ARTIST BIO

Lisa Mayo began her performing career at age two, working with her mother and father in traveling variety shows. From there she developed a love of acting and music that has been the driving force of her professional life ever since.

Lisa and her sisters founded Spiderwoman Theater in 1975 when they organized a workshop at the Washington Square Methodist Church in New York City. With limited budgets and the ability to attract large multicultural audiences, the company's existence was confirmed with some 70 performances in New York and Boston within a year of its debut. After thirty years, Spiderwoman Theater, the longest-running feminist performance group in existence, continues to present vibrant, original work that entertains, challenges, and enlightens audiences around the world. In 1984-85, Spiderwoman received a prestigious "Village Voice Obie Award" for Off-Broadway Theater.

Lisa's activities have also included training as a mezzo-soprano at the New York School of Music, performing in musical theater, and appearing in commercials, films and television. Lisa Mayo and her two sister's lives and work was the subject of a documentary "Sun, Moon and Feather" broadcast nationally on PBS in 1990. Over sixty-five years from the time she first performed in front of an audience, Ms. Mayo received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Miami University, Ohio in March 1999.

Lisa's commitment to the performing arts is matched by her service to the Native American community. Long known as a mentor to younger performing artists and a beloved elder in the community, Ms. Mayo has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Indian Community House Inc. since 1987 and an Officer of the Board for the last five years. In 1994 the New York City Native American community honored Lisa Mayo for her service and commitment to the community at the annual Pow Wow at Queens County Farm. Ms. Mayo has served as Chairperson of the Board of American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) during some of its most exciting and dynamic expansion.

Website:

staff.lib.muohio.edu/nawpa/Spiderwoman.html