Description
Book SynopsisPlaywright, actor and director Charles Ludlam (1943-1987) helped to galvanize the Ridiculous style of theater in New York City starting in the 1960s. Although his Ridiculous Theatrical Company shut its doors, the Ludlamesque Ridiculous has continued to thrive. Sean F. Edgecomb focuses on neo-Ridiculous artists to trace the connections between Ludlam's legacy and their performances.
Trade ReviewSean Edgecomb thinks beyond pre- and post-Stonewall definitions of camp (without neglecting their significance) to argue that camp not only persists but remains a relevant tactic of transformational queer performance
. Charles Ludlam Lives! is a smart, beautifully written book that will make a lasting contribution to gay and lesbian performance history."" - Shane Vogel, Indiana University
""Charles Ludlam would be thrilled—just as he toyed with and overturned the conventions of popular theatre, this book playfully and brilliantly queers performance scholarship in its exploration of Ridiculous legacies. Edgecomb’s research is adventurous, and the writing is lively and compelling. Most importantly, the central figures, Charles Ludlam, Charles Busch, Bradford Louryk, and Taylor Mac, receive the full diva treatment they deserve."" - James Wilson, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY
