BRING COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE TO YOUR SCHOOL!
INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP
Commedia dell'arte is the root of Western theater, based on structured improvisation, fixed-type characters (masks), broad physical acting, original music, and exploring basic human needs and emotions. It was the first acting profession, which flourished in Italy from 1550’s-1750’s. There is no traditional 4th wall, and all is played to and for the audience.
The study of Commedia develops many creative skills, gives greater ease in improvisation, more physical expressiveness, better teamwork, and a greater understanding of classical theater.
This 5-Day intensive workshop will provide students with an in-depth study of this vibrant and highly influential art form, and will include:
A BRIEF HISTORY
- its roots as the first professional actors theatre, its traditions, rules & guidelines, and its vast influence throughout Europe on artists such as Shakespeare, the Marx Bros, Looney Tunes and Harry Potter.
STOCK CHARACTERS
- students will learn to embody these Fixed Types (Zanni, Pantalone, Capitano, Dottore, Brighella); their traits, gestures & movements, relationships with each other, and their primal needs & motivations which drive each scene.
MASK TECHNIQUE
- the Mask as the face of the Character, clarity of movement. Students will also have the opportunity to make their own masks from basic construction materials, for use in their final performance.
IMPROVISATION
- since Renaissance Italy did not have a unified language, Commedia actors (although literate) tended not to write down plays, using improvised drama as a way to more easily tailor each performance to its specific locale and audience. This also prevented competing companies from stealing their work, and was a way to avoid censorship. Students will employ improvisation as a structured way of exploring situations and lazzi, in order to implement those moments which work best into their final performance.
A STUDY OF LAZZI (SLAPSTICK)
- derived from “le azioni”, (actions), a lazzo is any comic action or dialogue, such as asides, pratfalls, acrobatics & stage combat, that were one of the prime resources of the Commedia actor. Students will explore and cultivate their vocabulary of lazzi through scene work and improvisation.
MULTILINGUALISM
- students will be encouraged to draw upon their native cultures and languages to enhance their character and scene work, as Commedia companies historically toured throughout Europe, forming mixed troupes of Italians and foreigners, incorporating various languages and dialects.
FINAL PERFORMANCE
- the students will choose a plot outline (Canovaccio “Canvas”) and prepare it for performance on the last day of the course, incorporating all of the movements, gestures, comic lazzi, stage combat, and mask technique studied. If time permits, the group will also compose an original song to be used in their scene. Each student may play more than one character within a scene if needed/desired.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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