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A reason for gratitude and hope

Everett Quinton, star alumnus and artistic director of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, shares stories from his early days as an actor and what’s been happening with him since the company closed in 1997.

20 Jun 2007 12:00

Everett Quinton

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Writing and Publishing

I worked with Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company in New York City for twenty-one years as an actor, costume designer, writer, and director. My first appearance with the company was as Flossy Flanagan, the abducted ballerina in Charles’ play Caprice, a play about intrigue in the fashion world between rival designers Claude Caprice and Twyford Adamant. In this scene Caprice goes to the ballet to spy on his lover Adrian who has been tricked into sitting in Adamant’s box in the theater. In order to do this, Caprice (Charles) pulls one of the ballerinas (me) off stage during the number, ties her up, and performs her part in the dance.

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Everett Quinton

About the Author

Everett was a member of Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company for 21 years where he appeared in over 70 plays including CAMILLE, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, (Drama Desk and Obie Awards), THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE, A TALE OF TWO CITIES (Obie Award), DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, BROTHER TRUCKERS (Bessie Award), CALL ME SARAH BERNHARDT among many others. From 1987 until 1997 Everett served as Artistic Director of the company. At the Ridiculous Theatrical Company Everett directed Charles Ludlam's CAMILLE, DER RING GOTT FARBLONJET, and BIG HOTEL, Georg Osterman's BROTHER TRUCKERS, and Everett's own adaptation of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Everett also directed THE BEAUX STRATAGEM at Yale Rep, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., and THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP at Geva in Rochester NY. In 2000 Everett was the recipient of the Theater Communications Group-Pew Charitable Trust Director in Residence Grant which he fulfilled at the Omaha Theater for Young People, where he directed THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, JULIE AND THE WOLVES, HANKY AND GIRLO, and GO DOG GO. Everett last appeared as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in TWELFTH NIGHT at the Arizona Theatre Company. Prior to that he appeared as Studs Turkel in HOUSE ARREST, at the Zachary Scott Theater in Austin Texas. Everett preformed in the UNDERPANTS, at the Arizona Theater Company and the San Jose Rep. Everett has appeared at the Empty Space Theater in Seattle in TWISTED OLIVIA, his award winning one person adaptation of OLIVER TWIST. Before that Everett appeared in SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD, at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. for which he received a Helen Hayes Award for best supporting Actor.