Willard Morgan Explained

Willard Morgan is an American performance artist and filmmaker, also founder and artistic director of the East Village art collective Ideal Glass.^{[1] [2]} Son of opera singer Sylvia Side, he graduated from William Esper Studio and New York University.

Performer

Starting his career in the 80's downtown scene, Morgan performed at Comic Strip as a standup comedian (with emcee Jerry Seinfeld). Strongly influenced by Jacques Lecoq, he acted off-Broadway under the direction of Austin Pendleton at Playwrights Horizons. Over the years, he has created evolving theater personas, appearing solo at B.B. King, the Highline Ballroom, the Japan Society (Manhattan),^[3] and La Scala Nightclub in Paris. He is the frontman and lyricist of the collaborative project Ideal Orkestra, described as a 'kinetic international band with a highly theatrical bent^{[4] [5]} '.

Producer

As the founder of Ideal Glass,^[6] Morgan produces in-your-face music videos^[7] about trends, fashion and gentrification (Sweatshop Boogie, Days of a Dandy, Silks & Satins^{[8] [9] [10]}). He is also prolific as a film producer with feature credits and award-winning shorts.^[11] Theatrical productions include Say Goodnight, Gracie by Ralph Pape which ran two years Off-Broadway, and the Broadway play by Milan Stitt which became Stanley Kramer's last feature film, The Runner Stumbles.^{[12] [13]}

Work

Stage

• Sweatshop Boogie (2013–present, live performances for fashion week)
• Ideal Orkestra (2012–present, music collaboration)
• Jelvis (2006, the Jewish Elvis - international tour)
• Saint Hollywood (2005, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)

Film

• Dawn of the Beast (2021)
• Me & Michael (2006, documentary feature featuring Michael Moore) - director and producer
• Fever Pitch (2001, short film) winner: Sony Vision Comedy Award at American Film Institute, and Best Short Film at the Central Florida and Ft Lauderdale International Film Festivals - filmmaker
• America So Beautiful (2001, 35mm feature) - co-producer
• Jimmy's Reality (1993, shortest film at the Sundance festival that year, physical bit was copied by Mr. Bean) - talent

Exhibit

• Un-Finished Cuba (2015, photo and video installation)
• Photo group shows: Bedlam Gallery, M.J. Higgins Gallery, Bedlam Warehouse Gallery Downtown (2004-2005)

External links

• • • Music videos
• Ideal Orkestra band

Notes and References

1. Web site: Morgan on MoMA's site . Museum of Modern Art's PS1 .
2. Web site: Willard Morgan's Ideal Glass. New York Times . 2015-01-06.
3. Web site: Japan Society announcement.
4. Web site: Ideal Orkestra at Japan Society. Broadway World . 2014-03-13.
5. Web site: Official site biography.
6. Web site: Behind the doors of Ideal Glass. Sideways.
7. Web site: Fashion music video . Youtube Channel.
8. Web site: Sweatshop Boogie Music Video. Youtube.
9. Web site: Days of a Dandy Music Video. Youtube.
10. Web site: Silk & Satins Music Video. Vimeo.
11. Web site: Feature Film Productions . IMDb profile.
12. Web site: Theatrical Production . Internet Broadway Database.
13. Web site: The Runner Stumbles, Broadway Producer . Broadway World.