Unique Theatre Worshops with Ping Chong and others‏

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Artistic Associates,

As part of our 20th Anniversary Season on the Amherst College campus in Amherst, Massachusetts, the KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE is delighted to announce 4 extrordinary training opportunites:

Applications are available on the Ko website: www.kofest.com.
WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR THE PING CHONG & COMPANY
SUMMER THEATRE INSTITUTE ON MAY 1. 
We recommend that you get your applications in as near as possible to that date.

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 series of 6-day intensives with expert teachers who are adept at gearing their classes of all levels of experience.

Past participants have ranged in age from 18 to 80. No applications are needed for these workshops, you can simply download a registation form on the Ko website.

July 11 – 16

MASK, MOVEMENT & MAYHEM       

with Kali Quinn of Accademia Dell’Arte (Arezzo, Italy)

Mask, Movement & Mayhem invites you to expand your range of physical, vocal, and creative expression… Together we will delve into in-depth explorations using the languages of Viewpoints, masks, circus, music-making, and more. Warning: If you have thought that these things could never be mixed and matched and all exist on the same stage or within the same workshop, think again!

Whether you think you can move or not, whether you are a teacher, performer or not, this workshop is for you. Join performing artist Kali Quinn, as she facilitates participants through a six-day creative journey that generates genre-defying performance work. All levels of experience and expertise are encouraged!

Click HERE for more info

July 18 – 23

PERFORMANCE AS A HEALING ACT: A Workshop for Women

with Kathy Randals and Rebecca Mwase of ArtSpot Productions (New Orleans)

This workshop will focus on performance as a tool for bridging cultural divides. Through structured and improvisational group singing, participants will explore methods of building community and ensemble generation of vocal scores. Through story circles participants will discuss assumptions about faith, spiritual practice, and race – and how these experiences apply to creating solo and group performance. No musical or religious experience is necessary.

Click HERE for more info.

July 25 – 30

FROM THE LITERARY TO THE DRAMATIC: Devising New Work From Extant Text

with Katharine Noon, Artistic Director of The Ghost Road Company (Los Angeles)

Participants in this workshop will be taken through the initial phases of Ghost Road's development process, which begins with an existing text and a question. This question attempts to break open the text in order to explore those elements that are relevant and immediate to our contemporary society and personal experiences.  Armed with the text and a burning question, the group will be guided through image, idea and text research. You will be introduced to the company’s group writing techniques, and engage the emerging ideas and themes through improvisation, physical theatre techniques and composition. The visual and aural world of the piece will be explored through instant design and use of music and sound, as well as the developent of character and narrative. The goal is  to coalesce into a working ensemble over the course of the week and to generate material that can be assembled into a preliminary workshop performance.

Ensemble members currently slated to assist Katharine are Christel Joy Johnson, Mark Seldis and Brian Weir.

Click HERE for more info.

Workshops meet from 10am – 4pm on the Amherst College campus. Room and/or board are available for the workshops, which are offered at artist-friendly prices. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORKSHOPS, 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 (except for the Institute) for all who register by May 20! 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!

The performances at this summer's 20th Annual KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE have been curated on the theme of "SECRETS" — five weeks of shows that take a penetrating and entertaining look at both secret sorrows and secret joys. Join us on the Amherst College campus in Amherst, MA (USA).

For more on the shows, and the special savings that come with our "KoFest Passes and Posses" program, or on taking the festival as a UMASS summer class, visit www.kofest.com

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

Sabrina Hamilton
Artistic Director
Ko Festival of Performance

Please let me know by return email if you would like to:

• update your email address
• would like to get our weekly email performance reminders during the 5-week festival
• receive our season postcard via "snail mail" – don't forget to include your address!