public Theatre, Primary Stages, Playwrights Horizons, The Victory Theatre, The Cherry Lane Theatre, Geva Theatre, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, La Mama, HERE, The Joyce Theatre, The Young Playwrights Festival, Joe's Pub, The Actors' Playhouse, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival and many others.
Cucaracha Theatre: Caliban was Artistic Director of critically acclaimed, award-winning Cucaracha Theatre (“The most exciting experimental theater company in New York.” — NY Times) where he wrote and directed many of his plays over fourteen seasons, including Homo Sapien Shuffle at the Public Theatre; Performance Piece #27 (also at the Vineyard Theatre and the Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan); Famine Plays (also at the Yale Cabaret, Triplex Theatre and Theatre of NOTE in L.A.); Rodents & Radios (Best Play List 1990--Mel Gussow, New York Times); Budd and A Vast Wreck. Under Mr. Caliban’s directorship Cucaracha received an Obie for its achievements as an emerging company. (More on Cucaracha at bottom of page)
MoM -- A Rock Concert Musical
Musical Theatre
Caliban’s MoM - A Rock Concert Musical won “Outstanding Musical” at the New York International Fringe Festival, and subsequently played at Geva Theatre Center, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre, The Actors’ Playhouse, The Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (“Best Musical Comedy of the Year” --Daily Record), The Barrow Group Theatre, The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the Westbank Cafe, the Foothills Performing Arts Center and Theater 80. MoM was selected as one of the “15 Most Beloved Shows from the Fringe’s history”. Caliban collaborated with Grammy nominated composer Angel Lam, on Lost Shanghai, which he wrote the book and lyrics for and directed a concert reading at Merkin Hall. His theatrical cabarets Teatro Slovak and Les Funky Bitches Fantastique have performed at Galapagos Art Center, HERE Art Center and dozens of music venues and clubs throughout New York. His musicals, Surf City and the Girl from Ipanema received workshop productions at the National Theatre Conservatory at Denver Center Theater. Caliban directed BIlly Boesky's rock musical Fallen Angel; and a staged reading of Gary Kupper (Rock & Roll Man) and Lynda Crawford’s Tin Pan Alley musical, Long Ago Song.
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Caliban’s MoM - A Rock Concert Musical won “Outstanding Musical” at the New York International Fringe Festival, and subsequently played at Geva Theatre Center, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre, The Actors’ Playhouse, The Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (“Best Musical Comedy of the Year” --Daily Record), The Barrow Group Theatre, The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the Westbank Cafe, the Foothills Performing Arts Center and Theater 80. MoM was selected as one of the “15 Most Beloved Shows from the Fringe’s history”. Caliban collaborated with Grammy nominated composer Angel Lam, on Lost Shanghai, which he wrote the book and lyrics for and directed a concert reading at Merkin Hall. His theatrical cabarets Teatro Slovak and Les Funky Bitches Fantastique have performed at Galapagos Art Center, HERE Art Center and dozens of music venues and clubs throughout New York. His musicals, Surf City and the Girl from Ipanema received workshop productions at the National Theatre Conservatory at Denver Center Theater. Caliban directed BIlly Boesky's rock musical Fallen Angel; and a staged reading of Gary Kupper (Rock & Roll Man) and Lynda Crawford’s Tin Pan Alley musical, Long Ago Song.
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Notable Collaborations:
With Mac Wellman
Caliban directed the Outer Critics Circle Award and Obie Award-winning En Garde Arts production of Mac Wellman’s Crowbar at the Victory Theatre. He also directed Wellman’s The Sandalwood Box and Whirigig (in Hungarian) for the R.S. 9 Theatre in Budapest; as well as the premieres of the Obie Award winning Sincerity Forever at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Second Hand Smoke at Primary Stages. |
With Jules Feiffer
Caliban has had the pleasure of working with Jules Feiffer (Pulitzer Prize, Academy Award) on the revival of his Tony nominated play Knock Knock at the Shoolhouse Theater and The Vineyard Playhouse. With Michael Weller He directed Michael Weller's (Loose Ends, Moonchildren) new play ¡Help!, at the School House Theatre. |
Elektra
With Will Scheffer
He directed Will Scheffer’s (Big Love, HBO) Easter with Naked Angels -- as well as the film version (Best Feature Film - Dances with Films Festival, L.A.
He directed Will Scheffer’s (Big Love, HBO) Easter with Naked Angels -- as well as the film version (Best Feature Film - Dances with Films Festival, L.A.
Caliban has collaborated on several plays with Gil Kofman, including Leni’s Last Lament at United Solo Festival (Best Director); River Rep; Invisible Dog Art Space with Brave New World Rep; the Edinburgh Festival and the Electric Lodge in LA. He also directed Kofman’s Dickhead at Theatre for the New City.
Other Notable Productions
Caliban directed a Latin absurdist comedy, My Mother’s Severed Head produced by film actor Bruce Willis on Theater Row. Odets’ Clash By Night (Best Play List 1998 — Mel Gussow, New York Times); Elizabeth Hess’ Birthrite, which played in New York, Toronto; Edinburgh, Bath, Kiel, Berlin and Barcelona. In Los Angeles, his one act play Gladiator was produced at Act One, and he was the recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Grant from the Back Alley Theater for the production of his play Suburban Romance. His play Howling in the Night was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe. Caliban has directed at Alabama Shakespeare Festival; New York Stage & Film’s Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College; Halley Feiffer’s Easter Candy for the Young Playwrights Festival at the Cherry Lane; Jenny Lyn Bader’s Manhattan Casanova at Hudson Stage; Suzan Lori Parks’ House of Jones — 365 Days/Plays at Galapagos and the Public Theatre; the One Act Marathon at Ensemble Studio Theatre; a Da Camera production at the Bruno Walter Theatre, Lincoln Center; The Joyce Theatre; and several productions at La Mama.
Other Notable Productions
Caliban directed a Latin absurdist comedy, My Mother’s Severed Head produced by film actor Bruce Willis on Theater Row. Odets’ Clash By Night (Best Play List 1998 — Mel Gussow, New York Times); Elizabeth Hess’ Birthrite, which played in New York, Toronto; Edinburgh, Bath, Kiel, Berlin and Barcelona. In Los Angeles, his one act play Gladiator was produced at Act One, and he was the recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Grant from the Back Alley Theater for the production of his play Suburban Romance. His play Howling in the Night was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe. Caliban has directed at Alabama Shakespeare Festival; New York Stage & Film’s Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College; Halley Feiffer’s Easter Candy for the Young Playwrights Festival at the Cherry Lane; Jenny Lyn Bader’s Manhattan Casanova at Hudson Stage; Suzan Lori Parks’ House of Jones — 365 Days/Plays at Galapagos and the Public Theatre; the One Act Marathon at Ensemble Studio Theatre; a Da Camera production at the Bruno Walter Theatre, Lincoln Center; The Joyce Theatre; and several productions at La Mama.
Workshops/Readings
Caliban has worked on dozens of developmental projects with hundreds of theatre artists including: Kevin Bacon, John Tuturro, Elizabeth Perkins, Kim Cattrall, Griffin Dunne, Mark Linn-Baker, Adam Rapp at such theaters as The Public Theatre, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York Stage & Film, The Playwrights Group and many others.
Publications
Caliban’s play, Rodents & Radios is published by Sun & Moon Press in an anthology that spans thirty years of experimental theater -- FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CENTURY II: A NEW AMERICAN DRAMA 1960-1995; Gladiator is published by Smith and Kraus in ACT ONE FESTIVAL ’95.: Cranium Fandango and Famine Plays are published by Next Stage Press. His article: Towards A Radical Theatre was published by the Village Voice.
Academic Experience
In the academic world, Caliban has directed, taught and/or lectured at The National Theatre Conservatory, NYU, Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Hunter College, The City College of New York, Towson University, Manhattanville College, The Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and The Director’s Guild. He has worked with emerging playwrights and with mentors Craig Lucas, Marsha Norman and Ed Bullins with the Mentors Project at the Cherry Lane Theatre; and with numerous student playwrights over six seasons with the Young Playwrights Festival at the Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons and the Cherry Lane Theatre. Caliban’s one-act play, Gladiator has been performed at over a dozen colleges nationwide.
Honors/Education
Caliban has been a Resident Artist at HERE Art Center, the RS9 Theatre in Budapest, the Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Galapagos Art Center; a MacDowell, Brydcliff and Millay Arts Colony Fellow and a New York State Council on the Arts Panelist. He won Best Director at the United Solo Festival.
He received his education at Bard College, the Yale School of Drama and the New York Film Academy.
Caliban’s play, Rodents & Radios is published by Sun & Moon Press in an anthology that spans thirty years of experimental theater -- FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CENTURY II: A NEW AMERICAN DRAMA 1960-1995; Gladiator is published by Smith and Kraus in ACT ONE FESTIVAL ’95.: Cranium Fandango and Famine Plays are published by Next Stage Press. His article: Towards A Radical Theatre was published by the Village Voice.
Academic Experience
In the academic world, Caliban has directed, taught and/or lectured at The National Theatre Conservatory, NYU, Columbia University, C.W. Post College, Hunter College, The City College of New York, Towson University, Manhattanville College, The Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and The Director’s Guild. He has worked with emerging playwrights and with mentors Craig Lucas, Marsha Norman and Ed Bullins with the Mentors Project at the Cherry Lane Theatre; and with numerous student playwrights over six seasons with the Young Playwrights Festival at the Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons and the Cherry Lane Theatre. Caliban’s one-act play, Gladiator has been performed at over a dozen colleges nationwide.
Honors/Education
Caliban has been a Resident Artist at HERE Art Center, the RS9 Theatre in Budapest, the Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Galapagos Art Center; a MacDowell, Brydcliff and Millay Arts Colony Fellow and a New York State Council on the Arts Panelist. He won Best Director at the United Solo Festival.
He received his education at Bard College, the Yale School of Drama and the New York Film Academy.
Cucaracha Theatre
"A company that's inventive in its words, images, space and ideas. "
--Village Voice
--Village Voice
A Vast Wreck
More On Cucaracha Theatre
Cucaracha burst onto the downtown New York Theatre scene in the 1980's receiving a special Obie for its achievements as an emerging company. Known for its huge warehouse theatre in Tribeca, rock and roll ambiance, bold productions, wild late nite performance art, cabarets and live music -- Cucaracha was a mecca for downtown theatre goers while supporting, developing and presenting the work of hundreds of theatre artists.
Cucaracha burst onto the downtown New York Theatre scene in the 1980's receiving a special Obie for its achievements as an emerging company. Known for its huge warehouse theatre in Tribeca, rock and roll ambiance, bold productions, wild late nite performance art, cabarets and live music -- Cucaracha was a mecca for downtown theatre goers while supporting, developing and presenting the work of hundreds of theatre artists.
As Artistic Director of Cucaracha Theatre Caliban produced over seventy five productions, including co-productions with the Public Theater, the Classic Stage Company and the Vineyard Theatre. The raucous late nite hits, Underground Soap and the Cucaracha Cabaret, ran for many years. Cucaracha supported the work of hundreds of artists including Blue Man Group, Jeff Buckley, Eric Bogosian, Paul Giamatti, Penny Arcade, Betty, Adrienne Shelly, Sonia Bragga, Ethyl Eichelberger, David Van Tieghem, Holly Hughes, Pheobe Legere, Michael Mayer, Dael Orlandersmith, Anna-B Parson, Parker Posey, Frank Maya, Joey Arias, Women of the Calabash, Paul Zaloom and even the heavy metal band Soundgarten.
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Cucaracha Theatre Production Photos
Alyson Palmer of BETTY on FB:
"WHOA!!! I had such a FLASHBACK at the gym today!!! Anyone remember the fundraiser for Richard Caliban's brilliant Cucaracha Theater that featured Tony Salvatore leading the house band, and an unbelievable bill that included a boatload of dazzling downtown artists: Blue Man Group with wearable LED lights overhead, BETTY, Jeff Buckley, Eric Bogosian, and Phoebe Leger in her bustier and accordion? That was a magic moment!" |
Budd