The Art of Making Plays:
Myth and Fantasy
Bring it to your hometown!
Drawing from myths, fairy tales, modern fantasy, and most importantly their imaginations, students will decide on a theme, build characters, write a script, and construct their own costumes, props and set, creating an innovative and original performance as a culmination of their work.
Working off Lecoq-based physical theatre, this exciting 3-week playmaking curriculum is led by visiting Directors Markell Kiefer and Tyson Forbes, with the help of visual artist Sky Brooks and fantasy buff Bowen Walker.
Schedule: |
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Week 1:
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We start by establishing a safe, fun and inclusive environment with vocal and physical games of play. This week will focus on the Imagination and Improvisation, the ground from which all new ideas emerge. We will fill our days with active brainstorming about themes and design, and train our bodies, hearts, and minds with the fundamental tools to create from scratch. Visual art and theatrical work will be integrated into both morning and afternoon sessions. |
Week 2:
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We start by establishing a safe, fun and inclusive environment with vocal and physical games of play. This week will focus on developing our new ideas through Writing and Construction. We will fill our days with making choices about characters, themes, storyline, and design, as well as writing scenes and building the scenic elements such at costumes, props, and set. Visual art and theatrical work will be integrated into both morning and afternoon sessions. |
Week 3:
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We start by establishing a safe, fun and inclusive environment with vocal and physical games of play. This week will focus on rehearsing, completing, and putting together every theatrical and scenic element of the play, as well as preparing our bodies, hearts and minds for the culminating Performance. Visual art and theatrical work will be integrated into both morning and afternoon sessions. New students will join the performance with smaller roles and in ensemble scenes. |
Enrollment:
Register for any week separately or together
Discounts:
For each additional week, and for siblings.
Registration
If you are interested in bringing The Art of Making Plays to your hometown, please contact Markell Kiefer at info@tigerlion.org.
Bios:
TigerLion Arts (Presenting Organization) is a Minneapolis-based production company. We celebrate human wisdom and the spirit of Nature through creative works that awaken, inform, and delight.
Markell Kiefer (Director/Teacher) is a writer, director, performer, and producer with an MFA in Lecoq-based physical theatre from Naropa University and a BA in Religion and Environmental Ethics from Middlebury College. Additionally, she trained for two years at New York’s Circle in the Square Theatre School, and is an apprentice of European Clown maestro Giovanni Fusetti. Markell has toured, performed and directed nationally. She has an extensive record of creating outdoor walking plays such as The Buddha Prince, a play celebrating the 14th Dalai Lama, which has been produced in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and in New York City’s Central Park. For more about Markell please visit www.mnartists.org/Markell_Kiefer.
Tyson Forbes (Director/Teacher) is a professional actor, producer, and theater creator. He has performed in regional theaters throughout the United States and currently lives in Minneapolis. He has played numerous roles at the Guthrie Theater, where he most notably appeared as Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Tyson has also produced and created many original works over the years, and has a passion and knack for making plays. He has a BA in Theater from Middlebury College where he focused on the classics, improvisational comedy, modern dance and physical theater. Tyson's boundless energy is contagious and inspiring. His understanding and intuitive feel for the creative process instill confidence in those with whom he works, and make him a joy to follow.
Sky Brooks (Teacher) is a painter, mask and puppet maker, and scenic artist. She studied thangka painting with Cynthia Moku, abstract painting with Joan Anderson and process painting with Bernie Marek. Her work has been shown in venues throughout Boulder, where she curated the Lincoln and Nalanda galleries at Naropa University. Sky developed her unique style of mask making while working on Markell Kiefer's productions of Thunderstorm (2001) and The Buddha Prince (2004, 2005, 2009). Most recently, she attended a residency at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass focusing on papier- mache, clay, and oil painting, and collaborated with In The Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theatre in Minneapolis on their annual Mayday Parade and Ceremony.
Bowen Walker (Teacher) is a junior at Kenyon College where he is majoring in Studio Art with a minor in Classics. Born and raised in Boulder he spent many a summer exploring parks with foam sword in hand, ready to quest for gold, glory and fun with his fellow adventurers. His continuing love for the fantastic has led him to many hobbies and pursuits, from painting miniatures to studying Homer’s epics. In high school Bowen wrote, directed and edited a 10-minute short film called Super. He volunteered at Friends’ School for several semesters, has staffed Shambhala Sun Summer Camp for the past two years, and is a peer educator at Kenyon. He has a black belt in Aikido, enjoys tossing Frisbee, romping through the mountains, and working with children of all ages.