The O’Neill Gets Physical With Dell’Arte International, Offering its Theatrical Workshop, CLOWN, For the First Time on the East Coast,
May 14 — 28

Waterford CT, March 6, 2003 – The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, home to new work and innovative theatrical learning communities, and Dell'Arte International, the leading American center for physical performance, are offering advanced students and professionals their first opportunity to join Dell’Arte’s popular workshop, CLOWN, on the East Coast. This intensive workshop with master teacher Ronlin Foreman, will be in residence at The O’Neill May 14 to 28. Previously, individuals seeking full-time training in physical theater had to travel to Dell’Arte’s training center in Blue Lake, CA. Now, choreographers, dancers, directors, educators and actors are welcome to study with Dell’Arte at a location easily accessible from Boston, New York or the surrounding region. Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Two performances of works-in-progress resulting from the residency will be open to the public on the evenings of May 27 & 28, details will be announced closer to those dates.

CLOWN explores the question of what it means to be funny through the study of rhythm, sound, timing, play and the physical world. Students develop their personal sense of humor and work as an ensemble to determine the nature of the clown and the fool. Instructor Foreman trained with Jacques Lecoq and at the Valley Studio in Wisconsin. His solo clown shows have been presented all over the United States and internationally, including The Actors Theatre of Louisville and the International Movement Theatre Festival. He has received Solo Artist grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and has directed nationally and internationally.

O’Neill National Theater Institute Director David B. Jaffe commented, “In keeping with our role as a learning community, Dell’Arte’s workshop provides an extension to NTI’s longstanding tradition of training, expanding it beyond undergraduate and post-graduate students to encompass theater professionals with a variety of goals and backgrounds. We are pleased to be working with Dell’Arte and hope their residency enables more people to access training in physical theater, a growing field in the world of performance.”

Participants in CLOWN stay at The O’Neill during the workshop, May 14 to 28. Tuition, including room and board, is $1500. Participants who live nearby and wish to commute have the option of paying $1100 for tuition and meals. Those interested in attending the workshop or receiving more information may call Dell’Arte at (707) 668-5663, e-mail dellarte@aol.com or write:
Dell’Arte International Clown Workshop at The O’Neill
P.O. Box 816
Blue Lake, CA 95525
Applications must be received by April 25, 2003.

Founded in 1975, the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre (www.dellarte.com) remains the only one of its kind in the U.S., offering full-time training in physical theatre, the creation of original work and related skills. Dell’Arte attracts students and audiences from all over the world to its facility in Blue Lake, California, which is home to an internationally-acclaimed touring company, a full-time professional actor-creator training program, summer workshops, a Bali residential program, original performances by resident and guest theatre artists and an innovative arts in education program

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford CT, is a learning community dedicated to advancing the American Theater through programs that encourage creative excellence and develop diverse voices and new work. These include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference, Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program for theater artists. The O’Neill also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage.