New Paradise Laboratories

New Paradise Laboratories (NPL) is a 501(c)(3) experimental theater ensemble based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, NPL collaborates with artists from a variety of disciplines, including web designers, visual artists, writers, philosophers, composers, and architects, as well as performers who work together to create interactive theater works and immersive experiences.

New Paradise Laboratories
Founded1996
FounderWhit MacLaughlin
Type501(c)(3) non-profit
Location
Methodexperimental theater, experience design ensemble
Members
20+
Websitenewparadiselaboratories.org

History
"NPL was founded to create surprising, meticulous, spiritually challenging, and wholly distinctive experimental theatre productions that investigate physical expression, on-stage and in life. These productions are assembled using collaborative creative processes developed by the company. The work tends to value wild humor, shock, a concern for history, a muscular visual sensibility, and a fascination with the utopian impulse. Furthermore, NPL uses the fruits of its experimentation to benefit the artistic and audience community as a whole."
— NPL Home Page[1]

Founded in 1996 by Whit MacLaughlin, New Paradise Laboratories (NPL) has created an average of one original performance work each year since its founding. Their work has been presented as part of the FringeArts Festival (formerly Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe), the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Children's Theatre Company, and in residencies with universities all over the United States.

Grants and recognition

Company members
A 2006 reworking of the hit Prom by NPL for Children's Theatre Company, which in 2004 was deemed "Best Stage Production."
  • Whit MacLaughlin (Artistic Director) - he has conceived, directed, and designed 20 original performance works with the company since its inception in 1996. Since 1978, he has acted in, directed, or written over 100 theatre productions.[9]
  • KC Chun-Manning (Managing Director) - served from 2015 - 2020 and remains active on Board of Directors.[10]
  • Pete Angevine (Interim Consulting Managing Director) - Began serving in 2020
  • Emilie Krause (Performer) - has worked with NPL since 2011
  • Kevin Meehan (Performer) - has worked with NPL since 2011
  • Matteo Jones Scammell (Performer) - has worked with NPL since 2011
  • Julia Frey (Performer) - has worked with NPL since 2011
  • Lee Ann Etzold (Performer) - a founding member[6]
  • McKenna Kerrigan (Performer) - has worked with NPL since 1999
  • Jeb Kreager (Performer) - a founding member, he has performed and co-created 13 shows[6]
  • Mary McCool (Performer) - a founding member
  • Aaron Mumaw (Performer) - a founding member
  • René Ligon Hartl (Performer) - a founding member
  • Matt Saunders (Designer/Performer)[6]
  • Jorge Cousineau (Video and Sound Design)

Productions
YearProductionLocationNotes
1998"Gold Russian Finger Love"Philadelphia, PA
1999"Stupor"Philadelphia, PABarrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Choreography[11]
2000"The Fab 4 Reach the Pearly Gates"New York City, NYObie Award Winner
2001"This Mansion is a Hole"Philadelphia, PABarrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Sound Design (Whit MacLaughlin)[12]
2003"Rrose Selavy Takes a Lover in Philadelphia"Philadelphia, PABarrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Ensemble in a Play[13]
2004"Don Juan in Nirvana"Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Live Arts Festival participant
2004"Prom"Minneapolis, MNChildren's Theatre Company
2005"Planetary Enzyme Blues"Philadelphia, PAPECO Energy Award nominee for Outstanding Lighting Design (Mark O'Maley)[14]
2006"Prom"Minneapolis, MNChildren's Theatre Company (second production), deemed Best Stage Production 2004.
2007"Batch: An American Bachelor/Ette Party Spectacle"Louisville, KYWorld premiere: Humana Festival of New American Plays (Louisville, February 2007). Regional premiere: Philadelphis Live Arts Festival (Philadelphia, September 2007)
2008"Prom"Philadelphia, PAResidency at Drexel University. Barrymore Award nominee for Outstanding Choreography/Movement (Lee Ann Etzold and Whit MacLaughlin)[15]
2009"Fatebook: Avoiding Catastrophe One Party at a Time"Philadelphia, PAPresented by Philadelphia Live Arts Festival (Philadelphia, September 2009)
2010"MORT"Philadelphia, PAResidency at University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
2010"Freedom Club"Philadelphia, PAWith the Riot Group & Adriano Shaplin[16]
2011"Freedom Club"New York, NYOff-off Broadway[17]
2011"Extremely Public Displays of Privacy"Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Live Arts/ Philly Fringe participant. A theater and online work in three acts, it included music videos and online social media, video-performances at set locations in the city, and a live concert of original music performed by the central character, Fess Elliot.
2012"27"Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Live Arts/ Philly Fringe participant
2013"Prom"Wilmington, NCProfessional Partnership with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Department of Theatre
2014"27"Philadelphia, PARemount at The Painted Bride
2014 "The Adults" Philadelphia, PA Presented by FringeArts and supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
2016 "O Monsters" Philadelphia, PA Presented by FringeArts and supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
2017 "Hello Blackout!" Philadelphia, PA Presented by FringeArts, and supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage with additional support from the Independence Foundation New Theatre Works Initiative and the National Endowment for the Arts
2017 "Gumshoe" Philadelphia, PA An immersive adventure experience in the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Rosenbach Museum and Library
2018 "O Monsters" Washington, DC Re-mounted by the Capital Fringe Festival on the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

References
  1. "NPL Story". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. Miriam Seidel. "At Obie Awards, A Philadelphia Winner". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  3. "Artist Roster: New Paradise Laboratories". Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  4. "MAP Fund". Multi-Arts Production Fund. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  5. "Best of Philly 2006 Theater Company". Philadelphia Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  6. "2007 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  7. "MAP Fund". Multi-Arts Production Fund. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  8. "PW's Artist of the Year: Jorge Cousineau". Philadelphia Weekly. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  9. "Ensemble Members". New Paradise Laboratories. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  10. "NPL Story: Company Staff". New Paradise Laboratories. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  11. "2000 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  12. "2002 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  13. "2004 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  14. "2006 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  15. "2008 Nominees and Recipients". Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  16. "Adriano Shaplin, Whit MacLaughlin: Freedom Club". The New York Theatre Experience, Inc. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  17. "New York Times: Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
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