Download White Church THEATRE Project

Theatre de l’Ange fou
presents
Directors: Steven Wasson & Corinne Soum
Summer Season: July /August 2014
Spring Green, Wisconsin
The Theatre de l’Ange Fou and International School of Corporeal Mime
present their 3rd Summer Season of performances, workshops and
lectures at their theatre in the old Wyoming Valley Church situated in
the countryside near Spring Green, Wisconsin.
The directors Steven Wasson, American, and Corinne Soum, French,
met in Paris in the early 80’s. Steven began his mime and physical
theatre studies in 1976 with Dr. E. Reid Gilbert and Thomas
Leabhart at The Valley Studio on Upper Wyoming Road. This led him
to Paris where he met Corinne; both were students, and later on the
last assistants of the ‘father of modern mime’ Etienne Decroux.
The Theatre de l’Ange Fou has toured throughout Europe, Russia,
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, India, Japan
and the middle east. The Theatre de l’Ange Fou has created many
original plays and adaptations, ranging from duets to large ensemble
work: The Little Dictator - parts I & II, Beyond The Garden, Crusade,
Entangled Lives, The Government Inspector, The Orpheus Complex
and Across the Seven Seas. They also specialise in the repertoire of
Etienne Decroux with their play The Man Who Preferred to Stand,
and the lecture performance A Promethean Dream.
The work of Theatre de l’Ange Fou has been described by the
London Sunday Times as, ‘A beautifully staged, atmospheric piece of
total theatre.’ And by the Scotsman: ‘If Beckett had ever produced a
ballet, it would have looked something like this.’
Having always dreamed of establishing a home for the school and the
company in the U.S., Steven Wasson and Corinne Soum purchased
the Wyoming Valley Church in 2011 and refurbished the property,
preserving the integrety of this local landmark, while giving it a new
life dedicated to the multi-faceted world of physical theatre.
“Waiting for Ulysses” Written and directed by Steven Wasson
The Theatre de l’Ange Fou, a 12 member ensemble, presents "Waiting for Ulysses", an imaginary portrait
of the life and dreams of Penelope longing for her beloved. Ithaca is no more the mythical island kingdom,
but a strange early 20th century mental institution looked over by a mysterious Doktor. Perpetually weaving
and unweaving her past and present, Penelope waits, while trying to escape the plans of the Suitor/Doctors
surrounding her. "Waiting for Ulysses" is a modern tale of faith and hope...
Performances in July:
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Performances in August: Saturday
5 (7:00pm), Sunday 6 (4:00pm), Monday 7 (7:00pm),
12 (7:00pm), Sunday 13 (4:00pm), Monday 14 (7:00pm),
19 (7:00pm), Sunday 20 (4:00pm), Monday 21 (7:00pm),
26 (7:00pm), Sunday 27 (4:00pm), Monday 28 (7:00pm)
2 (7:00pm), Sunday 3 (4:00pm), Monday 4 (7:00pm)
Recommended Donation: $10
“A Promethean Dream”
– A Lecture/Performance on Etienne Decroux, the Father of Modern Mime
Written and Directed by Steven Wasson & Corinne Soum
One man, with an extraordinary talent and creative force, came along in the early 20th century. Through his conviction, perseverance
and vision over a 60 year career, Etienne Decroux created an art form, Corporeal Mime, and is known today as “the Father of
Modern Mime, and one of the great luminaries of the theatre world”. This lecture/performance is a tribute to the life of Etienne
Decroux, his artistic legacy and his struggle to make mime an independent art form. As he once said, “Mime has better things to
do than to complete another art.”
Performances in July: Friday 11th at 7:00pm, and Friday 25th at 7:00pm
Recommended Donation: $10
The White Church Theatre Project is made possible by funds provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Spring Green Area Arts
Coalition, the BMO Harris Bank, the Alec Van Berchem Trust, Mrs Doris Wasson and Ms Aude Gotto.
The White Church THEATRE Project
INTENSIVE SUMMER SCHOOL 2014
“The Thinking Body”
A leap into transformation and dream...
First Session – 3 weeks: June 30 – July 18, 2014. Fee: $620
Second Session – 2 weeks: July 21 – August 1st, 2014. Fee: $420
Classes from 10am - 2pm. Open studio 2pm - 4pm
The White Church THEATRE Project Intensive Summer Season 2014 is
designed for the professional and pre-professional actors, dancers, mimes
and performers wishing to give a physical reality to their own ideas.
Corporeal Mime, created by Etienne Decroux, is an innovative method
and precise technique focusing on the body and physical action in theatre.
This Summer School will offer the possibility to study in depth
Corporeal Mime through a number of different approaches: Technique
to Improvisation, Repertoire to Composition and Theory to History.
TECHNIQUE:
“The Architecture of the Thinking Body”
The gestural grammar, body articulation, counterweights, walks and
displacements in space, Figures of Style, Mobile Statuary, Dynamorythm
and the Musicality of Movement.
IMPROVISATION AND COMPOSITION:
“The Reverse Metaphor”
The creative process in Corporeal Mime is called La Métaphore à
l’Envers (the Reverse Metaphor): trusting the action to progressively
devise a play. This process allows space for intuition and improvisation
with different themes being explored.
DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL 2014 AT THE WYOMING
VALLEY CHURCH:
OPENING PARTY:
Saturday, June 28th, from 5:00pm onwards.
Presentation of the Summer Season 2014 – 7:00pm
Le Fauteuil de l’Absent by E Decroux,
preformed by C Soum (2007)
From A Promethean Dream, Steven Wasson and
Corinne Soum (2012)
REPERTOIRE:
“A Modern Mythology”
A study of the pieces from the Repertoire of Etienne Decroux such
as The Factory, Le Toucher, The Carpenter, the Washerwoman...
The apprenticeship of this repertoire is not only a challenging and
valuable tool in the mastering of a physical theatre expression, but can
become a constant source of inspiration for creation. In the history of
mime, the pieces of Etienne Decroux stand unique as a sort of modern
mythology of movement theatre from which performers and teachers may
draw a theatrical dynamism and method for the creation of personal work.
THEORY AND HISTORY:
“Spontaneous Language, Elaborate Craft”
Lectures, archival viewing, discussions on Etienne Decroux and on the
world of the Theatre de l’Ange Fou will be part of the program.
HOW TO ENROLL
The application form and payment details are available from our website
www.angefou.co.uk on the White Church THEATRE Project page:
www.angefou.co.uk/intensivesummerschool.html
Where is the White Church THEATRE Project taking place?
Wyoming Valley Church, 6348 State Road 23,
Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA
(5 miles south of Spring Green off Highway 23 – see map, right)
Tel: 1 815 441 8828 (from June 25th 2014)
The church is just down the road from Taliesin (taliesinpreservation.org)
the home and school of the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright,
and near the summer residence of The American Players Theatre
(americanplayers.org). The Wyoming Valley is the home of many artists
and cultural events including the Wyoming Valley School
(wyomingvalleyschool.blogspot.com) and the Rural Musicians Forum
(ruralmusiciansforum.org).
Accommodation:
Please contact the Spring Green and Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce
for Motel, Bed and Breakfast, and camping facilities.
www.springgreen.com & www.dodgeville.com
Alternatively we can put you in contact with people wishing to rent
rooms during the Summer School period.
Theatre de l’Ange Fou
International School of Corporeal Mime, Belgravia Workshops,
Unit 207, 157-163 Marlborough Road, London N19 4NF, UK
Tel: +44(0) 20 7263 9339 Email: [email protected]
www.angefou.co.uk www.thewhitechurchtheatre.org
Open Corporeal Mime Classes:
If you don’t have the possibility or the time to follow the intensive
Summer School, please join our open classes on Saturdays from 11am
‘til 1pm. (Recommended donation: $10)
Open Classes – the dates: July 12th, 19th and 26th.
Presentation of the creative work of Intensive Summer School sessions:
– July: Friday 18th, 7:00pm.
– August: Friday 1st, 7:00pm.
Reid Gilbert:
“A Tale or Two” – a story telling evening. Wednesday July 16, 7pm.
Reading from his books, such as “Trickster Jack”, “The Twelve Houses of
My Childhood”... Wednesday July 30, 7pm.
KANOPY Project:
Preview of a new work directed by Steven Wasson and Corinne Soum for
the Kanopy Dance Company: August 16 at 7pm.
Recommended donation for all performances: $10
Closest Airports:
The closest major airports are in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago.
From Chicago O'Hare Airport, the Van Galder Bus has an hourly service
to 800 University Av. Madison, WI: www.coachusa.com/vangalder
(Look under Scheduled Services > O'Hare Airport for details, departure
times, ticket prices and to buy tickets online.)
From Mitchell Airport, Milwaukee, Badger Bus runs every 2 hours or so to:
700 University Av. Madison, WI: www.badgerbus.com/tickets/schedule.aspx
(Select Mitchell Airport as the departure point and Madison Area, UW
Madison – Chazen Museum as the arrival point for details.)
If you need transportation from Madison to Spring Green, a car can be
arranged to pick you up at the Madison bus stop.
Spring Green
Jackson
Q
MILWAUKEE
MADISON
60
Kennedy
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Waukesha
Dodgeville
60
14
Platteville
Road
Racine
Janesville
Spring
Green
Kenosha
14
Dubuque
County
Hig
Rockford
23
hw
ay
Waukegan
Crystal Lake
C
Elgin
23
Q
CHICAGO
1 mi
1 km
The White Church THEATRE Project is a 501 c (3) non-profit organization.
You can help support the White Church THEATRE Project by making a tax
deductible donation or gift.
Design: www.paulmckenziestudio.co.uk