Anna Kepe

Anna Kepe (born 1977) is a director, actress, producer, pedagogue and entrepreneur. Kepe received her MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre, Academy for Classical Acting in Washington, D.C. under the direction of Michael Kahn.

Career

Kepe directed a rare performance of German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen’s seminal theatrical work, "Musik Im Bauch" at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland [ [http://www.blessedunrest.org/people.html blessed unrest ] ] . No stranger to opera, Kepe created the physical theater movement for the world premier of Donald Knack’s (a.k.a. the Junkman) opera "Odin" [ [http://www.promark-stix.com/news/news.cfm?news_id=941c8723-e175-4297-924c-e96eaf67e91e Pro-Mark Drumsticks ] ] . The "New York Times" described this production as an unqualified success while “raw energy coursed through the piece” [ [http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/news/2006/4/17/odin_receives_rave_reviews_in_the_new_york_times "Odin" Receives Rave Reviews in the New York Times - NYU Steinhardt News ] ] .

Kepe’s cameo appearance on the Macbeth inspired composition "The Charm" written by composer Michael Udow can be heard on the Equilibrium record label. Kepe combines her Shakespearean expertise and narration with an ensemble instrumentation that includes the world's largest timpani (74’’diameter) and 10 sets of 14-foot chimes.

Kepe has been a featured director and teacher at the Aspen Music Festival combing movement with music featuring the music of Dmitri Shostakovich, Alfred Schnittke and Frank Zappa, all combined with original choreography and physical movement, created by Kepe.

Most recently Kepe has created, directed and presented a series of performances of Philip Glass’s rendering of the "Prelude to Endgame" at New York University, the Latvian National Conservatory (Riga) and as a featured artist at the Percussive Arts International Convention in Austin, Texas. Complementing her innovative vision of this Becket’s work, she has created an equally compelling interpretation of Sam Shepard’s one act play, "Tongues" having directed and performed this work with internationally renowned percussionist/timpanist Jonathan Haas. Kepe returned from Barbados, W.I. where she directed Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte" at The Holders Season.

Kepe has hosted the Exceptional Young Artists Fund - Gidon Kremer and KREMERATA Baltica Gala Concert at The Purchase Performing Arts Center in Purchase, as well as a benefit concert at the Scandinavia House featuring Gidon Kremer and KREMERata Musica Concert at The Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC. Stephen Pulp’s PANGEA featured Kepe at the Page-To-Stage festival at The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC and with Blessed Unrest Theatre Company in NY in ensemble created collaboration The James Wilde Project.

Future projects include directing playwright David Ives’s, "Philip Glass Buys A Loaf Of Bread" at the Loewe Theater, New York University as part of a 70th birthday celebration for Philip Glass, acting in the 365 Days/365 Plays project at the Public Theatre.

Kepe coaches privately and has worked with the summer Acting Shakespeare camp and workshops at The Texas Shakespeare Festival.

List of acting credits

*The White Devil by John Webster playing Vittoria Corombona and directed by Michael Edwards of ASOLO Rep;
*Grushenka in "The Brothers Karamazov" in Washington DC;
*independent feature film "TORTURE ME NO MORE" in New York;
*principal role in Heineken TV commercial with Ray Liotta for United Kingdom Television;
*22 DAY ADAGIO at The Mill Mountain Theatre in Virginia;
*Viola in 12th NIGHT in Virginia directed by Diana Denley, artistic director of The Shakespeare's Globe Center Australia;
*reading of LET X at Artomatic in Washington, DC;
*Iphigenia in Aulis at The Symphony Space, New York;
*Marianne / Actress in TRAUMNOVELA at The Barrow Street Theatre in New York and at the West End Theatre, New York;
*Desdemona in OTHELLO with The Mile Square Theatre, directed by Will Pomerantz;
*LET X in Washington, DC;
*Evangeline in DIVINITY BASH / NINE LIVES at The Pantheon Theatre;
*Escalus in MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Off - Broadway at 45 Bleecker/The Culture Project and GBS/RADA, London;
*Lady Macbeth in MACBETH at The Greenwich Street Theatre;
*PRINCESS IVONA at The Horace Mann Theatre;
*HEDDA GABLER at The Theatre at St. Clement’s:
*a full season with The Texas Shakespeare Festival. [http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/shakespeare_bulletin/v024/24.1meeks.pdf]

References

External links

* [http://www.blessedunrest.org/people.html Blessed Unrest Theatre Company]
* [http://www.promark-stix.com/news/news.cfm?news_id=941c8723-e175-4297-924c-e96eaf67e91e "Jonathan Haas and NYU Classical Percussion Department Premiers Percussion Opera" in Pro-mark Drumsticks ]
* [http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/news/2006/4/17/odin_receives_rave_reviews_in_the_new_york_times "Odin" Receives Rave Reviews in the "New York Times" in NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development]
* [http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/shakespeare_bulletin/v024/24.1meeks.pdf Project Muse]