Ensemble Theatre

Comment

Comment by Joan Schirle on December 7, 2010 at 11:23pm

Hm. My last comment chopped off the link to Independent Eye's web page--it's
http://www.independenteye.org/media.html

and the Network of Ensemble Theatres is producing a series of micro-fests happening around the country; right now there's one in Los Angeles. Check their site for all the dates, and lots more about the member theatres of NET.
http://ensembletheaters.net/

Comment by Joan Schirle on December 7, 2010 at 11:19pm

THE INDEPENDENT EYE is an long-running ensemble in N. California, part of the network of Ensemble Theatres--EYE performed a terrific show in our theatre in Oct--a series of puppet 'stories.' Now they've released their "The Tempest" on DVD in time for holidays...for anyone interested in Shakespeare, puppets, or "the Tempest..." It's a great way to tell this story....5 actors, 20 puppets, video, music: view a 10-minute sampler at

Comment by Joan Schirle on December 7, 2010 at 11:13pm

Thinking about 'ensemble' when watching two amazing vocal improvisers --everything I think ensemble performance is about is in this duet: total focus on the partner, playing, deep listening, following each other, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, completely embodied sound, taking the audience on a trip through the pleasure of their play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4boy-eXQBHg&feature=related

Comment by Joan Schirle on December 2, 2010 at 1:59am

Last night Mummenschanz performed nearby, and tonight founding member Bernie Schurch came to dinner and spent two hours talking to our students. This 38 year-old ensemble is one of the busiest in the world. They have weathered the death of one founding partner, a divorce between the other two, remarriages, children, and changes in media and entertainment tastes. They still tour 150 days of the year, from Bangladesh to Guatemala City to New York. They still believe in creating a playground of the imagination for the audience, and their show has no words, no music, no set.
www.mummenschanz.com

Comment by Brio Art on November 16, 2010 at 6:16am

Hello Joan, thanks for your invite. Nice to meet you! :)
Visit our website http://www.associazionebrio.eu/home_eng.html
Greetings
B.R.I.O.'Staff

Comment by Joan Schirle on November 16, 2010 at 2:15am

Best of luck with the piece, Leese---we just listened today to three pitches by our current third year MFA's for their Community Based Projects, which are part of Year 3's work. One pair will be doing something a bit like your project, but with the local homeless community and the business community that wants to close their shelter....
Great to hear about the gathering at Irondale--thanks!

Comment by Leese Walker on November 16, 2010 at 1:03am

Hi Joan! Your name came up tonight at the Irondale Benefit. I was talking to Steve Cross who mentioned that the first time he met you was at the NET gathering at Winnebago. It was then that he learned about Dell Arte. HOpe you are well and loving life. Things are turning around here...it has been a hard fall with Bob's loss and then we just got through producing a big DAY OF THE DEAD benefit which went well. Now I feel like I am finally able to breathe and pick myself up and really get back to work on the project we started this summer about water issues. Its an interview-based piece where we come into a community and gather a broad spectrum of viewpoints and then improvise a show designed to refect back what we heard in the community to that community. We then have a town-hall type facilitated discussion about the issues...SAME RIVER is the name of the show. anyway, sending love....and hellos from the many ensemble members who were at tonight's gathering. Mark Valdez was a surprise!

Comment by Joan Schirle on November 15, 2010 at 11:32pm

In the USA we have the Network of Ensemble Theatres linking many of us:
www.ensembletheaters.net/
It would be great to connect to others of you working internationally....