Meredith Monk Biography (1942-)

Full name, Meredith Jane Monk; born November 20, 1942, in Lima, Peru (some sources say New York, NY); daughter of Theodore Glen (a lumber and building materials dealer) and Audrey Lois (a singer using the stage name Audrey Marsh; maiden name, Zellman) Monk; companion of Ping Chong (a composer). Addresses: Office: The House Foundation for the Arts, 131 Varick St., New York, NY10013-1410.

Nationality: Peruvian
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, composer, writer
Birth Details: November 20, 1942; Lima, Peru

Famous Works

CREDITS
Stage Work
Director, Unless Otherwise Noted
Choreographer, Break, Washington Square Galleries, New York City,1964
Juice: A Theater Cantata in Three Installments (also known as Juice), Guggenheim Museum, The Loft, and Minor Latham Playhouse, Barnard College, New York City, 1969 , later Place Theatre, London, England, 1972
Education of the Girlchild: An Opera, Common Ground Theatre, New York City, 1973
Quarry: An Opera (also known as Quarry), La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Annex, New York City, 1976 , later John F. Kennedy Center forthe Performing Arts, Washington, DC, 1986
Specimen Days: A Civil War Opera, Public Theatre, New York City, 1981
The Games, West Berlin, West Germany (now Berlin, Germany), 1983 ,then Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York City,1984
Acts from Under and Above, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, NewYork City, 1986
Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams \[Cabaret\]), LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1986
The Ringing Place, Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music,1987
Facing North, The House Loft/Theatre at St. Mark's Church, NewYork City, 1990
Phantom Waltz, 1990
Atlas: An Opera in Three Parts (also known as Atlas), Houston Grand Opera, Houston, TX, then Wexner Center for the Performing Arts, Columbus, OH, both 1991
Stage Appearances
Scrouse, Actors' Playhouse, New York City, 1961
Break, Washington Square Galleries, 1964
The Beach, 1965
16 Millimeter Earrings (also known as 16 Millimetre Earrings and 16mm Earrings), Theatre at Judson Memorial Church, New York City, 1966
Blueprint (1), Woodstock, NY, 1967
Candy Bullets and Moon, 1967
Overload/Blueprint (2), New York City, 1967
Drone for Chorus, 1969
Porch, Horizon, 1969
Juice: A Theater Cantata in Three Installments (also known as Juice), Guggenheim Museum, The Loft, and Minor Latham Playhouse, Barnard College, 1969 , later Place Theatre, 1972
Key: An Album of Invisible Theatre, 1970
Needlebrain Lloyd and the Systems Kid: A Live Movie (also known asNeedle-Brain Lloyd and the Systems Kid), American Dance Festival, Connecticut College, 1970
A Raw Recital, 1970
Key, 1971
Plainsong for Bill's Bojo, 1971
Vessel: An Opera Epic (also known as Vessel), 1971 , The House Gallery/Performing Garage/Wooster Parking Lot, New York City, 1972
Paris, from the Travelogue trilogy, Roundabout Theatre, NewYork City, 1972
Our Lady of Late, 1972-73
Education of the Girlchild: An Opera, Common Ground Theatre, 1973
Anthology and Small Scroll, Mickery Theatre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 1974
Chacon, from the Travelogue trilogy, 1974
Fear and Loathing in Gotham, 1975
Venice-Milan, from the Travelogue trilogy, 1976
Songs from the Hill, 1976-77
Quarry: An Opera (also known as Quarry), La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Annex, 1976 , later John F. Kennedy Center for the PerformingArts, 1986
Tablet, 1977
The Plateau Series, Theatre at St. Mark's Church, 1978
Dolmen Music, 1979
Recent Ruins, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Annex, 1979
Specimen Days: A Civil War Opera, Public Theatre, 1981
Engine Steps, 1983
Ester's Song, 1983
Tokyo Cha-Cha, 1983
Two Men Walking, 1983
The Games, West Berlin, West Germany (now Berlin, Germany), 1983 ,then Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1984
Graduation Song, 1984
Panda Chant I, 1984
Panda Chant II, 1984
Book of Days, 1985
Acts from Under and Above, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1986
Double Fiesta, 1986
I Don't Know, 1986
Sacred Song, 1986
String, 1986
Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams (Cabaret)), La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1986
Window in 7's (For Nurit), 1986
Do You Be, 1987
Duet Behavior, 1987
The Ringing Place, Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music,1987
Cat Song, 1988
Fayum Music, 1988
Light Wings, 1988
Parlour Games, 1988
Processional, 1988
Raven, 1988
(With Robert Een) Facing North, The House Loft/Theatre at St. Mark's Church, 1990
Phantom Waltz, 1990
Atlas: An Opera in Three Parts (also known as Atlas), Houston Grand Opera, then Wexner Center for the Performing Arts, both 1991
American Archeology No. 1: Roosevelt Island (also known as American Archeology), New York City, 1994
Volcano Songs, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, 1994
The Politics of Quiet, Public School 122, New York City, 1996
Major Tours
Barbershop (also known as Tour Number 2: Barbershop), 1969
Tour Dedicated to Dinosaurs, 1969
Film Work
Director, Unless Otherwise Noted
16 Millimeter Earrings (also known as 16 Millimetre Earrings and 16mm Earrings), 1966
Children, 1967
Ballbearing, 1968
Mountain (video), 1971
Quarry: An Opera (also known as Quarry), 1976
Ellis Island, Greenwich Films, 1981
Choreographer, True Stories, Warner Bros., 1986
Book of Days, The Stutz Company, 1988

Film Appearances
16 Millimeter Earrings (also known as 16 Millimetre Earrings and 16mm Earrings), 1966
Herself, Four American Composers, Trans Atlantic Films, 1983
Herself, Modern American Composers (also known as Modern American Composers I), 1984
Red face girl, Uncle Meat, MPI, 1987
Madwoman, Book of Days, The Stutz Company, 1988
Television Work
Choreographer, New Voices in the Arts, PBS, 1964
Director, Paris, PBS, 1982
Director, Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams (Cabaret)), PBS, 1983
Music director and choreographer, "American Archeology No. 1: Roosevelt Island," Bessie--Portrait of Bessie Schonberg, PBS, 1999
Television Appearances
New Voices in the Arts, PBS, 1964
Paris, PBS, 1982
Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams (Cabaret)), PBS,1983
"American Archeology No. 1: Roosevelt Island," Bessie--Portrait of Bessie Schonberg, PBS, 1999
WRITINGS
Writings for the Stage
Me, 1963
Timestop, 1963
Break, Washington Square Galleries, 1964
Diploid, 1964
The Beach, 1965
Blackboard, 1965
Cartoon, 1965
Radar, 1965
Relache, 1965
(With Kenneth King) Duet with Cat's Scream and Locomotive, Gate Theatre, New York City, 1966
Portable, 1966
16 Millimeter Earrings (also known as 16 Millimetre Earrings and 16mm Earrings), Theatre at Judson Memorial Church, 1966
Blueprint (1), Woodstock, NY, 1967
(With Don Preston) Candy Bullets and Moon, 1967
Excerpt from Work in Progress, 1967
Goodbye/St. Mark/Windows, 1967
Overload/Blueprint (2), New York City, 1967
Blueprint 3, 1968
Blueprint 4, 1968
Blueprint 5, 1968
Co-op, 1968
Barbershop (also known as Tour Number 2: Barbershop), 1969
Drone for Chorus, 1969
Porch, Horizon, 1969
Title: Title, 1969
Tour Dedicated to Dinosaurs, 1969
Tour 4: Lounge, 1969
Untidal: Movement Period, 1969
Juice: A Theater Cantata in Three Installments (also known as Juice), Guggenheim Museum, The Loft, and Minor Latham Playhouse, Barnard College, 1969 , later Place Theatre, 1972
Key: An Album of Invisible Theatre, 1970
Needlebrain Lloyd and the Systems Kid: A Live Movie (also known asNeedle-Brain Lloyd and the Systems Kid), American Dance Festival, Connecticut College, 1970
A Raw Recital, 1970
Tour 5: Glass, 1970
Tour 6: Organ, 1970
Tour 7: Factory, 1970
Voice Recital, 1970
Key, 1971
Plainsong for Bill's Bojo, 1971
Tour 8: Castle, 1971
Vessel: An Opera Epic (also known as Vessel), 1971 , The House Gallery/Performing Garage/Wooster Parking Lot, 1972
Our Lady of Late, 1972-73
(With Ping Chong) The Travelogue Series: Paris/Venice-Milan/Chacon, Roundabout Theatre, 1972 , Paris produced at the Roundabout Theatre,1972 , Chacon produced in 1974 , Venice-Milan produced in 1976
Education of the Girlchild: An Opera, Common Ground Theatre, 1973
Anthology and Small Scroll, Mickery Theatre, 1974
Fear and Loathing in Gotham, 1975
Songs from the Hill, 1976-77
Quarry: An Opera (also known as Quarry), La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Annex, 1976 , later John F. Kennedy Center for the PerformingArts, 1986
Tablet, 1977
The Plateau Series, Theatre at St. Mark's Church, 1978
Dolmen Music, 1979
Recent Ruins, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club Annex, 1979
Music Concert with Film, The Space at City Center, New York City,1981
Specimen Days: A Civil War Opera, Public Theatre, 1981
Engine Steps, 1983
Ester's Song, 1983
Tokyo Cha-Cha, 1983
Turtle Dreams (Waltz) (includes film Mermaid Adventures), Plexus, New York City, 1983
Two Men Walking, 1983
The Games, West Berlin, West Germany (now Berlin, Germany), 1983 ,then Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1984
Graduation Song, 1984
Panda Chant I, 1984
Panda Chant II, 1984
Book of Days, 1985
Acts from Under and Above, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1986
Double Fiesta, 1986
I Don't Know, 1986
Sacred Song, 1986
String, 1986
Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams (Cabaret)), La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 1986
Window in 7's (For Nurit), 1986
Do You Be, 1987
Duet Behavior, 1987
The Ringing Place, Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music,1987
Cat Song, 1988
Light Wings, 1988
Parlour Games, 1988
Processional, 1988
Raven, 1988
(With Robert Een) Facing North, The House Loft/Theatre at St. Mark's Church, 1990
Phantom Waltz, 1990
Atlas: An Opera in Three Parts (also known as Atlas), Houston Grand Opera, then Wexner Center for the Performing Arts, both 1991
Three Heavens and Hells, 1992
American Archeology No. 1: Roosevelt Island (also known as American Archeology), New York City, 1994
Volcano Songs, Walker Art Center, 1994
The Politics of Quiet, Public School 122, 1996
A Celebration Service, Theatre at Union Theological Seminary, NewYork City, 1996 , then Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC, 1997 , later produced in 1999
Magic Frequencies, various cities, including Munich, Germany, 1998-99 , then Joyce Theatre, New York City, 1999
Composer of Musical Scores for Films
(With Ping Chong) View No. 1, 1981
Plainsong, Stabile, 1982
(With Robert Ashley, John Cage, and Philip Glass) Four American Composers, Trans Atlantic Films, 1983
Modern American Composers (also known as Modern American Composers I), 1984
Book of Days, The Stutz Company, 1988
In the Name of the Father (documentary), 1988
Nouvelle vague (also known as New Wave), Vega Film Productions, 1990
Toward Jerusalem (documentary), Filmladen, 1992
Composer of Songs for Films
"Road Song (Little Girl's Melody)," True Stories, Warner Bros., 1986
"Dolmen Music," "Memory Song," "Sacred Song," "Shadow Song," and "Wheel,"In the Name of the Father (documentary), 1988
"Walking Song," The Big Lebowski, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1998
Screenplays
16 Millimeter Earrings (also known as 16 Millimetre Earrings and 16mm Earrings), 1966
Children, 1967
Ballbearing, 1968
Mountain (video), 1971
Quarry: An Opera (also known as Quarry), 1976
Ellis Island, Greenwich Films, 1981
True Stories, Warner Bros., 1986
Book of Days, The Stutz Company, 1988
Teleplays
Paris, PBS, 1982
Turtle Dreams (also known as Turtle Dreams (Cabaret)), PBS,1983
"American Archeology No. 1: Roosevelt Island," Bessie--Portrait of Bessie Schonberg, PBS, 1999
Nonfiction
Contributor to books, including Horse People: Writers and Artists on the Horses They Love, edited by Michael J. Rosen, Artisan Publishing (NewYork City), 1998. Contributor to periodicals, including Painted Bride Quarterly and the Village Voice.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Composers, May 14, 1999, St. James Press (Chicago, IL), 1992.
International Dictionary of Modern Dance, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1998, pp. 543-546.

Periodicals:

Christian Science Monitor, p. 19.
Dance Magazine, April 14, 1992, pp. 16-17; April, 1998, pp. 72-75;November, 1999, p. 40.
New York Times, June 30, 1991 .
Progressive, August 30, 1997, p. 14.

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