Book Celebration: The Diaries of Judith Malina with NOW! Judith Malina and the Living Theatre

Thursday, Oct 22nd, 6:30 pm

The Diaries of Judith Malina, volumes 1-4 compiles the personal writings of radical theatre director, actor, and activist Judith Malina, spanning 1947 through 1971—the most influential period of her remarkable and storied career. A committed anarchist and pacifist, Malina made theatre as a way to engage in revolutionary action. Her diaries showcase her political and social observations, cultural commentary, self-reflection, and wit. This expertly prepared set is compiled and edited by theater historian Kate Bredeson, who worked for over eleven years on the project. Bredeson invites us to recognize Malina for her accomplishments not only as an artist and an activist, but as one of the great literary diarists.

In addition, German writer, dramaturg, theatre critic, translator of American playwriting and historian Anna Opel from Berlin will discuss her 2026 Malina biography NOW! Judith Malina und das Living Theater (NOW! Judith Malina and the Living Theatre.) For the very first biography of Judith Malina, she explored archival material and traced Malina’s footsteps around the world, conducting research with artists in New York, Berlin, and southern Italy. Her focus lies on the exchange process between the Berlin avantgarde of the twenties and the artists in exile in New York after World War II, along with the explosion of activist aesthetics that followed.

With Kate Bredeson, Anna Opel, Alisa Solomon, Cindy Rosenthal, Louisa Pregerson, and others. Moderated by Frank Hentschker.

The Diaries of Judith Malina, volumes 1-4 is published by Northwestern University Press.

NOW! Judith Malina and the Living Theatre is published by Aviva Verlag.