Where to study based on the shows of the 2007 Clown Theatre Festival?

November 1, 2007

This is by no means a complete survey – but talking to many of the performers in the shows that I thought were the best of the 2007 NY Festival of Clown Theatre and a few performers that I felt their shows needed more development time; I asked them where they studied. These are the schools and ways of studying that from just seeing the shows I would recommend.

Ecole Jacque Lecoq Theatre Mime Movement

People that graduated from good University Theatre Programs and took lots of smaller workshops from various people mostly – students of Ecole Jacque Lecoq.

Philip Gaulier (Student of Lecoq)

Enjoy,
Stanley Allan Sherman

The Maestrosities

November 1, 2007

The Coolest Band Ever
Created and Performed by: David Gochfeld, Glen Heroy, Roderick Kimball, Jenny Lee Mitchell, Gina Samardge and Andy Sapora

Yes I know the festival is over but I wanted to blog about this wonderful group of performers that are becoming a great performance entity. I have seen many straightjacket routines but only one that really worked theatrically as part of the show and that was with The Maestrosities as part of the 2007 Clown Theatre Festival – it was hysterically funny. It also had the right amount of emphasis – which was very little. Because of that combination it worked very well. The music, theatre and physical comedy had the right amount of balance. I had seen them about 6 to 8 months ago and they have grown and are much better.

Just looking at the photograph of the combination of talent in The Maestrosities is funny. They all do great routines in their show and work together very well. I hope you did not miss them at the festival.

This is there web site www.maestrositis.com go to their web site and catch their show.

By: Stanley Allan Sherman

Maestrosities & Festival Comments

October 28, 2007
Look for the Maestrosities blog towards the end of the week and other comments about the festival.
Enjoy,
Stanley

Tapate/Cover Yourself

October 26, 2007

Tapate/Cover Yourself
From: Catalonia/Andalusia
Created & Performed by: Cristina Medina & Joan Estrader
Directed by: David Sant

There is so much great work at this festival. This piece employs so much, which includes–dance, gymnastic, stage combat (and yippy it is done very well), great use of simple props, voice, funny dialogue, costume changes and lots of them.

You want to see this show and there are several reasons for clowns and performers to see Tapate; how to do stage combat well, how to do lots of costume changes well. Next year Joan and Cristina could give a workshop in how to do quick costume changes. It is wonderful to see lots of costume changes done so quickly and the show flows well as well. Enjoyed the story line – it was simple, but it is not the story line that makes this show Tapate/Cover Yourself it is the artistry of Cristina Medina & Joan Estrader. How about this they not only perform their show in English but in Spanish as well. Or I should say they perform their show in Spanish as well as English.
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Two shows left: October 26 at 7 PM and Saturday 27 at 6 PM
(This final show on Saturday 27 at 6 PM will be performed in Spanish. If you have seen it in English try experiencing it in Spanish.)

By: Stanley Allan Sherman

Savage Amusements

October 21, 2007
Created and Performed by: Ann Goldman

Wonderful simple show that had me from beginning to end. I had a great time, it was fun. Ann’s use of props was very complete; everything you see was used well. It a great lesson in how to work well with an audience and audience participants. Getting involved in the details of this show I am not going to do because I do not want to spoil it for those who are going to see it. One of the goals in our art form is to use all of your talents and turn everything even one’s perceived negatives into a positive. Ann used her talents well and you know you are seeing a well-seasoned fresh performer. Her clown was fun and she quickly wins everyone’s trust. She is true and real with everything she does…her clown world is all real. She is on from beginning to end.

You Want To Catch This Show:
One show left Tuesday night October 23 at 7 PM
By: Stanley Allan Sherman

Ridiculosity

October 21, 2007
Created by the Ensemble: Kate Down, Rober Grant, Any Grotelueschin, Piper Harrel, Catherine Mueller, Justine Williams and Director Virginia Scoot.

Ensemble, Ensemble, Ensemble, Great Ensemble, all of the clowns where always in character and I believe every action they took. They created their own special world…you were involved with the show and what would happen. They used many of their personal talents – which included tap dancing, singing and excellent clowning. Would like to see more risk taking by this ensemble in terms of what happens on stage and story. I think this is a good ensemble and that has a great future as long as they keep pushing their envelope.

This was there final show.
By:Stanley Allan Sherman