Black-Eyed Susan (born Susan Carlson) is an American actor based in
New York City. She has worked primarily in Off-Off-Broadway theater
with artists including Charles Ludlam, Ethyl Eichelberger, Mabou
Mines, John Jesurun, Jim Neu, Lola Pashalinski, and Taylor Mac.Carlson
was born in Shelton, Connecticut. She studied theater for one year at
Emerson College, then transferred to Hofstra University, where she
completed her degree.While at Hofstra, she met fellow student Charles
Ludlam, who cast her in one of his early plays. After finishing
college, she moved to Manhattan. In 1967, she was in rehearsals for a
Theatre of the Ridiculous production directed by John Vaccaro and
written by Charles Ludlam. During rehearsals, Vacarro and Ludlam had a
disagreement which led Ludlam to leave the company and began his own,
which he called the Ridiculous Theatrical Company. Their first
production was called When Queens Collide. Black-Eyed Susan became a
long-time friend, collaborator, and actor in Ludlam's work for the
following two decades. During her time working with Ludlam, she met
and began to collaborate with Ethyl Eichelberger. Eichelberger wrote
the play Saint Joan for Black-Eyed Susan following Ludlam's death in
1987.Black-Eyed Susan performed in numerous productions at La MaMa
Experimental Theatre Club. In 1970, she was in Bluebeard, directed at
La MaMa by Ludlam and performed by his Ridiculous Theatrical Company.
She was the narrator in Eichelberger's Phedre and Oedipus at La MaMa
in 1977. She was in Jesurun's Red House at La MaMa in 1984 and his
Deep Sleep at La MaMa in 1986, performing alongside Steve Buscemi in
both productions. She was in Jesurun's Black Maria at La MaMa in 1987.
She has also worked with theater artists Mabou Mines, Jim Neu, Lola
Pashalinski, Taylor Mac and Mallory Catlett.
New York City. She has worked primarily in Off-Off-Broadway theater
with artists including Charles Ludlam, Ethyl Eichelberger, Mabou
Mines, John Jesurun, Jim Neu, Lola Pashalinski, and Taylor Mac.Carlson
was born in Shelton, Connecticut. She studied theater for one year at
Emerson College, then transferred to Hofstra University, where she
completed her degree.While at Hofstra, she met fellow student Charles
Ludlam, who cast her in one of his early plays. After finishing
college, she moved to Manhattan. In 1967, she was in rehearsals for a
Theatre of the Ridiculous production directed by John Vaccaro and
written by Charles Ludlam. During rehearsals, Vacarro and Ludlam had a
disagreement which led Ludlam to leave the company and began his own,
which he called the Ridiculous Theatrical Company. Their first
production was called When Queens Collide. Black-Eyed Susan became a
long-time friend, collaborator, and actor in Ludlam's work for the
following two decades. During her time working with Ludlam, she met
and began to collaborate with Ethyl Eichelberger. Eichelberger wrote
the play Saint Joan for Black-Eyed Susan following Ludlam's death in
1987.Black-Eyed Susan performed in numerous productions at La MaMa
Experimental Theatre Club. In 1970, she was in Bluebeard, directed at
La MaMa by Ludlam and performed by his Ridiculous Theatrical Company.
She was the narrator in Eichelberger's Phedre and Oedipus at La MaMa
in 1977. She was in Jesurun's Red House at La MaMa in 1984 and his
Deep Sleep at La MaMa in 1986, performing alongside Steve Buscemi in
both productions. She was in Jesurun's Black Maria at La MaMa in 1987.
She has also worked with theater artists Mabou Mines, Jim Neu, Lola
Pashalinski, Taylor Mac and Mallory Catlett.
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