I am my own commedia mask

In honor of International Commedia Dell'arte day, I took a series of self-portraits with my ibook camera that I am titling "I am My Own Commedia Mask"

Masks? I don't need no stinkin' masks! :o)


I've attached the slideshow here. But if you can't see them because you don't get flash, visit http://bit.ly/commedia_faces for the FLICKR page.

February 25: International Commedia Dell'Arte Day

(Thanks to new papa Brian Foley for bringing this to my attention!) He'll also be performing at the View Theatre, Roy Arias Studios on Feb 25 in celebration.  See the postcard below for details)

Associazione SAT

has proclaimed February 25, 2010, a worldwide Commedia dell'Arte Day

Simultaneous events will occur all around the world as theatre companies, scholars, students, and audiences celebrate Commedia dell'Arte on Feb 25, 2010. There will be shows, conferences, lectures, and workshops in dozens of global cities. This worldwide festival is promoted by the Italian cultural association SAT and organized by Faction of Fools using viral and grassroots tools, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

View the current list of worldwide participants!

For more information, email them, join the Facebook group “Commedia
dell'Arte Day,” and become a "Facebook fan" of Faction of Fools.

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Theatre companies--large and small--will produce shows in the style of Commedia dell'Arte using traditional character types and scenarios. On Feb 25th, events will occur in hundreds of cities as diverse as Boston, Barcelona, Bangkok, and Beirut. The flagship event will be in Bologna where SAT and La Fraternal Compagnia will host an international conference of prominent European scholars and performers. Other companies are invited to produce events in their own cities and may utilize the free scripts and performance guides that are available on the Faction of Fools website http://www.factionoffools.org.

Commedia will also be in the classroom as theatre instructors dedicate their February 25th class time to Commedia dell'Arte at drama schools and universities around the world. Primary and secondary school teachers in the US can find easy-to-use, free curriculum that will aid them in teaching a lesson on Commedia dell'Arte tailored to their theatre, art, history, literature, or language classes. Curriculum will be available on the Faction of Fools website in January.

Did you know that Commedia dell' Arte is not recognized
as a "World Cultural Heritage"?

The United Nations' cultural wing (UNESCO) has officially recognized indigenous theatre traditions such as Japan's Noh and Kabuki; however, the famous "stock characters" of Commedia dell'Arte--Arlecchino (Harlequin), Pulcinella, Dottore (the Doctor), Pantalone (the Pantaloon), Scapin (Scapin), and Scaramuccia (Scarmouche)--have yet to be acknowledged.

The Italian cultural association SAT is petitioning the nation of Italy and the United Nations (UNESCO) for official recognition of this famous and monumental theatre form, and Faction of Fools is proud to support this appeal.

To organize a “Commedia dell'Arte Day” event in a theatre or classroom near you or for more information about SAT's petition for recognition of Commedia dell'Arte as "World Cultural Heritage," email Faction of Fools Artistic Director Matthew R. Wilson.

Commedia dell'Arte Day is promoted by SAT and is organized by Faction of Fools and the SAT project incommedia.it.

Commedia at Lincoln Center (July 22-26)

The New York Premiere of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano's production of Goldoni's classic work: Trilogia della villeggiatura

Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni’s 1761 three-part satire of the Italian middle class was given new life more than 50 years ago by Piccolo Teatro di Milano’s late founder, Giorgio Strehler.

With a nod to Strehler and in the spirit of Goldoni, Italian actor and director Toni Servillo continues this legacy of innovation that helped to redefine commedia dell’arte nearly 250 years ago.

Recently appearing in the Italian films Gomorrah and Il divo and “widely reputed to be the best Italian stage and screen actor of his generation” (The International Herald Tribune), Servillo stars in and directs his own company, Teatri Uniti di Napoli, in a co-production with the famed Piccolo Teatro di Milano in this fresh and charming version of a seminal work. This remarkably timely piece of comic theater reminds us that the masks we wear to escape from ourselves hide nothing and only serve to draw attention to the complicated realities of our everyday lives.

Performed in Italian with English supertitles

This performance is approximately two hours and forty-five minutes with one intermission.

FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY!
Wed, July 22, 8 pm
Thurs,July 23, 8 pm
Fri, July 24, 8 pm
Sat, July 25, 8 pm
Sun, July 26, 3 pm

at the Rose Theater, Broadway at 60th Center (Lincoln Center)

Buy tickets at this page: http://www.lincolncenter.org/search_results.asp?showcode=32269

Another session of Commedia U (NY) June 14-26

Stanley Allen Sherman and Hovey Burgess present another in their series of intensive Commedia Dell'arte Courses .
It starts this Sunday at pier Studios in NY.

Commedia dell'Arte Summer Intensive Seminar 2 Week Workshop
June 14th - June 26, 2009
Price $795
at pierStudios in New York NY

RCCU is in its eight year of teaching Classical Commedia dell'Arte as close to its original form as we believe it was performed in the 1500's and 1600's. Master mask maker and Commedia dell'Arte expert Stanley Allan Sherman will lead this Commedia dell'Arte intensive.

These are the areas this workshop will concentrate on
…Commedia dell'Arte characters Pantalone, Arlecchino, Brighella, Dottore, Capitano, Lovers and Women --their movement, gesture and history of the characters, improvisation, lazzi, mask work, mask making, physical skills, prop manipulation, rhythm, scatology, scenario work and more; all integrated.

Much of the scenario and improvisation work will be taken from their new translation of three of Flaminio Scala scenarios believed to be from the legendary Gelosi Company 1572 to 1604.

For registration and to reserve your place or if you have any questions please feel free to call or e-mail Stanley Allan Sherman at 212-243-4039 or
via e-mail: il-dottore@commediau.com.
Registration fee to reserve your place: $75

If you can't make this one, the next workshop is in Turkey in July.

For more info, visit their website:

http://www.commediau.com/events.html

Rat Bastards (Tutti Stronzi) June 3-7 NY

This is a commedia piece by a very talented performer and writer Julia Pearlstein--

I first met Julia at a meeting of the RAT Conference in Los Angeles, where as part of a group, we had to create a show that performed an impossible task. My group's task was to sink the Los Angeles Theatre Center like the Titanic. Her groups task was to blow up the world as we knew it.

My group ended up winning, but it was a very close call, and Julia's group was one of the best and most creative uses of the space I'd ever seen.

She's since moved back to NY, has been seen socializing with a certain scholar and practitioner of the fine art of Vaudeville (and whose writings can be marvelled at over at the Travalanche )

I haven't seen this piece, but I highly recommend it.

At Dixon Place June 3 - 7. www.dixonplace.org

Fwd: See TARTUFFE in Boston Oct. 25

"Staged by Perrone as a cornucopia of physical gags and played to hilarious perfection" - Rob Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 25 Cutler Majestic Theatre, Emerson College, Boston 8pm, Tickets $45 Boisterous characters, lavish comedy and the trademark physicality of the Dell'Arte ensemble combine with the finely crafted satire of Moliere for an evening of masks, music and laughter. In Tartuffe, a religious charlatan takes over a family's life until the tables are turned by virtue of his own excesses. One of Moliere's most acclaimed plays, this work has a clear contemporary resonance for our times in a visually spectacular production the whole family will enjoy. Visit the Cutler Majestic Theatre website for more information and to buy tickets. You can also call 1-800-233-3123 for tickets. The Culter Majestic Theatre is located at Emerson College in the Heart of Boston's Historic Theatre District, 219 Tremont Street. ** STAY AROUND FOR A POST-PERFORMANCE TALKBACK CAST & CREW Michael Fields  | Tartuffe Deborah Taylor Barrera  | Elmire Adrian Mejia | Orgon, Flipotte Andrew Phoenix  | Cleante Barbara Geary | Pernelle, Carina David Ferney | Valere Jackie Dandeneau | Mariane Keight Gleason | Dorine Giulio Cesare Perrone | Director  Kristen Schumaker  | Stage Manager Bruce Marrs | Mask Designer Tim Gray | Sound Designer ABOUT DELL'ARTE: Dell'Arte International is the North American center for theatre training, research, and performance of the actor-creator. We are a committed community of artists who model and share in a sustained ensemble artistic practice. International in scope, grounded in the natural living world, inspired by our non-urban setting, Dell'Arte International explores theatre making, theatre practice and theatre training for ourselves, the world and the future. For more information, visit www.dellarte.com

Dell'arte Goes to Bali 2009 Feb 9-March 12, 2009

FEBRUARY 9 - MARCH 12, 2009
Check out the Bali Blog 2007
by School Director Joan Schirle

Since 1996, Dell'Arte International has invited students, teachers, designers, directors, and artists to immerse themselves in the traditional arts of Bali and encounter the profound spirit of the Balinese people. In this unique and wonderfully successful program participants study traditional Balinese performing arts and crafts with village masters, as well as Dell'Arte mask and movement techniques led by Dell'Arte's Founding Artistic Director Joan Schirle and Dell'Arte faculty.

Bali is an extraordinary island where creativity is ordinary. In Bali, art serves the community, the religious practices, the economy and everyday living. This trip introduces students to Balinese performing arts in a way that allows them to experience how the Balinese live and create, and how family life and religious customs are woven into the creation of art. Unlike programs designed for art tourism, this program is designed for those who want to participate in the family life of outstanding Balinese master teachers as they teach.

Due to the sacred nature of most Balinese arts and the complete intertwining of daily life with ritual, this trip can be an opportunity to deepen our internal connection to our own artistic practice, as well as to take inspiration for creative projects.

THE PROGRAM
The program begins with a relaxing traditional Balinese buffet dinner, followed by three days of orientation to the language, customs, and ceremonies of Bali, as well as informal meetings with Balinese teachers to observe their work. Orientation will include a symposium on masks with famous carver I. B. Anom, visits to the studios of several mask carvers and puppet makers, and attendance at the famous kecak, or monkey-chant dance by firelight.
During the three and a half weeks of formal study, classes meet five days a week. Sometimes our study will take place in a classroom setting, sometimes outdoors, and most often in its traditional setting at village and temple ceremonies.

In addition to their core area of study, all students will study kecak, the rhythmic vocal chant, as well as participate in alternating yoga/Alexander Technique, ensemble voice/chant sessions, plus symposiums on the links between Balinese and western mask performance traditions.

All along there will be time for recreation such as mountain hiking, beaches, scuba, nightlife and shopping, including guidance on how to buy Balinese crafts. Massage and revitalizing body treatments are available at extremely low cost.

CORE AREAS OF STUDY

The core of the program is designed so that each student spends a large percentage of their class time on an area of interest most important to them, and we offer the following options:

• Mask Carving
• Mask Carving/ Balinese Dance (topeng)
• Shadow puppetry (wayang kulit) / Balinese dance

MASK CARVING
Learn from a Balinese master carver how to work with the wood, the traditional tools (axe, chisels, knives), and the paints to create traditional and contemporary masks. You may order and bring home their own complete set of tools for under $40. Students will spend 4 – 6 hours daily in the home of their teacher.
For a lively account of one man's encounter with mask carving, visit this link for interview with design Professor Ron Naverson (S. Illinois U, Carbondale), who was on our '03 trip.

MASK CARVING/BALINESE DANCE
Your morning will include one hour of Balinese dance. Topeng is the name of the masked dance form performed at most Balinese ceremonies. You will work in the studio of a Balinese master teacher, learning the basic walks, postures, arm and head movements in the mask. Topeng is based on stock characters like the king, minister, clown, and you will have the opportunity to see it performed at village ceremonies during your studies. Your carving program is the same as that described above, except that you will have a break after dance, and be carving in the afternoon, spending up to four hours daily with your teacher.

SHADOW PUPPETRY(wayang kulit) & BALINESE DANCE

Wayang kulit is the traditional art of storytelling through shadow puppets, performed by firelight. The puppet master is a combination of priest, storyteller, therapist, actor, and improviser, who manipulates and voices dozens of puppets in one play.
Your morning will include one hour of Balinese dance (see above). Your afternoon will be spent at the home of a shadow puppet master, or dalang, who will instruct you in the art of leather puppet making: design, using the metal punches, painting and rigging techniques. You will observe how the traditional shadow screen is used and develop a short shadow play. Those who are interested in learning Balinese music may elect to spend some time learning the gamelan instrument, the gender, which accompanies shadow plays.

For students who wish to study more dance, we will arrange for other teachers depending on your interest, at a small additional cost.

ACCOMODATIONS

Cost is based on double occupancy in fan-cooled rooms with two beds, private bath, and breakfast included. (Single rooms available for supplemental cost). There is a swimming pool, beautiful gardens, and a covered, open-air studio where some of our classes will be held. Other meals are available in nearby restaurants at very reasonable costs. Vegetarian food is easily available.

You may apply for a shortened version of the program, but must be able to begin the course on the start date. Address inquiries to the Bali program director.

All interested participants will receive detailed advance information on what to bring, how to prepare, and much more.

FOR MORE INFO: EMAIL OR CALL info@dellarte.com 707.668.5663
or visit http://www.dellarte.com

Seattle Clown Classes with Arne Zaslove

Arne Zaslove is teaching a class on clowning and physical theater in Seattle on 7 consecutive Mondays starting July 7. Classes will be held from 7 pm- 8:30 pm.

Classes will be held at [SANCA] The School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts – 674 S. Orcas, Seattle. The class is a very reasonable $133.

Arne Zaslove is a director, teacher, mask specialist and physical theater consultant. As a Fulbright scholar, Arne was the first American to study at Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. There he absorbed a deep understanding of masks and of physical theater. He later apprenticed with commedia dell' arte master Carlo Mazzone-Clementi (who went on to found the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake).

Arne's method of training actors was synthesized through years as Artistic Director of the National Theatre School in Canada, co-founder of the University of Washington PATP program, and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. His approach focuses on freeing the individual's body and imagination through a carefully devised sequence of physical exercises, mask work and improvisation. His students have gone on to varied and successful careers, from the circus to Stratford and Hollywood.

Arne has directed and taught in many regional theaters and universities across the U.S. and Canada. During his 20-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Bathhouse Theatre in Seattle, his updated Shakespeare productions and 17 versions of The Big Broadcast (a tribute to the golden age of radio) were especially popular with audiences for their sensitive interpretations and inventive flair. Arne has also worked extensively with David Shiner, and directed the cabaret/theatre/dinner show Pomp, Duck, and Circumstance, which has been featured in Berlin, Seattle, and San Francisco.


To find out more about the class, contact Tara Jensen at SANCA 206-652-4433 or visit the website listed below:
http://www.sancaseattle.org

To find out more about Arne Zaslove, follow the link below:

http://www.zaslove.com

6 week acting intensive in LA

6 week Acting Intensive

YOU ARE YOU
Laboratory Theater Work for the foundations of the actor's practice and the devising of performance
Based on Eastern European and Russian Traditions

Monday Evenings
May 19 – June 23
7 - 10pm
$240
limited scholarships available

This Workshop will approach the necessities of creating a foundational actor's practice and its application to monolog and scene work through the systematic isolation, coordination and development of the psychic, physical and vocal aspects of the performer's body thus allowing deeper expression and revelation of the self in performance.

[via]Corpora Studio
6575 Santa Monica Blvd Hollywood, CA 90038
Contact: bryan@viacorpora.com
213.249.1690

Necessities:
Clothes to move in
Text (chosen by participant and instructor)

You may want:
An extra shirt
A long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt (during breaks)
A notebook and pen (time for hunkering)
Water/snack

BRYAN BROWN has studied physical theater extensively in New York City, Europe, and Los Angeles. He has recently been invited to South Korea as Artist-in-Residence at Hooyang Performing Arts Centre. Previously, his last reconnaissance was 6 weeks in Wroclaw, Poland intensely working with instructors gathered by the Grotowski Institute as well as a profound worksession with Song of the Goat (teatr Piesn Kozla). For almost a decade, Bryan has researched with various physical theater investigators including Stephen Wangh and Raina von Waldenburg, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Mary Overlie and other Viewpoints practitioners, the members of Odin Teatret, Commedia dell'Arte instructors, Contact Dance originators, as well as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. The deepest application has been the process of creating, leading and learning with various experimental ensembles culminating in the work with Artel.

Dell'arte Workshop in LA 2/9/08

In conjunction with the LA tour of The Golden State, the Dell'Arte Company is offering a one-day workshop at 24th Street Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Where: 24th Street Theatre
When: Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, 2:00-6:00pm
Cost: $100


This four-hour workshop will be an exploration of the physical comedy techniques and ensemble-based exercises at the core of Dell'Arte's work. Physical theatre explores how proven notions of craft interact with an individual's physical expressive
possibilities. From commedia and vaudeville to contemporary theatrical circus, Dell'Arte training is the source of the work necessary to become an actor/creator.

Capacity: 25 students
Come dressed to move and ready to play.

Taught by Joan Schirle, School Director of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre

You can purchase your "ticket" to the workshop at the website listed below (more info about Dell'arte and their show (which the SF Bay Guardian called "...a glittering gem of a farce") is also listed below.

WORKSHOP: MORE INFO/PURCHASE
THE GOLDEN STATE: MORE INFO/PURCHASE TICKETS
ABOUT DELLARTE: http://www.dellarte.com

School of Physical Theatre, London England

The School of Physical Theatre is a full-time professional school based in London, UK, devoted to the training of physical theatre artists - writers, directors, and actors. The School offers a focused program - a voyage from the complex everyday world to its created reflection in the theatrical space.

The School was founded in 1978 in Toronto, Canada under the guidance of director and principal instructor, Ron East. It was originally constituted as a summer program, associated with Mr. East’s theatre production company. The curriculum engendered such an enthusiastic response that in 1979 the first full-time programme was instituted.

By 1984 the School was sufficiently established to become a separate organisation, and has run successfully ever since. In 1999 the school was moved to London England.

The founder and principal instructor Ron East has over 20 years of experience as an actor, director, producer, and performer. He has written 18 original plays, and worked as a television series director, taught at many colleges, universities, and conservatories, and performed at the Stratford Festival, where he was awarded the Tyrone Guthrie award for his work. He is also the author of Moving Images (currently out of stock at Amazon)

During its history the school graduated over 600 actors, dancers, writers, choreographers, directors, puppeteers and producers. Over 80% of their graduates make their living in whole or in part in the performing arts. Students have come from all over the world to study.

The school offers an intensive one year program, a summer intensive, a post-graduate program for graduates (including a pedagogical internship), and 3 weekend classes open to the public. Studies are based on the work of Lecoq (of whom Mr. East was a student) and include movement analysis, acrobatics, vocal technique, juggling, stage combat, improvisation, maskwork, commedia'dell'arte, clown, and bouffon. Students are expected to create and perform weekly in-house, and there are 3 public presentations of the work during the year.

To find out more about the school, visit their website listed below:
http://www.physicaltheatre.com

Brian Foley's Commedia Links

Brian Foley (of Circus Bambouk) has started a very nice Commedia Link blog-- he's putting up all sorts of great video regarding commedia, as well as book reviews, photographs, pictures of masks, thoughts, philosophy,etc. I highly recommend checking it out. Visit the blog at http://cdalinks.blogspot.com/


He posted two video links that I was especially interested in-- both feature Ferrucio Soleri. I studied with Soleri in 1996 in Copenhagen. (I had gone to Denmark because Dario Fo, Eugenio Barba, and Jerzy Grotowski were all in the same place at the same time. I was able to meet all three. While I was there, there was a large commedia festival. I snuck into Soleri's class, and afterwards introduced myself, and he graciously allowed me to stay and observe. (I also ended up doing a few exercises as well! The class was taught in broken english, so I ended up translating some, because I had the best command of English in the room.)

In the first, Soleri is teaching commedia on some kind of Italian reality show.

In the second, Soleri is performing a piece as Arlechino. His clarity, and his ability to carry us along in his performance is just wonderful.

Enjoy!

Soleri teaching on Italian TV



Soleri as Arlechino

Stanley Allan Sherman

Stanley Allan Sherman is a graduate of Ecole Jacque Lecoq in Paris France and has been making leather theatre masks since 1976. He was in the original cast of the Off Broadway Show, Grandma Sylvia's Funeral that ran for 3+ years. On NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien he has been in over 40 comedy bits.
Stanley is co-director and founder along with Hovey Burgess of Roving Classical Commedia University* (Totally Unaccredited). He is also known for his solo clown and commedia style shows that toured around the country and has been the featured show at many festivals for over 25 years, Stanley Allan Sherman's AERO SHOW Featuring The Star Spangled Banner was critic's choice in the Los Angles Times. He was a teacher and mask maker in the late 1970's under the direction of the master of Commedia dell'Arte, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi at his school the Dell'Arte School of Mime and Comedy in Blue Lake, California. (http://www.dellarte.com )

As a master leather craftsman he created the world famous Mankind Mask (the Arlecchino of the WWF) for the World Wrestling Federation. He had the longest running exhibition in the history of the NY Lincoln Center Museum of the Performing Arts. As a leather craftsman he has traded leather techniques and secrets with leather workers from around the world. Stanley directed and developed the children's show Bride of Beowulf, which toured for over 6 years. He has written three plays, teaches mask masking, performing, commedia, mime, clown and mask.

Stanley's websites:
MASK-MAKING: www.maskarts.com
COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE: www.commediau.com.
CLOWN FESTIVAL BLOG: Stanley's Clown Theater Festival Blog

Stanley is another of the official bloggers of the NY Clown Theater Festival. In addition, he's teaching a class at the festival! (I told you he was classy!)

Leather Clown Nose Making Workshop
WHEN: Monday October 15th 2-5pm & Wednesday October 17th 2-5pm
COST: $182 (includes material and tool fee. You get to keep the 7 tools.) *
WHERE: Mask Arts Studio 203 West 14th St Studio 5F, New York NY 10011-7138
WHAT ELSE: Maximum of 6 students.
To reserve your spot you must pay the full fee in advance, because Stanley needs to buy the tools and supplies in advance.

To find out more about the class, visit http://www.bricktheater.com/Sherman

* Past Clowns Nose Students of November or January who would like to take the class again may for a reduced fee of $58 including supplies.

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Laughing Gravy Commedia Workshop

Laughing Gravy Theatre Company is a company based in the UK that has recently moved to Brooklyn, NY. They aim to utilize the principles of Commedia dell' Arte to create both masked and unmasked theatre that is accessible to modern audiences. (and if you don't know, their company is named after a great Laurel and Hardy Short. You can see a scene from the movie on Youtube

The founders of the company are Laura Rikard & Paul Attmere. Paul most recently performed in the UK and Europe in the Commedia play Mozart's Music to a Carnival Pantamine with Antonio Fava and in Ur-Hamlet with Eugieno Barba's Odin Teatret in Denmark. He studied at the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre and with Antonio Fava in Italy. He was recently seen in Spacedog's Production of Sinster and The Haunt (nominated Best in Fringe at the 2006 Brighton Festival) and performed in and helped produced Scavenger with Wildstep Theatre for New Zealand Fringe in 2004, which won Best in Fringe.

Laura just returned from touring with the Chamber Theatre Company and was in NYC's first ever Sonnet Walk. She is currently rehearsing the role of Lady Macbeth for New Perspectives Theatre Company. She graduated from the graduate program at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts where Paul and she have taught Commedia workshops for the past two years. She trained in Commedia with Antonio Fava. She has also taught acting and Commedia for theatres and schools in NYC, South Carolina and Florida. She can be seen in Magnolia Pictures upcoming film The Great World of Sound.


They are offering their first Commedia workshop in NY on September 30 and October 1, 2007. The class is a one day intensive for beginners designed to guide students through the physicality and motivations of all the basic stock characters from Commedia dell' Arte. Students will also work with authentic leather commedia masks. Attendance in the class may possibly lead to future performance opportunities.

The workshop will be from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a one hour lunch break. The cost of the workshop is $50, and will be held at Playwrights Horizons,
416 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th avenues,
North rehearsal room, 5th floor.

For more information, please contact Laura at commediaworkshop@gmail.com
or call 347-689-4907.

You can also find out more about Laughing Gravy by visiting their myspace page listed below:

www.myspace.com/laughinggravytheatre

Elemental Theatre Collective's King Stag in RI

I've been hearing about these guys for a while, but didn't realize that they were Trinity Rep Conservatory grads. (I am also a Conservatory grad as well, admittedly a lot earlier than these guys (like 14 years!))

They are performing Carlo Gozzi's commedia masterpiece, King Stag through the month of August at venues around the state of Rhode Island. Admission is free. (although I'm sure that donations are accepted!)

If you are undecided about going, you can read this great review of their show in the Providence Phoenix.

KING STAG SCHEDULE

Sat 8/4, 6 pm - Clark Memorial Library - Carolina, RI- link
Sun, 8/5, 6 pm - Goddard Park - Warwick, RI - link

Sun 8/12, 6 pm - Foster Town Hall - Foster, RI - link
Wed 8/15, 6 pm - Louttit Library - West Greenwich, RI - link
Sat 8/18, 6 pm - WaterFire - Waterplace Park, Providence, RI - link

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~ ABOUT ELEMENTAL THEATRE COLLECTIVE ~

Elemental is a theatre collective primarily made up of the Trinity Rep Conservatory Class of 2002. During three years of intensive learning and collaboration, they became determined to continue their growth as theatre artists together after graduation.

In the fall of 2005, they mounted their first full-length show in Providence, a critically acclaimed production of Tony Kushner’s incendiary A Bright Room Called Day. It was nominated for Best Production, Best Director and Best Actress by Motif Magazine that year.

They also produce an annual summer festival of short plays in Tiverton called Outbursts!

This outdoor summer tour of King Stag, is the next step for them.

To find out more about Elemental Theatre Ensemble, visit them online at the websites listed below.

http://myspace.com/elementaltheatre
http://elementaltheatre.org

NY Workshop with Mario Gonzalez

Master Commedia Dell'Arte Mask and Clown Teacher, Mario Gonzalez, former principal actor with Le Theatre Du Soleil and Master Mask Teacher at the Conservatoire National Superieur D'Art Dramatique in Paris, will teach two workshops in New York in the beginning of August.

The workshops are designed for professional actors and other performers, yet are also appropriate and useful for teachers, directors, therapists, and others who work with the public.

The class has three parts:

1) Le Choeur: (chorus) Working with the Neutral Mask.
2) Le Naissance (birth) Creation of characters using masks.
3) Improvisation: texts, songs, props, and interactions with other characters.


Two workshop sessions are offered
July 30-August 4, 2007 from 2-6 pm
August 6-11, 2007 from 6-10 pm

at the Access Theatre, 380 Broadway (2 blocks south of Canal St)

Cost $450 for each workshop
Classes limited to 12 students.
Balance due first day of class.

REGISTRATION & INFORMATION
Contact Ariane Anthony: arianeanthony@yahoo.com
(718) 349 - 0008; or visit http://www.maskandclown.com for more information.

ABOUT MARIO GONZALEZ
Mario Gonzalez, originally from Guatemala, trained in Central America as an actor and moved to France in the late 60s. He spent eight years as a member of Ariane Mnouchkine's Theatre du Soleil, performing acclaimed roles in her productions of LES CLOWNS, LA CUISINE, 1789, and L'AGE D'OR. He also appeared in her films MOLIERE and 1789. With the passion for commedia dell'arte he developed while working with Mnouchkine, he has created his own pedagogy in neutral and commedia mask and clown. He is considered the leading expert in these disciplines in France.

Since 1980, Mario Gonzalez has been the Master Mask and Clown teacher at the Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique in Paris, France's national theatre school. At the Conservatoire he has trained some of the most important names in French theatre and film. Mario has given workshops at theatre conservatories throughout the world, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Iran and many countries in Europe, Scandinavia, and Latin America. As a director, he has mounted nearly a hundred productions around the world.

Circomedia

Circomedia is the leading centre for circus with physical theatre in Europe.

Circomedia was founded over ten years ago by two people: physical theatre expert, Bim Mason and choreographer and performer Helen Crocker. It rose out of the ashes of Fooltime, Britain’s first ever circus school – and ever since has attracted students from all over the world. It is different from many circus schools as there is a heavy emphasis on combining traditional circus skills with physical theatre and creativity. It is this approach to performance that has led to Circomedia being acknowledged as a centre of excellence worldwide.

Circomedia is based in Bristol England, a vibrant city with perhaps the highest concentration of circus and theatre performers in the UK. The school has two sites; The leafy premises of a former Victorian school on the outskirts of Bristol and the recently restored St Paul's Church in Portland Square. This new centre in the heart of the city has just been refurbished by the Church's Conservation Trust thanks to a 2.3 million GBP Heritage Lottery Grant.

Circomedia offers a number of courses, including a 1 year diploma course, a 2 year professional training course, teacher training courses, introductory courses, workshops, and other events. They also produce performances and events in their church space, and book talent through their in-school talent agency. A wide range of disciplines are studied including, trapeze, juggling, acrobatics and physical theatre.

Circomedia is known in the UK as the RADA of Circus-- which is quite a high compliment.

To find out more about Circomedia's programs, please visit their website listed below:
http://www.circomedia.com/

Augusto Cabrera & Commedia Gillet

Augusto Cabrera is a director, actor, clown, puppeteer,commedia teacher and performer based in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the director of Mask & Commedia Centrum, an institution/school that focuses on spreading knowledge and information about masks, puppetry, and commedia to the world at large through workshops, festivals, and performances. Commedia Gillet is the professional company of Mask & Commedia Centrum, which is under the direction of Augusto.

Commedia Gillet has a number of performances available-- their latest is titled Thor's Saga, about a group of Viking clowns who tell the story of how Thor lost his hammer. Unfortunately, the clowns can't keep their personal lives off of the stage.

Other performances include an outdoor medieval spectacle called Pesten (The Plague), and Avstad (Distance), a puppet play about special people (I assume this means developmentally disabled, but I can't be sure.), and a clown variety show.

Augusto has also started a new social network for mask and physical theatre performers on Ning.com.

To find out more about Augusto's work, follow the links listed below:

Augusto's web page: http://www.commediagillet.com/cabrera

Commedia Gillet: http://www.commediagillet.com

Mask Social Network: http://masker.ning.com

Dell'Arte

Dell'Arte International is the United States center for the development, exploration, training, creation, and performance of the physical theatre traditions and their contemporary applications. We are a true "regional" arts center for our geographically diverse community.

The four primary programs of Dell'Arte are:

The Dell'Arte Company
-- a professional touring company. This on-going ensemble of artists has created over 35 award-winning, original works of theatre since 1977. The company has toured extensively to international festivals.

Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre
-- a professional actor-training program is the only one of its kind in the U.S., attracting students from all over the world to study with outstanding artists, in a fulltime 1 year program, summer workshops, and a new, 2 and a half year MFA program in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Dell'Arte Youth Academy
-- "Education Through Art" --Originally funded in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of six nationwide pilot programs, the Academy not only makes it possible for every child in Blue Lake to work with a Dell'Arte artist each year, but has also evolved to reach over 4000 elementary school students throughout Humboldt County with curriculum-based, and standards based physical theatre work. In addition, the Academy offers innovative afterschool and summer programs for both elementary and high school students.

The Dell'Arte Mad River Festival
-- this month-long summer event is the largest performance event in our community, drawing over 5,000 people locally and from San Francisco to Seattle to indoor and outdoor events. Theatre and music offerings include the EdgeFest, a week of the newest physical theatre, including artists from around the world and down the block. Dell'Arte is based in the small town of Blue Lake, a former logging town with a population of about 1,200 in Humboldt County, on California's rural north coast.

Dell'Arte co-founder, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, was a native of Italy and chose the name 'dell'arte' (dell are tay) because it means "of the art." His work was inspired by the lively commedia dell'arte, a character -based style of theatre that has fueled popular theatre for generations, and was known as 'the art of the professionals.' Dell'Arte's audiences tell us, "There is no other theatre like Dell'Arte!" The combination of training programs , research, original touring productions, education program in the public schools, summer festival and community-building activities make us a destination unlike any other on the American theatre map.

To find out more about Dell'Arte, visit their website:
http://www.dellarte.com

Adam Gertsacov/ Acme Clown Company

THE ACME CLOWN COMPANY Uses Popular Theatrical Traditions To Amaze, Educate, And Entertain Audiences Of All Ages.

Specialities include puppetry, clowning, commedia dell'arte, circus skills, magic, melodrama, masks, and method acting.

They perform shows, teach workshops and residencies, and coach and direct physical comedy and clown routines.

The boss clown of the Acme Clown Company is Adam Gertsacov (the author of this blog).

Adam is the most educated clown in America (barring certain elected officials.) He wears many hats, including those of a professional clown, an author and publisher, a P.T. Barnum impersonator, a flea circus impresario,and the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland. Adam is the Festival Director for Bright Night Providence.

If you'd like to find out more about Adam's work, please visit his websites listed below:

Clown Shows and Classes http://www.acmeclown.com
An Authentic Victorian Flea Circus http://www.trainedfleas.com
P.T. Barnum Impersonation Show http://www.ptbarnum.org
House Renovation Blog About Yonkers http://www.yonked.com
Bright Night Providence http://www.brightnight.org