Amelia Parenteau

I'm a writer, French-English translator, and theater maker with a passion for social justice and a penchant for travel.

Louise, she's crazy. Sarah Lawrence College, 2013. L to R: Raquel Loving, Maddie Fischer.

Louise, she's crazy. Sarah Lawrence College, 2013. L to R: Gina Caputo, Maria Caputo, Maddie Fischer, Raquel Loving.

Louise, she's crazy. Sarah Lawrence College, 2013. Maddie Fischer.

Liminal. New York International Fringe Festival, 2015. L to R: Rachael Balcanoff, Allen Jenkins. Photo Credit: Jody Christopherson.

Liminal. New York International Fringe Festival, 2015. L to R: Vanessa Pereda-Felix, Shashone Lambert, Samantha Williams, Rachael Balcanoff. Photo Credit: Jody Christopherson.

Liminal. New York International Fringe Festival, 2015. L to R: Tom Wood, Rachael Balcanoff. Photo Credit: Jody Christopherson.

(Projection). Dixon Place, 2017. L to R: Marielle Young, Tony Curtis, Thomas Vieljeux, Maddie Fischer. Photo Credit: Bre Northrup.

(Projection). Dixon Place, 2017. Maddie Fischer. Photo Credit: Bre Northrup.

(Projection). Dixon Place, 2017. L to R: Marielle Young, Tony Curtis. Photo Credit: Bre Northrup.

(Projection). Dixon Place, 2017. L to R: Malcolm Opoku, Maddie Fischer. Photo Credit: Bre Northrup.

(Projection). Dixon Place, 2017. L to R: Tony Curtis, Thomas Vieljeux, Maddie Fischer. Photo Credit: Bre Northrup.

America is Hard to See. HERE, 2018. L to R: Amy Gaither Hayes, David Spadora, Ken Barnett, John Carlin, Joyce Cohen, Valerie Gareth Tidball. Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson.

America is Hard to See. HERE, 2018. L to R: Amy Gaither Hayes, Ken Barnett. Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson.

America is Hard to See. HERE, 2018. L to R: David Spadora, Valerie Gareth Tidball, Amy Gaither Hayes. Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson.

Tussaud/Antoinette

jodychristopherson • 28th April 2022

Tussaud/Antoinette

Before Madame Marie Tussaud achieved wax museum fame, she was a sculptor, nearly guillotined during the French Revolution. She escaped the Reign of Terror by using her artistic talents and went on to not only document history but to become it.

The Theatre Times • 22nd October 2021

Sensation and Documentation: Jody Christopherson's "Tussaud/Antoinette"

The name “Tussaud” has always been linked to sensationalism and popular culture: now synonymous with the celebrity-studded wax “museums” known from London to Bangkok to Times Square, in the late eighteenth century the waxworks of Madame Marie Tussaud bore testament to the fervor, excess, and brutality sweeping through her native France.

Travalanche • 9th October 2021

Musings on Madame Tussaud

We hope you will forgive the split nature of this portmanteau-post, which is intended to do double duty as a capsule biography of Madame Tussaud (Anna Maria Grosholtz, 1761-1850) and a review of the terrific new show about her, Tussaud/Antoinette, by Jody Christopherson which is playing at I.R.T. through October 17.

IRT Theater • 1st October 2021

Tussaud/Antoinette | IRT Theater

A story of two Maries. One ruled wax, one ruled France. One survived, the other did not. So one made a sculpture of the other’s guillotined head… and launched an empire.

TheaterMania • 2nd September 2021

Tussaud/Antoinette tickets | TheaterMania

Tussaud/Antoinette, inspired by outrageously unreliable legends and claims, this story reimagines the historical fantasy of Madame Marie Tussaud's relationship with one of her most famous subjects, Marie Antoinette.

BroadwayWorld.com • 30th August 2021

TUSSAUD/ANTOINETTE To Open IRT Theater's Fall Season

IRT Theater presents the premiere of Tussaud/Antoinette written and directed by Jody Christopherson Oct 1st- 17th to open their Fall season. This marks the theater's return to presenting in person performances.

Woke

Kickstarter • 13th November 2019

WOKE: A Dream Play

WOKE is a new play by Amelia Parenteau about an intimate interracial relationship, set entirely in a bed, directed by Emma S. Kimball.

America is Hard to See

New Statesman • 19th August 2019

“Everything that follows is true”: how verbatim theatre questions the meaning of truth

In Miracle Village, a community for convicted sex offenders in rural Florida, five men sit in a therapy class, and are made to introduce themselves. “Say what your offence is, and then say what you actually did,”

Medium • 10th July 2019

SIGHTS UNSEEN

The ‘we’ is all of us (even those fresh and foreign to the process) who’ve worked on America is Hard to See, the ‘here’ is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the question — more complicated than I alone can answer — is:

Logo • 27th December 2018

The Top 10 Queer NYC Theater Productions of 2018

The Great Work truly began in 2018.Theatergoers were #blessed by high-profile Broadway revivals of iconic gay masterworks, controversial lesbian lip-locks, and herstoric trans representation headed in heels by Drag Race darling Peppermint, not to mention innumerable queer scene-stealers sharing New York City’s smaller stages.

Contemporary Theatre Review • 11th June 2018

America is Hard to See: Investigative Theatre for Modern Times - An Interview with Travis Russ & Priscilla Holbrook

This interview with playwright and director Travis Russ and composer/lyricist Priscilla Holbrook was conducted in Parenteau's research and development capacity for the project America is Hard to See...

Stage Left • 19th February 2018

REVIEW: "America is Hard to See"

It’s hard to imagine a class of people more universally hated than child sex offenders. Even among the most progressive and religious who preach forgiveness of sins there seems to be an agreed upon limit of empathy.

The New Yorker • 16th February 2018

America Is Hard to See

Life Jacket Theatre Company (“Gorey: The Secret Lives of Edward Gorey”) introduces us to a strange community that could only be American. The writer-director Travis Russ put together this lovely show...

Broadway World • 13th February 2018

BWW Interview: Life Jacket Theatre's Travis Russ Discusses Bringing True Stories to the Stage in AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE

Before a performance of the play America is Hard to See, in its world premiere at HERE, audience members have the opportunity to wander across a canvas map of Miracle Village. What appears as a gridded crisscrossing of rural living quarters is home to a community of men - sex offenders -

Exeunt Magazine NYC • 8th February 2018

Review: America Is Hard to See at HERE

Making documentary theatre takes great discipline and a touch of innovative genius. The Civilians and Anna Deavere Smith are exemplars of how to do it. With its new work, America Is Hard To See, Life Jacket Theatre has proven itself to be a strong new practitioner in this genre.

TheaterMania.com • 5th February 2018

America Is Hard to See Opens Off-Broadway

Life Jacket Theatre Company's America Is Hard to See recently opened at HERE. Travis Russ directs the new play with music and lyrics by Priscilla Holbrook.

Culturebot • 1st February 2018

My Experience Working On AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE

I first started working with Travis Russ’ Life Jacket Theatre Company in May 2015, by the New York miracle of answering a Playbill ad. Months later, I had read more about sex offenders than I ever thought I would have cared to know...

Playbill • 30th January 2018

Life Jacket Theatre Company’s America Is Hard to See Begins Off-Broadway

The team behind Gorey shine light on life inside Miracle Village, a rural community for sex offenders. Following its critically acclaimed production of Gorey, Life Life Jacket Theatre Company is back Off-Broadway with a new work about life inside Florida’s Miracle Village, a rural community for sex offenders.

TheaterMania.com • 4th January 2018

Life Jacket Theatre Company to Present America Is Hard to See

Life Jacket Theatre Company will present America Is Hard to See, a new play directed by Travis Russ, with music and lyrics by Priscilla Holbrook. The work also features music and scenic design by Russ. Performances begin January 30 at HERE, with opening night set for February 2.

Broadway World • 2nd January 2018

Life Jacket Theatre Company Presents the World Premiere Production of AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE

Life Jacket Theatre Company (Travis Russ, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the world premiere production of America is Hard to See, a new play with music written and directed by Travis Russ (Gorey: The Secret Lives Of Edward Gorey) with music and lyrics by Priscilla Holbrook (from the band, Susan Jane).

Life Jacket Theatre • 30th June 2017

America is Hard to See

Using a blend of interviews, archival research, Methodist hymns, and original songs, this daring new play investigates the lives in and around Miracle Village, a rural community for sex offenders...

HERE • 30th June 2017

America is Hard to See

In Fall 2015, members of LIFE JACKET THEATRE COMPANY travelled to southern Florida to interview the marginalized residents of Miracle Village, a rural community for sex offenders buried deep in...

IRT Theater • 21st October 2016

America is Hard to See | IRT Theater

AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE investigates Miracle Village, a small rural community for sex offenders buried deep in Southern Florida’s sugarcane fields.

WTLV • 4th December 2015

Florida sex offender story moves to New York stage

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Travis Russ says his decision to come to the tiny town of Pahokee draws a common response from natives. "Why would you come to Pahokee? Who comes...

(Projection)

Kickstarter • 16th March 2017

(Projection) World Premiere: a new play by Amelia Parenteau

We have been hard at work developing the world premiere of the new play (Projection) for the past 6 months, and as we continue our 6 week intensive rehearsal period, we need your help to cover the costs of rehearsal, production, and artist stipends.

Dixon Place • 11th April 2017

(Projection)

(Projection) peels back the layers of a New York millennial apartment, subverting and reinforcing the classic living room play to reveal the universal truths of defining yourself in your 20’s....

Liminal

The Lark • 23rd October 2015

Starting a Career and Starting Conversations

In the following piece Amelia Parenteau, playwright and former Lark apprentice, reflects upon the experience of her first production. She examines the combination of coincidences, connections, and countless hours of...

nytheater indie archive • 23rd August 2015

Liminal Review

Most New York City residents will, at some time or another, experience a time (and time again) where the city breaks your heart. It's different than a relational heartbreak; just...

Theatre Is Easy • 21st August 2015

Reviews | Liminal

By Amelia Parenteau; Directed by Daniella Caggiano Produced by Bedlam Ensemble Part of the 2015 New York International Fringe Festival Off Off Broadway, Play Runs through 8.29.15 VENUE #3: Teatro...

StageBuddy.com • 19th August 2015

FringeNYC Review: Liminal

That time when you first arrived to New York City and you were in awe of the city and figuring out yourself and the world, that time is the world...

The Villager • 12th August 2015

FringeNYC, From A to Zeitgeist | Liminal

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Take a hike, TKTS. Put a brick in it, Ticketmaster. Keep your pablum, “Phantom.”

Bedlam Ensemble • 1st August 2015

LIMINAL

Presented at Teatro LATEA as part of the 2015 New York International Fringe Festival - Tickets $18 Liminal is an insightful look at the “foot soldiers of gentrification" which follows...

New York Theatre Review • 20th July 2015

Jody Christopherson Interviews Playwright Amelia Parenteau about her new play Liminal priemering at FringeNYC

Talk to me about gentrification in NYC and your role in that. Where are you living and do you see yourself as a gentrifier? Where are you from originally? AP:...

Kickstarter • 2nd July 2015

Liminal at FringeNYC

Bedlam Ensemble is back in the New York International Fringe Festival with our latest production, Liminal. This exciting new comedy by Amelia Parenteau is coming to Teatro LATEA this August and we need your help to make it happen!