We live now. Everything, past and future is happening in the present moment. This is Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater – performance art that invites audiences to make their own art as part of the experience.

It is art activism in its essential form. Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater puts collaborative, dynamic energy into otherwise uninspiring figure drawing and theater by combining performance art, with live,communal art making. It questions artistic tradition, practice and theater viewing. Over 10,000 artists from across the globe take part in Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater, forming a new kind of gathering: a community bridging gaps, filled with a multitude of styles, mediums, and techniques, excluding no one.

Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater was created to integrate all artistic factions, and form a community where there had been none before. This new form of art making/happening/performance was, and remains, an attempt to emancipate and connect. It was impossible to know how much Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater would thrive. An entire artistic subculture has come together, and is emerging as a bold mark on the New York Art scene – a Positive Art Machine.

It ultimately begins with a drawing. Michael Alan’s studio work and drawing process bring about the ideas that develop characters for each performance. These ideas turn into costumes and sets, but furthermore, the drawing is brought to life as a living “human sculpture”.Its then altered by many hands more. This is the evolving creative spiral that makes the show. The literal interplay between artist andart is reciprocally limitless.

Although it is called Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater, anyone and everyone, artist or not, is free to interpret the living art they see through painting, writing, collage, sculpture, spectating or even joining in the stage performance. Audience members are at liberty to Be and Do, unrestricted by imposed boundaries. This is one of the rare performances where the audience members are encouraged to move from seat to seat, stand on chairs for a new perspective, or move up close and draw in the environment.

Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater stems from punk and hard core roots, and exemplifies a Do-It-Yourself attitude. Less than a handful of people self-promote and self-produce a full-scale show that is sustained for 5 to 9 hours. Sets, props, and costumes are crafted. Entire environments are created within two hours of showtime. Most of the predetermined themes, poses and interactions are open to improvisation by the performers. They are a conglomeration of artists,musicians, performers and art models. Each contributes his own style, interpretation and talent to the whole.

Nomadic for the most part, Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater has appeared with its little hovering swarm of artists in some unlikely places in New York City. Michael Alan even opens up his studio, home,kitchen, and bathroom to host productions when there is no venue available.

With a fixed residence, Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater has a chance to evolve even further. But as the search for a home continues,such spaces as the Gershwin Hotel, ABC NO RIO, Teatro Iati, Teartro Circulo, Jack the Pelican Presents, the Chelsea Art Museum, the Pochron Gallery, and, unwittingly, the Whitney Museum have opened their doors and hosted performances.

In the summer, Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater takes the show to the streets, with their hand-built theater trucks, a theater on wheels, Popping up at tourist hot-spots, and braving the chicest neighborhoods, costumed characters dare people to have a taste of Other.

Michael Alan’s Draw-a-thon Theater continues its evolutionary process.Perhaps the troupe will make an improv art intervention reality drawing television show starring Dave The one legged Chicken Man who serves pancake dances for everyone! This is still only the beginning of the journey, and the course is wonderfully unpredictable.