Performing Arts Legacy Project

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Agosto Machado

AGOSTO MACHADO – Performer, Artist, Activist and Witness, is best known for his work with Ellen Stewart’s La Mama ETC, and his association with Jack Smith, Mario Montez, Jackie Curtis, John Vaccaro, Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Marsha P Johnson, Ronald and Harvey Tavel, Ethyl Eichelberger and Peter Hujar.

NYC theatre and the arts in the sixties: the alternatives

Machado – OH 1 – 00:18 “I am a pre-Stonewall Christopher Street queen…” – 3:16 “…a whole movement came.”

Agosto introduces himself with a personal manifesto and a brief description of the origins of the downtown theater movement.

Machado – OH 1 – 27:54 “I mentioned being a witness and participant…” – 32:02 “…it’s more structured.”

Agosto recounts his first encounters with the work of Joe Cino and Jack Smith.

Machado – OH 3 – 32:02 “Culturally the stuff we experienced…” – 35:15 “…even if there’s only three.”

Agosto describes the differences in creative process in the different troupes he worked with and other more structured theatre groups.


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