

Quarry
Synopsis
Monk’s meditation on WWII and recurring cycles of intolerance, fascism, and cruelty in history originated in 1976 as a live stage work utilizing elements of music, images, movement, dialogue, film, sound, and light. This film version, shot on 16mm in the Lepercq Space at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1977, was created in partnership with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts as part of their initiative to document ground-breaking live performance for future restaging. QUARRY centers on a sick American child (played by Monk herself) whose world darkens as her illness progresses, this darkening including the rise of a dictator. A unique document of this innovative, boundary-blurring production, and a work of art on its own terms, replete with a film-within-a-film directed by Monk in 1975.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Meredith Monk
Child
Ping Chong
The Dictator
Steve Clorfeine
Dictator's Aide
Tone Blevins
Old Testament woman / Dictator
Daniel Ira Sverdlik
Old Testament man / Dictator
Lanny Harrison
Radio Singer / Announcer / Woman in a flowered dress / Dictator
Monica Moseley
Woman at a table / Dictator
Pablo Vela
Man with grey hair / Dictator
Lee Nagrin
Woman with Gray Hair
Mary Shultz
Woman at Table
Gail Turner
Woman at a table
Anne Gentry
Visitor at the table
Coco Pekelis
Maid
Andrea Goodman
Organist
Steve Lockwood
Organist
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 8, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Meredith Monk, Amram Nowak
- Screenplay & Story
- Meredith Monk
- Original Score
- Meredith Monk
- Original Title
- Quarry
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 22m
- Production Studios
- New York Public Library of Performing Arts, The House Foundation for the Arts
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Meredith Monk, Amram Nowak
Meredith Monk
Meredith Monk
Adam Bernardi, Bob Rosen
Kirstin Kapustik, Peter Sciscioli
Department Leadership Roster
Meredith Monk
Writer
Meredith Monk
Original Music Composer
Peter Sciscioli
Producer
Adam Bernardi
Editor
Bob Rosen
Editor
Ping Chong
Production Design
Jean-Claude Ribes
Production Design
Steve Clorfeine
Costume Design
Lanny Harrison
Costume Design
Meredith Monk
Director
Amram Nowak
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Quarry.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Quarry
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Quarry about?
Monk’s meditation on WWII and recurring cycles of intolerance, fascism, and cruelty in history originated in 1976 as a live stage work utilizing elements of music, images, movement, dialogue, film, sound, and light. This film version, shot on 16mm in the Lepercq Space at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1977, was created in partnership with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts as part of their initiative to document ground-breaking live performance for future restaging. QUARRY centers on a sick American child (played by Monk herself) whose world darkens as her illness progresses, this darkening including the rise of a dictator. A unique document of this innovative, boundary-blurring production, and a work of art on its own terms, replete with a film-within-a-film directed by Monk in 1975.
Who directed Quarry?
Quarry was directed by Meredith Monk, Amram Nowak.
Who stars in Quarry?
The principal cast of Quarry includes Meredith Monk, Ping Chong, Steve Clorfeine, Tone Blevins, Daniel Ira Sverdlik.
When was Quarry released and how long is it?
Quarry was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 22m.
Who composed the musical score for Quarry?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Quarry was composed by Meredith Monk.
