Claywoman is a 500-million-year-old enigma who, legend has it, can cure anyone of their deepest pain. She has traveled the universe searching for souls to heal and planets to save.

The Mystery of Claywoman, written and performed by Michael Cavadias and directed by Rob Roth, combines the forms of a documentary screening and lecture to actualize the story of Claywoman. Claywoman was originally developed by Cavadias while working with seminal downtown performance troupe Blacklips Performance Cult and with Mabou Mines E.T.C.’s artist residence program. The cast of the film includes Amy Poehler, Alan Cumming, Justin Bond, and Ruth Maleczech.

Michael Cavadias has acted in many films, including Wonder Boys (alongside Michael Douglas and Robert Downey Jr.), fronted the rock band “Bullet,” whose songs were featured in the film The Safety of Objects, and is currently a featured performer with the Citizens Band. As a fashion model, Cavadias has been photographed by Terry Richardson, Stephen Klein, Mario Testino, and Albert Watson. He is also known as dj and performance artist Lily of the Valley.

Director Rob Roth is a founding member of Click + Drag, the infamous Saturday night performance party at Mother, for which Roth created video installations, photography, design, and performance. Roth has collaborated and created works for Justin Bond (Kiki and Herb), Caden Manson/Big Art Group, Blondie/Deborah Harry, and choreographer Julie Tolentino. He is director and creator of Screen Test, the live rock opera with Theo and the Skyscrapers, and directed Deborah Harry’s new video for the single Two Times Blue.

The Mystery of Claywoman
Written and Performed by Michael Cavadias
Directed by Rob Roth
Edited by Rob Roth  
Animation: Rob Roth, Brian Finney, Kenji Yamashita

Courtney Tichman: makeup
Jamie Clayton: makeup assistant
Ben Kato: lighting design
Todd Thomas: costume design
Trent Ermes: director of photography
Palmyra Delran and Sean Pierce: music

Film Cast

Justin Bond
Alan Cumming
Rachelle Garniez
Deborah Harry
Viatcheslav Kopturevskiy
Trip Langley  
Ruth Maleczech
Amy Miles  
Edgar Oliver
Amy Poehler
Mauro Von Waldenberg
Steve Wangh  

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The Mystery of Claywoman
Directed by Rob Roth
Written and performed by Michael Cavadias