Experimental Bitch 2020 Commission:
TANYA’S LIT CLIT
Conceived by Emma Goldman-Sherman and Tatiana Baccari
Written by Emma Goldman-Sherman
Directed by Tatiana Baccari
A Phantasmagorical Musical About Pain, Pussy and Persistence
A very particular part of Tanya's anatomy is on fire, only she can't really say which part! After years of chronic pain without a diagnosis, Tanya finds Dr. Violet, a urogynecologist with problems of her own. In a phantasmagoric journey through time led by a chorus of disabled and non-disabled womxn+, Dr. Violet and Tanya embark on a wild investigation of the AFAB body and the herstory of its treatment.
Tanya’s LIT CLIT (TLC) is a new musical currently in development commissioned by Experimental Bitch Presents.
This project is made possible with support from NY State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Leon Levy Foundation, Cultural Solidarity Fund, and Experimental Bitch donors.
Want To See This Play?
Interested in programming Tanya's Lit Clit in your theater, museum, performance space, school, community?
Want to support this project?
Development History
Experimental Bitch partnered with New York Theatre Barn for a presentation of TANYA'S LIT CLIT on March 12th, 2023. Now in its 10th season, NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab is the only curated choreography platform where choreographers and writers collaborate to develop movement for new musicals during incubation.
The engagement of TLC was the first look at the piece in its new musical format fully staged. Written by Emma Goldman-Sherman, TANYA'S LIT CLIT, showed an in-person preview in New York Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab at Open Jar Studios (1601 Broadway 11th floor, New York, NY 10019) on March 12th, 2023 at 6PM ET. Directed by Experimental Bitch's Artistic Director, Tatiana Baccari and choreographed in collaboration with Jasmine Roth, TANYA'S LIT CLIT is breaking the molds of the traditional musical development process.
The cast included Brittany Vicars as Tanya (Hamlet, Hartford Stage), Desi Waters as Dr. Violet (The Blacklist), Ariel Reich (The Band's Visit Nat'l Tour), Synead Cidney Nichols (The Hang), Chelsea Hooker (SHOUT!), and Jenny Hickman (Hello Dolly Nat'l Tour). amani meliyah served as the assistant director/stage manager. Kerrigan Quenemoen joined the team as line producer.
"This is an exciting next step in TLC's development" said artistic director Tatiana Baccari. "We look forward to presenting TLC's opening number fully staged on March 12th and invite NY Theatre Barn and ExB audiences into our process. "
MUSIC WORKSHOP
May 9th, 2022 at The Park Avenue Armory
Music Workshop Cast & Crew
Featuring Christine Bruno*, Bloom Davis, Maya Carter, Wednesday Derrico, Jenny Hickman*, Synead Cidney Nichols, Karsten Otto, Jackie Rivera*, Britt Vicars*, Desi Waters
Music Composition by Mariah Lotz & Serena Ebony Miller*
Live Keyboard, Mariah Lotz
Live Cello & Bass, Serena Ebony Miller*
Production Stage Manager: Melanie Ashby
Assistant Stage Manager: Jade Kenny*
Dramaturg & Creative Doula: Maya Carter
Associate Producer & Gender Consultant: Ezra Brain
Assistant Director: Amani Huell
Producing Assistant: Haley Fragen
Produced by Experimental Bitch with support from NY State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Solidarity Fund.
*denotes AEA membership
DEVELOPMENTAL READING
October 24th, 2021 at The Tank
Developmental Reading Cast & Crew
Featuring Travis Artz*, Amelia Fowler, Louise Heller, Jenny Hickman*, Chicava Honeychild, Sophie/Soph Sagan-Gutherz, Synead
Dramaturgy by Maya Carter
Stage Management: Zoë-Eve Rhinehart & Jade Kenny*
Line Producer: Lucy Powis
Produced by Experimental Bitch with support from New York City Artists Corps.
Photos by Brandon J. Harris
*denotes AEA membership
VIRTUAL READING & TALKBACK
2020 New Work Series with 29th Street Playwright Collective
Thursday, June 11th, 2020 at 7 PM EST
Virtual presentations of a selection of scenes from the current draft of the play, interspersed with live conversations with medical professionals followed by a talkback with the creative team and cast.
Virtual Reading Cast & Crew
Featuring Yael Shavitt, Akyiaa Wilson, Kayla Yee, Tessa Allen, Amelia Fowler, Karsten Otto
Sound designer/Composer by Abram Blau
Choreography by HannaH Allen
Stage Manager: Allison Houser
Editor/ Technical Designer: JR Hammerer
Produced by Experimental Bitch Presents in association with Hawkhouse
*denotes AEA membership
Meet the Panelists
ALISHA ESPINOSA (RIGHT) is an Afro-Boricua playwright and actor based on the edge of everywhere and nowhere, but mostly in NYC. She holds an MFA in Acting and Directing from UMKC, and a BA in English Literature and Theater Arts from Le Moyne College. Her plays have been presented at LATEA, Primary Stages, The Drama League, and Step1 Theatre Project. A selection of her work can be found on the New Play Exchange Network. She is also the Director of Education and Outreach for the LatinX Playwrights Circle. Select Acting Credits: Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (WP Theatre), Alma (Old Globe), Hamlet (Stage One), Shakespeare the Remix (Capital Rep), Much Ado About Nothing (KY Shakespeare). alishaespinosa.com @la.espi
NAHRYA LANZO-ESPINOSA (BSN, RN, IBCLC; RIGHT) has been a nurse for thirty-six years, working predominantly in NYC but also in Pennsylvania for various hospitals and private practices. She is currently the Senior Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator at New York Presbyrterian, but spent most of her career as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, and occasionally her vagabond daughters.
PATRICIA ST. JOHN (MD; LEFT) Has been practicing at Bay Area Women’s Care since 1987. She went to Medical School at the University of Vermont, and spent the next four years learning the specialty of OB/GYN. In 2013, after delivering thousands of babies, she transitioned to a GYN only practice.
DR. LINDA N. PRIETO (MD; RIGHT) is an internist in Decatur, Georgia and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area. She has been in practice for more than 20 years.
New Works Series 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by LMCC.
JANUARY 2020 WORKSHOP
Staged Reading
WOW Cafe Theater
January 30th & 31st, 2020
Featuring: Alisha Espinosa*, Rachel Sachnoff*, Kayla Yee, Tessa Allen, Amelia Fowler and Karsten Otto
Sound designer/Composer by Abram Blau
Choreography by HannaH Allen
Lighting Design by Jack Scaletta
Stage Manager: Allison Houser
Produced by Experimental Bitch Presents in association with Hawkhouse
Photos by Hyacinth, Art by Salt, and Tatiana Baccari
*denotes AEA membership