CLOWN WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
2008
at The Battle Ranch Annex
This course will explore structural and rhythmic elements of physical comedy, and techniques for opening possibilities of exploration and writing in the world of the theatrical clown. Participants should come with at least a five minute piece to be "played" with. We will look at their current content and structure of the piece and search for ways of expanding the material in a way that supports and deepens the ideas that the artist intends. Who is the performer and what are they saying? Bob Berky has performed as a solo artist throughout the world. In New York, he has appeared at the Dance Theatre Workshop, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and as a featured artist at The Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival in "The Alchemedians" and "The Power Project". "The Alchemedians", with Mr. Berky and Michael Moschen, was produced off-Broadway and toured worldwide. He has also performed at the Kennedy Center and Arena Stage in Washington and the National Theatre in London, England. Bob Berky directed movement and clowning for producer Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Twelfth Night" at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. He was movement choreographer for the Longwharf Theatre's production of "A Flea In Her Ear", directed by John Tillinger. He has also worked as movement coach for such performers as Donal Donaldson, Gregory Hines, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. Mr. Berky has taught at many universities and theaters as a guest artist and Master Teacher including The Juilliard School, Brandeis University, University of Texas at Austin, the North Carolina School for the Arts, UCSB, Smith College and the Dell Arte School of California. He has worked extensively as a teaching and performing artist with the Lincoln Center Institute. Current projects include a two man version of Richard 3 with Eric Bass and directing “El Magnifico” currently playing in the clown Festival.
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at Triskelion Arts
Jeff Raz, Founder and Director of the Clown Conservatory at Circus Center, S.F. and performer with Cirque du Soleil and others, will offer a workshop focusing on one of the fundamentals of clowning - partnership; partnering with fellow performers, with props, with the audience and with one's own body, mind and heart. We will explore the specifics of a rich partnership and apply these ideas to each of the four partnerships outlined above. How can clowns get laughs and create memorable moments by simply having dynamic relationships with the people and things in their world? Participants should bring some props and wear clothing suitable for movement. For the last 30 years, Jeff Raz has performed nationally and internationally with circuses and theaters including Cirque du Soleil, The Pickle Circus, Song Circus, Lincoln Center Theater, Vaudeville Nouveau, Dell'Arte Players, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Marin and S.F. Shakespeare Festivals, TheatreWorks and Marin Theater Company. Jeff is the founder and director of the Clown Conservatory, a program that has trained some of the top young clowns working in circuses around the world. |
Discovering the Clown Jump into your body...open like a little flower...rediscover your playful spirit and the simple pleasure and ferocious generosity of performance. In this intensive workshop we pursue the clown together in all of its messy and hilarious beauty. Your relationship to all other forms of drama will be enriched by the openness and reckless abandon that the clown requires. Admission is open to all students. Christopher Bayes began his theater career with the internationally acclaimed Theatre de la Jeune Lune where he worked for five years as an actor, director, composer, designer and artistic associate. He has taught classes and workshops at Cirque Du Soliel, Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Public Theater's Shakespeare Lab, the Big Apple Circus, Interlochen Arts Center, Vassar College, Stella Adler Conservatory, Bard College, Fordham University, University of Texas Graduate Acting and Directing Programs, National Shakespeare Conservatory, University of Minnesota Graduate Acting Program, the Guthrie Theater, Iowa State University and Theater de la Jeune Lune. He has served on the faculty of the Juilliard Drama School, the Actor's Center (founding faculty & master teacher of physical comedy/clown), Yale School of Drama, the Academy of Classical Acting at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington D.C., New York University's Graduate Acting Program and Tisch School of the Arts. His most recent position was that of Clinical Professor of Theater, Speech and Dance at Brown University and Director of Movement at the Brown University/Trinity Repertory Theater Consortium in Providence, RI. In June, however, he threw caution to the wind once again and packed up his family and all of his nonsense and headed back to New York City. He has accepted a full time appointment at the Yale School of Drama where he will begin as Head of Physical Acting in the summer of 2007. |
Ensemble Adventures in Clown
A chance to expand your clown world. Dodi Disanto trained with Ecole Jacques Lecoq, where she received a private pedagogic apprenticeship; Etienne Decroux: corporal mime; she studied with Annie Fratellin. She has taught George Washington University, Yale Graduate School of Drama, The Catholic University of America, and artistic director of The Center for Movement Theatre in Washington DC; assistant to Jacques Lecoq; Ringling Clown College. As a performer, she has been on stage Off-Broadway at LaMaMa E.T.C., Lincoln Center Serious Fun Festival, Theatre for the New City, the Avignon Festival and for television and film. Founder and artistic director of Membrane Theatre Ensemble, and a member of several ensembles, including Chantier Theatre, Present Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Barking Rooster Theatre. Member Actor’s Equity. |
Bouffon. The Anti-Clown
In the world of Bouffon, the audience is the joke. Bouffons show no vulnerability. Their great joy is to parody the audience, its values and flaws. This pack of grotesque outsiders engage and parody the audience with great joy, intelligence and charm. To play as Bouffon, is to celebrate contrast & paradox! They are disgusting, yet beautiful. They hate you, yet they flatter you. The Bouffons are the ultimate manipulators! A Joke, told by a Nightmare! Are you ready? A ferocious social satire is about to explode, liberating the energy in the room with an immense pleasure to parody and to play. In this workshop, participants will explore: * Connecting with the audience, Eric Davis is a master teacher and practitioner of Bouffon and Clown as well as a Director of the NY Clown Theatre Festival. His Bouffon and clown work have received critical acclaim from the NY Times, TimeOut NY, Village Voice, Backstage and the Hollywood Reporter. He is the Director and Co-writer of Bouffon Glass Menajoree which was nominated for 4 awards (Outstanding Director, Original Short Script, Ensemble and Production) by the NY Innovative Theatre Awards. Mr. Davis starred as the lead clown in Cirque du Soleil's Quidam and recently was hired to workshop both Kooza and their 2009 touring production. His work as Red Bastard is celebrated both in the U.S. and abroad. |
