Brave New Commedia
Susan Kelejian, Imaginal Institute Fellow
Saturday, March 15, 2008
9 am to 5 pm
Ojai Center for the Arts
Ojai, California
Registration: $95.00
Click here for registration form.
We had some serious fun...
About the Day
Commedia dell’Arte, Italian improvisational street theater with stock characters deriving from Theophrastus’ human types, poked a long nose at the socio-political aspects of early Renaissance life. We presently use the stock Commedia characters in sitcoms, films, and theater, relating to the them as aspects and archetypes in ourselves, and yet we as a society have changed and developed with modernized technology and contemporary thought. It’s true that many of the human characteristics will still carry through- greed, lasciviousness, love, old age, etc. But do all of the characteristics still resonate, or is it just the familiar that we are attracted to, and therefore resist change?
If those stock characters represent who we are, then what type of character could we imagine ourselves to be in order to transcend as a species? It’s the art represents life represents art theory. (Or rather, what came first, the mask or the egg? Or, perhaps, the chicken or the person? Oh, Pulcinella! ) What character are you? What character will you become? What are the masks of today?
This workshop is designed both for folks who've dived into physical comedy before and those who are standing on the diving board gathering courage to make the leap. Susan has an absolute genius at creating warm, safe, fun spaces in which to challenge yourself, so if you're quivering but aren't certain, be not afraid! Be brave, and join us in exploring a brave new commedia!
We'll play for the day, from 9 am to 5 pm, with an hour break for lunch so you can explore the wonders of Ojai and its great little restaurants. (Or, if you prefer, snooze in Libby Park.) We'll be gathering at the Ojai Center for the Arts, California's oldest nonprofit, multipurpose arts center with a wonderful craftsman style building that's been born and reborn since the 1930's. It's in downtown Ojai, steps from the park, shops, and a splendid selection of lunch eateries.
About Susan Kelejian
Susan is an Imaginal Institute Founding Fellow, a theater artist, writer, mom, equestrian, teacher, renaissance woman. Among her extensive theatrical experiences, she found herself kidnapped (literally! ask her for the whole story!) while in France by Commedia dell'Arte Internationale, a traveling Commedia troupe, and spent months on the road with them, performing at international theater festivals through the French countryside. She's never been quite the same since.
For more information on Susan, click here for her Fellows page.
To see a copy of the Brave New Commedia flyer, click here to download.
About Imaginal Practicums
Imaginal Practicums are a new, developing series of programs from the Imaginal Institute. They're designed to be hands-on creative experiences where you can explore the practice of imagination. Can imagination be practical? Come and find out!