Ruby Lynn Reyner

Ruby Lynn Reyner is an American singer, songwriter, musical playwright and actress known as the star of the Playhouse of the Ridiculous and associated as the leader of the Glitter Rock /Glam Rock band Ruby and the Rednecks in New York. She and her band performed on the New York Club circuit such as Max's Kansas City and CBGB's during the 1970s with other noted artists like Debbie Harry, Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, Patty Smith and The New York Dolls.[1] Reyner also did film starring in "Heaven Wants Out" [2] by director Robert Feinberg in 1970 and made several appearances in Andy Warhol's productions.[3]

Ruby Lynn Reyner
Ruby in 2010
Background information
Birth nameLynn Reyner
Born (1948-01-27) January 27, 1948
Brooklyn, New York, US
OriginNew York City
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Playwright
  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Director
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1967 - present
LabelsPoo Poo Plater
Associated acts
Websitehttp://www.rubylynnreyner.com/

Reyner was included among Warhol Factory denizens, artists and superstars such as Holly Woodlawn, Jackie Curtis, Ondine e Ultra Violet and modeled for photographer Francesco Scavullo for his photo book "Scavullo: Francesco Scavullo Photographs 1948–1984". She also modeled for Leee Black Childers, who included her in his "130 Fabulous Faces".

Throughout the 1970s Reyner continued performing with her band on the downtown glam punk rock scene[4] in NYC until experiencing a serious illness in 1982 which suspended her career for several years. It wasn't until the 1990s that she returned to music and performance continuing until today. Reyner last directed, performed and produced her play "Singin'in the ER" in the Fall, 2019 at Theater for the New City in New York City.[5]

Early life and career

Born Lynn Reyner on January 27, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York to Dr. Franklin Cooper Reyner and actress Rubye Reyner[6] (né Rubye Meyers), Ruby Lynn Reyner spent her infancy under the care of her maternal grandmother and family in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. Her father was a physician, an Ob/Gyn Specialist,[7] who moved the family to Long Island, New York.

Ruby Lynn attended and then graduated from South Side Sr. High School in Rockville Centre at which point she entered for Emerson College majoring in Drama. After 1 year she began a career in modeling and attended a rehearsal of The Playhouse of the Ridiculous and was introduced to John Vacarro who immediately put her in the chorus of "Conquest of the Universe". Ruby soon rose to the feature role as Alice, the conqueror's wife which made her the darling of the downtown theater scene. She starred in many Playhouse productions during the 1970s and 1980s.[8]

Recently Ruby has been invited for many interviews, including QueerCore Podcast (with Agosto Machado and Tony Zanetta) by the 26-year-old LGBTQ historian, August Bernadicou, talking about her experience with the LGBTQIA+ theater and Punk Rock movement of the 1970s. Reyner told how the Theater of the Ridiculous impact contemporary music, fashion and culture.[9]

Theatre
Ruby performing Voideville with Gordon Bressac at the Theatre for the New City

Ruby Lynn Reyner performed with Playhouse of the Ridiculous[10] and was added to the cast of Drag Queens and Warhol superstars.[3] She appeared in 40 Vacarro productions such as "Conquest of the Universe", "Lady Godiva", "Heaven Grand in Amber Orbit", "Cock Strong", "Son of Cock Strong" and "Pineapple Face" by Rosilind Drexler.[11]

She remained with the Playhouse for many years starring in such roles as "Heaven Grand in Amber Orbit" by Jackie Curtis,[12] "Sissy" by Seth Allan and Trilby in "La Bohemia" written and directed by John Vacarro.

Ruby Lynn won the Drama Desk Award for outstanding performance in "La Bohemia" and received good notices for her Broadway role of Mary, Queen of Scots in Paul Foster's "Elizabeth I".[13]

Reyner and her co-writer Gordon Bressac (another PlayHouse alumnae) created and produced several musical variety shows at Crystal Fields Theater for the New City including "Voidville 1" and "Vandals of 1981", and was an underground success. In addition, she made appearances in other shows like Jimmy Camecia's the "Hot Peaches". During the 1990s Ruby wrote, directed and starred in "Singing' in the Islands" and "Christmas in the Islands" both having great success.  

A natural comedienne and compared to the female version of Jerry Lewis, Ruby had her inspirations in Hollywood icons like Lucille Ball, Betty Hutton and Mae West. She continues to write, direct and perform in the show "Singin' in the ER", a satirical play about her own hospital experiences, recently produced at the Theater for the New City during the Fall of 2019 for a sold out 3-week run.[14]

Music
Ruby and the Rednecks in 2004

Reyner sang in many Playhouse productions and formed a band with her collaborating musical artists, Ruby and the Rednecks.

Ruby Lynn Reyner wrote satirical songs, many from the Playhouse, with her partner and collaborator John Madera and debuted at the Mercer Arts Center where she opened for The New York Dolls and thus became part of the glam rock movement and punk rock scene at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's.

Ruby has performed with the Rednecks since the 1970s.[15] In one of these performances singing her song "Beat Me Daddy" according to the Village Voice: "Ruby threw out an oversized Teddy Bear, shrieked, stomped on the bear, kicked it, clawed at the audience while her claque (from Interview Magazine I was told) roared back their delight. Meanwhile Michael Goldstein of the Soho Weekly News was telling Tina Weymouth, Trixie A. Balm and myself that Ruby was going to make it big because she has what it takes..."[1]

She has produced two albums for Ruby and the Rednecks; From the Wrong Side of Town produced with Peter Crowley and Live Again! at CBGB's a live album, narrated by Jayne County.

In 2018, in New York, as a tribute given to members of the avant garde arts community, Ruby Lynn Reyner accept her Acker Award for the outstanding contribution of her musical career.[16]

Film

With multiple appearances in Andy Warhol films, Ruby starred in "Heaven Wants Out". This film also features Warhol Superstars Holly Woodlawn, Mary Woronov, Ondine and the photographer Francesco Scavullo was[17] directed by Robert Feinberg and filmed in New York City in 1970.

"Heaven Wants Out" remained on the shelf incomplete until the 2000s when the film's history was told by the Emmy nominated documentary "Finishing Heaven"[18] appearing on HBO in 2008.[19]

Reyner also had the lead role in 1971's "About Me: A Musical" by the famous photographer Robert Frank, when the filmmaker outsources himself to the actress.[20] Appearances in the other feature documentary include Beautiful Darling. Her most recent appearance was the Posse Queen in Generation Um directed by Mark Mann.

Personal life

Her personal life is told in the Emmy nominated documentary Finishing Heaven, a HBO Documentary Film/ in association with Mark Mann Movies which appeared on HBO and Netflix.[18]

Filmography
Year Title Role Director
1967 Four Stars (aka ****) Ruby Andy Warhol
1971 About Me: A Musical [21] Robert Frank Robert Frank
2002 The Cockettes[10] Herself Bill Weber, David Weissman
2008 Finishing Heaven[22] Herself Mark Mann
2009 Heaven Wants Out[17] Heaven Robert Feinberg
2010 Beautiful Darling[23] Herself James Rasin
2012 Generation Um[24] Posse Queen Mark Mann

Broadway
Year Title Role Theater
1972 Elizabeth I[13] Mary, Queen of Scotts Lyceum Theatre
1971 Delicate Champions Princess Freafreara Lincoln Center

Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway
Title Role Theater
Conquest of the Universe Alice, the Queen of the Universe Bouwerie Lane Theatre
Lady Godiva Lady Godiva Playhouse of the Ridiculous, La Mama
Life of Juanita Castro Fidel Castro Theatre for the New City
Cock Strong Denise La Mama
Son of Cock Strong Denise La Mama
Heaven Grand and Amber Orbit Heaven Grand La Mama
Sissy by Seth Allan Lead La Mama
Pineapple Face Noriega Mistress Theatre for the New City
La Fin Du Cirque Axe Lady La Mama
Voideville 1 Emcee Theatre for the New City
Off the Cuff Lead Theatre for the New City
Last Brunch Old Mary Theatre for the New City
Christmas Cards Young Mary Theatre for the New City
Champagne by Jackie Curtis Sophie Theatre World
La Bohemia Trilby La Mama
YMCA Lena, the laughing hyena Stigwood Productions
Vandals of 1981 Host, Kitty, Stella Diplomat Hotel
Book of Etiquette Cecilla La Mama
Gulliver's Travels Queen Glonda Loona La Mama Annex
Midsummer Nights Dream Puck La Mama Annex
Not Up To Snuff Natasha Performance Space New York
Andy Milligan Cinderella'85 Cinderella Park Avenue Christian Church
Lily, A Tragedy for cabaret or Lounge Lily La Mama Cabaret
Red Tide Blooming Tanorexic Gypsey Performance Space New York
Singin'in the Island Amanda, director, playwright La Mama Galleria
Christmas in the Island Amanda, director, playwright La Mama
Voideville 2 Emcee, co-Director Theatre for the New City
Two by Tavel Fidel Castro Theatre for the New City
Singin' in the ER[14] Amanda, director, playwright Theatre for the New City

Awards
YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
1972 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance in a Musical  La Bohemia[13] Won
2018 Acker Award Music Musical Career[16] Won

Ruby and the Rednecks Discography

Albums
  • From the Wrong Side of Town (2004)[25]
  • Live Again! At CBGB's (2008)

Compilation albums
  • Max's Kansas City 1976 & Beyond (2017)[26]

References
  1. "A Conservative Impulse in the New Rock Underground". Villagevoice.com.
  2. "Ruby Lynn Reyner Heaven Wants Out (1970)". Howlarts.org. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. "Warholstars News Archive July 2008". Warholstars.org.
  4. "Magic Tramps - Current Noise". Magictramps.com.
  5. "Singin' in the E.R. (Closed October 13, 2019) | New York City | reviews, cast and info | TheaterMania". Theatermania.com.
  6. "Alumni Graduation Archive - The American Academy of Dramatic Arts". Aada.edu.
  7. "Dr. Franklin Reyner, MD – Rockville Centre, NY | Obstetrics & Gynecology on Doximity". Doximity.
  8. Weber, Bruce (August 11, 2016). "John Vaccaro, Whose Playhouse of the Ridiculous Gave Anarchy a Stage, Dies at 86". Nytimes.com.
  9. "The Theater of the RidiculousM". Player.fm.
  10. "John Vaccaro and the Playhouse of the Ridiculous". Travsd.wordpress.com. May 7, 2017.
  11. "John Vaccaro and the Playhouse of the Ridiculous". Travsd.wordpress.com. May 7, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  12. Highberger, Craig B. (November 24, 2015). Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504025089 – via Google Books.
  13. "Ruby Lynn Reyner". Playbill.
  14. "Theater for the New City Stages World Premiere of SINGIN' IN THE E.R." BroadwayWorld.com.
  15. "People". Dsps.lib.uiowa.edu. August 14, 2018.
  16. "2018 Acker Awards" (PDF). Nyackerawards.info. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  17. "Heaven Wants Out". IMDb.com.
  18. Koehler, Robert (July 8, 2008). "Finishing Heaven".
  19. Kurutz, Steven (September 30, 2009). "HBO Documentary Follows a Scorsese Protege's 37-Year Quest to Complete His Film". Blogs.wsj.com.
  20. "Altered States: Robert Frank Uncovered America — And Robert Frank". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  21. "About Me: A Musical". IMDb.com.
  22. "Finishing Heaven". IMDb.com.
  23. "Beautiful Darling". IMDb.com.
  24. "Generation Um..." IMDb.com.
  25. "Ruby & The Rednecks - From the Wrong Side of Town". Daddykool.com.
  26. "Max's Kansas City 1976 & Beyond". Jungle-records.net.
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