Christmas in Nickyland 2023: The Return
Curated and Hosted by Nicky Paraiso
What does it mean to return in 2023 and come together once again and celebrate during this particular holiday season? As the ever-changing world we live in continues to challenge us both as individuals and within our different communities, we can use this year-end holiday time to reflect, heal, find solace as we celebrate together. Joy, hope and love to this world!
Cast of NickyLand Characters:
Yoshiko Chuma & The School of Hard Knocks, with
on Dec 16: Jim Fletcher, Jason Kao Hwang
on Dec 17: Tim Clifford, Jason Kao Hwang, Billy Martin, Christopher McIntyre, Dennis O'Connor, Jeremy Nelson, & Luis A. Lara Malvacias
Ivo Dimchev
Maura Donohue, Perry Yung & Family
Piotr Gawelko
Devon Wade Granmo
Potri Ranka Manis/Kinding Sindaw
George Emilio Sanchez (Dec 17 only)
Paz Tanjuaquio (Dec 17 only)
Susan Murphy (Dec 17 only)
Ri Tornello
Split Britches: Peggy Shaw & Lois Weaver
+ Special Surprise Guests
Photo by Theo Cote
Nicky Paraiso is an actor, curator, singer, musician, writer, solo performance artist. He has been a fixture of the NY downtown performance scene for the last four decades. He is Director of Programming for The Club at La MaMa and Curator for the annual La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival, celebrating its 18th season April 6-30, 2023. He has worked as a performer with vanguard artists Jeff Weiss & Richard C. Martinez, Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble, Anne Bogart, Laurie Carlos, Jessica Hagedorn, Robbie McCauley, among many others. Nicky is the recipient of a 1987 Bessie Award for Performance, a 2012 BAX in Brooklyn, Arts & Artists in Progress Arts Management Award, a Movement Research Gala honoree in 2016, a 2018-2019 TCG (Theatre Communications Group) Fox Fellowship for Resident Actors/Distinguished Achievement, and the 2019 (NY Innovative Theatre) Ellen Stewart Award for Stewardship. Nicky’s most recent full-length performance, now my hand is ready for my heart: intimate histories, directed/designed by John Jesurun, was presented at Ellen Stewart Theatre in 2019. Nicky is a life-long member of Yoshiko Chuma & the School of Hard Knocks since 1988 with Crazy Dreams Hot Summer Part II at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors.
Special Thanks to: Theo Cote, Denise Greber, Braulio Basilio, John Issendorf, Allison Hsu, Diego Las Heras, Sarah Rae Murphy, Izzy Olgaard, Pearse Redmond, Jack Reynolds, Mark Tambella, Ursula Tinoco, Henry Cruz, Sophie Yuquing Nie, Armando Arias & Martin Valdez, Kiku Sakai, Kaori Fujiyabu, Johanna Ring, Begum "Begsy" Inal, Amanda Harmon Koppe, Taylor Wood, Mary Fulham, Beverly Petty, Mia Yoo & the entire La MaMa Staff.