Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre

The Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre is located in Northern California in the town of Blue Lake, California in Humboldt County, California near the major population centers of Eureka and Arcata. Founded in 1971 by Carlo Mazzone-Clementi and Jane Hill, it offers a NAST-accredited three-year MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre, a one year Professional Training Program, Summer Workshops, and a Study Abroad program in Bali.

This school of the actor-creator and physical theatre encompasses training in acting, voice, movement, and related physical skills, with specific attention to the areas of mask, commedia dell'arte, tragedy, and clown. The Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre is associated with the Dell'Arte Company, an ensemble of artists who are known internationally for their unique style. Originally founded as the "Grand Comedy Festival of Qua-la-wa-loo" in 1971, since 1991 Dell'Arte has hosted the Mad River Festival in June and July, concurrent with their summer workshops. The festival draws participants from all over the world .

History

In 1973, Mazzone-Clementi and his wife Jane Hill, a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon, came to Humboldt County where Hill had a teaching position at College of the Redwoods. Together they put on the Grand Comedy Festival at Qual-a-wa-loo and Mazzone-Clementi served as the festival's artistic director for six years.

In 1974, the couple purchased the Oddfellows Hall in Blue Lake and the Dell'Arte School opened its doors in 1975.

in 1976, Mazzone and actors Joan Schirle and Jon'Paul Cook founded the Dell'Arte Company with the goal of establishing a company/school-school/company along the lines of Jacques Copeau's Vieux Columbier, and the hope to create a resident ensemble, the Dell'Arte Players Company. The first tour was mounted in 1977. Artists engaged for the first proudction, "The Loon's Rage," included director and co-author Jael Weisman, designer Alain Schons, and actor Michael Fields (now the Company's Producing Artistic Director), who continued as the nucleus of the new company, with Donald Forrest joining in 1978.

Originally called the Dell'Arte School of Mime and Comedy, the School's name was changed to the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in the late 1980s as a result of the narrowing definition of "mime" and a desire to investigate a broader vision of theatre and the work of the contemporary actor.

Influence

Over the years, the company has trained and influenced hundreds of performing artists and ensembles from around the world, including Daniel O. Smith and W. Stuart McDowell, who subsequently founded the Riverside Shakespeare Company in New York City, which incorporated a "Green Show" of commedia-like elements and utilized a performance style greatly influenced by Carlo Mazzone-Clementi in his first years at Blue Lake, 1971-1972.^[1]

External Links

Official website

References

1. ^ Doran, Bob. "Behind the Mask: Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, 1920-2000," The North Coast Journal, Nov. 16, 2000.

Coordinates: 40°52′51″N 123°59′19″W / 40.8809°N 123.9887°W / 40.8809; -123.9887