Natalie Elizabeth Weiss – Creator/Composer/Lyricist/Co-Librettist
Natalie Elizabeth Weiss is a Brooklyn-based playwright, composer, performer, and DJ. She has written four original musicals, three of which she self-produced: Cami, Lamby and Quinn (Orlando Fringe Festival 2003), A Metamorphosis (Orlando Fringe Festival 2004, recipient of the S.U.R.E. Undergraduate Research Award for Innovative Puppetry), and Jack and the Beanstalk (Galapagos Art Space: Evolve Theater Series 2005, recipient of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Swing Space Grant.) Natalie’s fourth musical, CAMP WANATACHI, was her first professionally produced work (produced by Blue Man Group co-founder Ian Pai and Legend of the Seeker star Bridget Regan) in The New York Fringe Festival (2009), 3LD Art & Technology Center (2010), and at La MaMa ETC (2011). CAMP WANATACHI, a boundary mashing collaboration with Bekah Brunstetter and glitch-hop pioneer Machinedrum, has been heralded as “hilariously subversive” by NY Magazine, “refreshing and uplifting” by TimeOut NY, “very catchy” by the NY Post, and “uplifting and endlessly impressive” by The Advocate.
In addition to writing for musical theater, Natalie also writes music for her band Unicornicopia. Wielding keyboards, an accordion, a vocoder and armfuls of electronics, Unicornicopia’s artful electro-pop has been featured at PS1’s WARM UP (2008), the Performa Biennial (2007), the Rock Accordion Summit (2006), countless Brooklyn and Manhattan venues including Le Poisson Rouge, Joe’s Pub, CBGB’s, The Knitting Factory and a National Tour (2009; recipient of Orlando Cultural Council’s Fine Arts Grant). Natalie also performed as Unicornicopia for the MFA students in NYU’s Steinhardt Studio Performance Track (2010) and recently completed a performance residency at Ramiken Crucible Gallery in the Lower East Side. Natalie’s debut album, “Grace. You’re a Dear.” was produced by Joe McGinty of the Psychedelic Furs, and the new single “Under the Sun” was produced by Jeff Saltzman (producer of The Killers’ multiplatinum Hot Fuss). Natalie recently completed a jingle for the art group [DADDY] with Wooster Group sound designer Omar Zubair, and in June 2011, she will present a concert of her new music at Ars Nova in NYC.
Natalie works professionally as a DJ. Her signature mix of Electro, Pop, Bounce, and Throwback Jams – peppered with the occasional Alan Menken remix – has garnered her DJ sets at New York Fashion Week (2008) and on bills shared with members of Butthole Surfers, Chairlift, Fischerspooner, Santigold, Psychic TV and Dirty Projectors, as well as with the actors Steve Martin and Meryl Streep. Natalie’s passion for innovative club music also led her to co-found CASSETTENYC, a Brooklyn based sonic-assault Dance Party that Flavorpill calls “Slammin’… an event not to be missed.”
Drawing from her conservatory training (BFA in Acting from University of Central Florida 2004; recipient of the Bright Futures Full Academic Scholarship), Natalie also works professionally as an actress and singer. Her performance as Corky in CAMP WANATACHI was deemed “inspirational” by TimeOut NY. In 2007, Natalie was honored to perform the Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra hit “Sand” at Lee Hazelwood’s memorial service. Natalie can also be heard on the Break-Up Episode of This American Life with Phil Collins, dueting with Anne Magnuson on Fisherspooner’s single “A Modern World,” and performing an accordion brandishing comedy routine in a National Commercial for Ziddio.com. One of Natalie’s greatest joys is performing at Loser’s Lounge – a popular tribute night at Joe’s Pub – where she hams it up alongside the likes of Tony Award-winning star Michael Cerveris and Parker Posey.
