Dear Friends, Colleagues and Artistic Associates,

Would you like to: Stretch your creativity in a supportive environment? Immerse yourself in art? Meet a really interesting group of people? Join us for one or more of our 6-day intensives with expert teachers who are adept at gearing their classes for all levels of experience.

Past participants have ranged in age from 18 to 80.

Last summer people came from across the country to take part in the theatre-training opportunities we offer as part of the KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE. This year, in our 22nd season on the beautiful Amherst College campus in Amherst, Massachusetts, we are offering 4 unique workshops:

July 15 – 20

SHADOW PUPPETRY: exploring the theater of shadow & light  

with Stephen Kaplin of Chinese Theatre Works and Great Small Works (NYC)

This workshop is an introduction to the theory, history and practice of Shadow theater – led by Stephen Kaplin, one of North America’s leading practitioners of this ancient art form.  The dynamic interplay of the various elements of shadow performance— light source, filter, lens, image in motion and focal surface– will be explored in all their complexities.  Subjects will include :

  • The physical properties of light and shadow
  • Material interaction with light—opacity, translucence, refraction, reflection and iridescence.
  • Traditional and contemporary shadow figure design and construction
  • Techniques of projection and pre-cinematic motion picture performance techniques

Workshop participants will design and construct shadow figures, masks and scenic projections (for overhead projectors and direct screen) to be part of a collectively conceived theatrical performance that will be presented to an invited audience.

Click HERE for more info

July 22 – 27

GENERATING NEW MATERIAL with Daniel Stein Director of Movement & Physical Theatre for the Brown University/Trinity Repertory Theatre MFA Professional Actor Training Program (Providence)

Give your imagination a whack on the side of the head!  Discover concrete ways to get beyond "STUCK" when you are creating new work.  Learn ways to think,  see and create outside the box. This is a hands-on workshop in generating new material dealing with the emotions of shape, the excitement of rhythm and finding ideas from untapped and unconventional sources. 

The “Technique” aspect is a training in juggling the juxtaposition of the physical world on stage and the metaphysical world that the audience will eventually take home with them.  The 'Heart' part deals with concrete tools to finding permission within oneself for creating outrageous, new work. You, the artist, will leave with concrete ideas and a running start at building your next project.

This work is great for Performers, Directors, Teachers and anyone else looking for freedom and empowerment in their creativity.

"While I am no longer involved in any sort of physical theatre – unless you count the raising of a 4-year-old – I still consider Daniel among the most talented, challenging and responsible teachers with whom I have had the pleasure of studying." –  workshop student, Hilary

Click HERE for more info.

July 29 – August 3

THEATER OF PLACE: Community Sourced Work from Documentary Materials, Story Circles & other Listening Techniques

with Gerard Stropnicky, co-founder of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and USA Artists Fellow & director of more than 30 "Theatre of Place" productions (Bloomsburg, PA)

Learn skills to work with communities to create compelling theatre that sets the stage for community dialogue and positive change. In the workshop we will actively explore the elements that give this work its power and legitimacy: AGENCY, ARTISTRY, AUTHENTICITY, AUDACITY, ACCURACY and ADVOCACY.

We will work on developing interview skills—how to gather story and an understanding of the legality and ethics of working with human subjects. The workshop will draw on the work of the late Jo Carson, Stropnicky’s long-time creative partner, as well as other practitioners of this kind of work, and will culminate with a showing.

This is Gerard's 3rd project at the Ko Festival of Performance.

Click HERE for more info.

July 28, One day only!

WEB-STREAMING LIVE PERFORMANCE: amplify your community & create national dialogue

with Jamie Gahlon of HowlRound: The Center for the Theater Commons  (Boston, MA)

This one-day workshop, facilitated by Jamie Gahlon of  HowlRound: A Center for the Theater Commons, will give participants a basic understanding to a commons-based approach to technology, followed by  a practical, hands-on livestreaming lab that will culminate with a #NEWPLAY TV events featuring a KoFest performances and a talkback.

The morning will begin with a discussion about how live-streaming video of an event can be used to amplify community & create national dialogue. This will be followed by hands-on training before live-streaming the Ko Festival performance of Michael Mack's CONVERSATIONS WITH MY MOLESTER and the subsequent post-show discussion. After a change to learn from that first experience, students will get a second crack at it by live-streaming Ko’s Story Slam – a night of competitive true, first person stories on our season theme of “Courage.”

Click HERE for more info.

Except for the Web-Streaming workshop, all classes meet from 10am – 4pm on the Amherst College campus. Room and/or board is available for the workshops, which are offered at artist-friendly prices. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE W
ORKSHOPS, OR TO DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION FORM, PLEASE VISIT www.kofest.com

Note that there are discounts for members of NET, TCG companies, all returning workshop students and for all who register by May 15. We are occasionally able to offer partial financial aid. This pool is very limited, so apply early.

Also, some of these workshops are likely to sell out, so reserve your spot today!

Our five weeks of summer PERFORMANCES from across the US this summer have been curated around the theme of "COURAGE."   We'll also be featuring another interactive art installation on our theme in which you can participate. Stay tuned for more in our next e-blast and you can always find out more by visiting www.kofest.com. New information is appearing daily!

We are also still looking for the perfect person to be our Company Manager. Duties are fairly light for this person who serves a "den mother/father" in our artist housing and supervises food concessions/receptions. Must be over 21 and have car.  No cash payment, but a season pass, free housing and tuition waiver to all workshops. A great opportunity for the right person!

Please help get the word out by passing this information along to all appropriate friends, colleagues and students! Apologies for any cross-postings, but some of you are HIGHLY networked individuals!

All best wishes,
Sabrina Hamilton
Artistic Director