Commedia dell'Akron

NEW WORLD PERFORMANCE LABORATORY AND MILLER SOUTH COMMEDIA TROUPE PRESENT “COMMEDIA DELL’ AKRON”

NEW WORLD PERFORMANCE LABORATORY JOINS WITH MILLER SOUTH’S COMMEDIA TROUPE TO PRESENT AN AFTERNOON OF WORKSHOPS AND FUN IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE DAY

AKRON, OH –New World Performance Laboratory in collaboration with Miller South Performing Arts Middle School’s Commedia dell’Arte troupe will present “Commedia dell’Akron,” an afternoon of workshops and fun in celebration of International Commedia dell’Arte Day on Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 2pm until 5pm, at the Balch Street Theatre, 220 South Balch Street, Akron, OH, 44302. This is a family-oriented activity and is open to all ages. Participation is free for this event. Workshops will include: An Introduction to Commedia dell’Arte and mask-making; how to create a commedia character; and simple physical comedy techniques. The afternoon will end with small group improvisations based on commedia dell’ arte scenarios. For more information call: (330) 867-3299 or write nwplab@gmail.com.

Commedia dell’arte is a form of theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century and is noted for the use of masked character “types” or stock characters, such as the foolish old man, the devious servant, the arrogant soldier, and the naïve lovers. It includes improvisation within structured story lines or scenarios.

Commedia dell’Akron is part of the third annual Commedia dell’Arte Day, a worldwide festival promoted by the Italian cultural association SAT and organized by the Washington D.C. theatre company, Faction of Fools. Performances, conferences, lectures, and workshops will simultaneously occur in cities around the world as theatre companies, scholars, students, and audiences celebrate Commedia dell'Arte.