Don McNeill’s Breakfast Club
4 hours ago
Thursday, December 13, 2007
TJ on TV
This news from TJ Metz, from the first three cycles of Mother of Invention. Congrats TJ:
"I am on the tele...cable actually...tomorrow night, Friday 12.14.07 at 8 PM.
The show is a reality show. It's like dinner and a movie. The movie is Return to me with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver. During the commercials, 3 other actors and myself, pretend like we're on a date. It was filmed in beautiful Half Moon Bay - one very chilly afternoon - last month. I'm guy number 3. I was hired to be goofy and sarcastic...I hope I delivered. You tell me. =)"
Take care!
TJ METZ
415.608.8825
tjmetz@gmail.com
Sunday, November 25, 2007
catch her on the way up
Forgive the long hiatus. I can only invoke Abraham Lincoln's observation that it is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and leave no doubt.
A friend of mine, Elif Batuman, has a star that is rising quickly: she has had at least one piece published in the New Yorker, and was recently awarded something like twenty-five grand for being a promising woman writer. Anyway, she will be reading at three bay area locations this week, as she reports, with scintillating wit, in her blog:
http://www.elifbatuman.net
It won't suck, believe me.
Anyway, cheers, here comes Xmas, hold on tight,
A
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Sunday, October 07, 2007
the new dynamic duo
I am VERY pleased to announce that I will have a partner in crime for the cycle of the
Advanced Class beginning in January (will meet on Wednesday nights): Denmo Ibrahim, the
co-founder of the acclaimed San Francisco theater ensemble Mugwumpin. She will be
teaching one component of the class, in which she will bring her extensive background in various physical theater disciplines to bear in way that will support us in our ongoing work to cultivate a
free and animated physical instrument capable of directed powerful interventions in the
worlds we are living in, and will help equip us for the physical boldness asked of us in our
preliminary steps into the world of Shakespeare.
I have included Denmo's bio below. It speaks for itself!
For those of you who have only done one cycle of the Essentials class but would like to get
in on this, let me remind you that there is a Tuesday night cycle of the Essentials class
starting October 16.
Cheers, be well,
Andrew
Denmo Ibrahim is a founder and co-Artistic Director of mugwumpin, San Francisco's
award winning performance company. Locally, she has been commissioned to create new
ensemble-built performances for Theatre of Yugen, foolsFURY, Shotgun Players, Golden
Thread, Root Division, and EXIT Theatre. In May, she was awarded the TBA New Work
Fund for emerging playwrights for a world premiere produced by Golden Thread
scheduled for 2008. As a performer, she has been nominated for the "Irene Ryan Acting
Award" (Boston) and a "Joseph Jefferson Award "(Chicago) for Best Actress in a Lead Role.
In San Francisco, Denmo has served on the selection committee for the Playwrights
Foundation and was a member of The Gym at The Magic for the development of
experimental work. She has studied commedia dell'arte with Antonio Fava at the
International Stage in Italy, acrobatics with Mirco Ferri, and intensive training with Giovanni
Fusetti `s clown pedagogy: The Red Nose. Denmo is a graduate of Boston University and
holds an M.F.A. in Lecoq-Based: Actor Created Physical Theatre from Naropa University.
She offers private workshops for theatre companies and public programs for youth and
adults in ensemble creation. This fall she will be teaching a Neutral Mask intensive
sponsored by The Exploratorium.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
couchsurfing dot com
Hi all,
I met with a prospective student recently who was visiting SF from Barcelona on her way around the world. She told me about this website called couchsurfing.com where you can find people in cities you are going to visit who will elt you sleep on their couch for FREE. She said she has had great experiences both as a host and a guest, and a cursory look at the website reveals that many other people have had a similar experience. So checkitOUT!
Cheers,
A
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
walkin the walk
Hi all,
I am pleased to announce that I will be appearing in a staged reading of Andy Black's play "The Second Weekend in September", which is being presented by the Bay Area Playwright's Center. One night only! October 23rd at 7:30 PM at the Off-Market Theater, 2nd Floor. The play is a reimagining of Same Time, Next Year with two men, one closeted and one very out. Guess which one I am playing! Hope you can come out and see it.
Cheers,
Andrew
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
class relocates, Tuesday night cycle starting in Oct
I am excited to announce that the class will be meeting at the Golden Gate YMCA's theater space starting in October. A secured parking lot, ample street parking, central location close to BART and Muni: it's gonna be grrreat!
Also, starting October 16, there will be a Tuesday evening Essentials class. Full calendar on utteracting.com calendar page.
Cheers,
Andrew
---
Sunday, September 16, 2007
we got mugwumped (and it felt GOOD!)
It's so bracing to see a truly original theatrical event. I went with a bunch of friends to see mugwumpin's show in the SF Fringe tonight. These guys have really developed a voice that is unlike anything I have ever seen, and I am a bit of a jaded ex-New Yorker when it comes to theater. Fresh, genuinely funny, enigmatic without being self-important, leaves you wanting more. What more can you ask for? Props to mugwumpin! I'll throw down for you guys anytime! There's one more show tomorrow (Sunday, so catch it if you can).
I spoke to Denmo Ibrahim afterwards, who directed the piece. She was very gracious and approachable, and I am really impressed with the physical skill of her actors. She studied a French form of mime called Le Coq (deon't think Marcel Marceau) that is a FANTASTIC form of movement training for actors. I hope she will be gracing the halls of the Mother of Invention Acting School 'ere long, helping to inspire and instruct.
Cheers,
Andrew
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Friday, September 14, 2007
Earle Gister does Chekhov in New York
Hi all,
I was doing some research recently on one of my Yale acting teachers, Earle Gister (class veterans know who I am talking about, I talk about him a lot). Well, anyway, I came across this article about a showcase production of Chekhov's The Sea Gull that Earle is staging:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86319.html
I found it interesting because the way the production came about is exactly the way I envision starting to produce work with my students in the future.
I know two of the actors mentioned: one Kimberly Ross, was in my thesis production at Yale, and the other, Paul Niebank, was in my class, although we never worked together on a production.
The list in the article of actors Earle has taught is impressive, to say the least.
Cheers,
Andrew
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
second wednesdays play-reading group kicks off
Hi all,
Last night, a group of my students and some new faces met at Cafe La Vie in Hayes Valley for the kickoff of Second Wednesdays, the playreading group associated with the Mother of Invention Acting School. We read Chekhov's Three Sisters. It was a very good time. We laughed a lot. How I love that play!
Speaking of, er, Chekhov, I am going to see something tonight at the Fringe called The Sewers, which got a glowing rave in SF Weekly. It's part of the SF Fringe Festival. The SF weekly reviewer said that it's something like Chekhov meets Blade Runner. I am very,very curious.
Anyway, cheers,
Andrew
---
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Jeremy off the hook
Hi all,
Jeremy Mascia just got cast in Lovers and Other Strangers at the Shelton Theater! The show will open in October. Stay tuned!
He is currently in Eavesdropping at CAFE Arts: "I just received my schedule for the rest of the run of Eavesdropper. I will be performing the following nights: 9/14, 9/15, 9/21 and 9/28. Doors open at 8 PM. Tickets, I believe, are $15."
Also: "Saw some great live music last night that I'm still buzzing from:
Okkervil River at the Independent. I guess they can be classified as
folk-punk; their strength is in their lyrics, very emotive."
Thanks for the tip, Jeremy. Great new music always makes the medicine go down. And congrats! Keep it up.
Cheers,
Andrew
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Second Wednesdays play reading group
I am excited to announce I am initiating Second Wedensdays:
an informal group of enthusiasts who will meet once a month (on the second Wednesday of the month!) to read a
play aloud. We will read all kinds of plays: European, American, classic, new, we will cover the whole map.
And I am very pleased to report that I have obtained the
consent of the owner of Cafe La Vie in Hayes Valley to stay open for
us once a month. This cafe is great. If you don't know it, check out
what people are saying about it on yelp.com:
(Don't miss the one that is written as a "break-up" letter to Peet's
Coffee. Hilarious!)
Anyway, it's low-key, not a commitment, come when you can, meet some
new folks, look for dates, whatever you want. And get to know a great
play, or get to know it again. The first meeting will be Wednesday,
Sept 12, (yes, I know, two days after the talk) at 8 PM. Everyone is welcome. It's a great way for people to get to know the Mother of Invention community a little bit.
Feel free to email me at actbetter@utteracting.com for more information.
Looking forward!
Cheers,
A
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Friday, August 31, 2007
saturday looks good to me
This is my New Favorite Band That I Just Found Out About. Their sound is a throwback to lost 60's AM pop, with a little experimental whatevah thrown in for good measure. Sometimes he sings, sometimes she does. The lyrics are great, check out in particular "When the Party Ends". Some other great song titles include "We Can't Work It Out", "You Work All Weekend", "No Good With Secrets", "Dialtone", and "When You Got to New York." The album to start with is "Every Night." They have a new album coming out AND they're coming to SF in the fall. Yippee!
Cheers,
A
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
clothes make the pimp
Hi all,
This article from the New York Times talks about the recent legislative backlash agains wearing your jeans low. Officials are arguing that it's indecent. Well, whatever you think about that, it does make the point that what you are wearing MATTERS, particularly if you are an actor. The article talks about how wearing the baggy pants is sometimes a statement of disrespect for the Man. It also briefly recounts the history of the zoot suit, the uniform of urban minorities in the US in the mid-twentieth century. During WWII wearers of zoot suits were actually the victims of riots in L.A. Who knew that Rodney King happened before it happened?
Anyway, given all of this, I have to say that the relectance of students to go to the thrift store and find themselves some appropriate rehearsal clothes for the characters is thrown into sharp relief. I spend precious time in class speaking to this issue, and send Group Posts about it as well, and it's still not unusual for people to show up to class to do their scene in their street clothes. I see this as symptomatic of a largely unconscious reluctance to transform, to take up someone else's PART. This unconscious reluctance is the actor's spiritual public enemy number one. We have to be ruthless with, and give no quarter to, this nasty demon who tempts us into the doldrums of inaction and "I've already thought about it/dealt with it." Fortune, as a wise man once said, favors the bold!
Cheers,
A
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
cassie powell books cal shakes gig
Hi all,
I am happy to report that longtime Mother of Inventioner Cassie Powell will be playing Viola in the California Shakespeare Festival's touring production of Twelfth Night. The show will tour to schools thoughout California. AND it's a musical production, and Cassie landed the role with NO prior musical experience or training. This means that for the next year Cassie's primary income will come from acting! Right on, Cassie!
A
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
SURPRISE!!!
"I've been to a marvelous party; I couldn't have liked it more."
--Noel Coward
Tonight, I joined longtime Mother of Inventioners Cassie Powell and Larry Guth in Sausalito for a surprise party for their classmate and former scene partner Dawn Scott, who is heading off to Denver to the National Theater Conservatory to embark on her acting MFA there. It's a FANTASTIC deal because all of her tuition is paid, and she gets a stipend. An MFA program that doesn't leave you enmired in debt! What a concept! She will be studying with a longtime student of Earl Gister's, one of my teachers at Yale. She is also going to be taking a class in TRAPEZE! As if Dawn could possibly be MORE fabulous than she already is, but if there is a way, I guess Dawn on a trapeze would be it. Anyway, the party was great to be a part of, because people from every corner of Dawn's multifarious life were present, at a beautiful waterside restaurant, where we got to watch the sun set on our beautiful city, and smile for the last time in a long while on our friend as she leaves to walk the road of happy destiny. We are all with you Dawn!
xoxox
A
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
learning to love you more dot com
This is the site of the truly awesome Miranda July, an art world sensation/filmmaker/actor. Maybe you caught her movie Me and You and Everyone We Know, a couple of years ago. If so: ))<>(( If not, it's definitely worth a look. On her website, she has all of these assignments that you can do, to sort of get your creativity, introspection, and self-expression on, such as interview someone who has experienced war, or write a press release for an everyday event, or take a picture of what's under your bed. I saw her do a kind of show at Yerba Buena a couple of years ago (Cassie Powell took me to it), and it was something that, in the words of the Smiths, I won't forget too soon.
Cheers,
A
Acting Can Save the World!
Acting Can Save the World!
Acting Teacher Speaks to Acting as a Road to Spiritual Development for Everyone
The failures of the world, at many levels, stem from the inability of people to step back from their own point of view and look momentarily at a situation from the point of view of another. Acting challenges people to do precisely that, argues acting teacher, actor, director and Yale Drama School alum Andrew Utter. To play a role is, first and foremost, Utter says, to be able to see and connect with why a character finds it necessary to do what it is he or she actually does. Utter found this notion to be so compelling that he named his San Francisco acting studio the Mother of Invention Acting School (www.utteracting.com), necessity being, according to Plato, the mother of invention. Utter will be speaking at 7:30 on Monday, September 10th at Ft Mason, room D100, on the distinctive benefits of acting as a spiritual path. The talk is free and open to the public.
In addition to asking people to be able to change perspective, acting challenges practitioners to develop many other qualities and abilities widely associated with spiritual life: transformation, courage, adaptation, absorption, stamina, possibility, vitality, joie de vivre, vulnerability, and imagination. Acting is also unique in that it depends on both introversion and extroversion: actors have to be able to look inward to get at what makes people tick, but they also have to be able to manifest outwardly what they learn by looking inwards. These faculties are invaluable to everyone, no matter what their daily life asks of them, so Utter asserts that the pursuit of acting can be of great benefit to people in all walks of life. "It's about getting your truth on, and someone else's, at the same time," he quips. "It's not just for actors anymore!"
Andrew Utter holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama's directing program. He recently appeared at the Magic Theater in the world premier of Chantal Bilodeau's play Pleasure and Pain. He has worked, in various capacities at Yale Repertory Theater, Manhattan Class Company, Syracuse Stage, and Mabou Mines New York, among others.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Acting as a Spiritual Path
Hi all,
I am very eager to announce a free public talk I will be giving on Acting as a Spiritual Path. It will be held on September 10, 2007, at Fort Mason, room C205 at 7:30 PM. You will be able to gaze out the window at a view of the GG Bridge as I entice you to survey the landscape of challenge and growth that the path of acting affords. Topics will include at least some of the following: transformation, adaptation, absorption, stamina, possibility, vitality, joie de vivre, vulnerability, imagination, and that most hackneyed of acting class cliches, connection, which I will try to breathe some new life into. I hope you will join me.
Cheers,
Andrew
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Sunday, August 12, 2007
actor shoes!!!
I had a coffee date with a guy who does a lot of Pilates, and Pilates is something that I am always encouraging students to do, because it is all about learning to engage the core abdominal muscles strongly and keep the rest of the body expanded and open simultaneously, a skill that is at the core of great acting. This guy was wearing these shoes that looked a little like some kind of platform sneakers, and it turned out they were special shoes, called MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) shoes, designed with a curve in the sole. The effect of this is to force the person wearing them to use their abdominal muscles to stabilize themselves. Strengthening the core in this manner is sure to build the actor's capability to release their vital energy onto their partner, and provide for more commanding performances. You may be able to find these with a google search, or you can drop me a line at actbetter@utteracting.com and I can send you info on where you can get them.
A related point is that when I talk to my students about choosing rehearsal clothes for their scene, I urge them to pay special attention to the choice of shoes. Shoes often define the physical relationship to the floor and the comportment of the spine, and everything else, really, follows form this, so it is a decision to give careful thought to.
Cheers,
Andrew
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Friday, August 03, 2007
the dag lab
My new neighborhood hangout, ok, my office, is a charming little place in Hayes Valley called Cafe La Vie. The folks that work there are the nicest baristas I've ever met, the WiFi is free, the vibe is hella-hip, what more can you ask for? They have regular exhibitions of artwork there, and currently they have one by a guy who makes daguerrotypes. Daguerrotypes are the ancestors of photographs. Producing dagguerotypes is a technique that originated in the nineteenth century (pioneered by a Mr. Daguerre, among others). The guy who has produced this d-types, Eric Mertens, is showing some striking landscapes and portraits of contemporary subjects in a way that makes them feel like they belong in the nineteenth century and our time simultaneously. The cafe alone is well worth a visit, and this exhibition is someting to catch. Take a look.
Cheers,
Andrew
altered barbie
Hi all,
I was walking on Market St last night and I passed a storefront. I immediately recognized the vibe emerging from it to be that of a gallery opening. I looked more closely and realized that this must be the opening of the Altered Barbie show, for which I had seen postcards at my favorite local haunt, Cafe La Vie. I was on my way somewhere, so I didn't get to go in, but what I saw in the front display windows looked like it would be worth revisiting...Barbie with lots of burning-man like body mods and apparel. The card shows Barbie wearing a tutu, striking a balletic pose, but with a birdcage for a head. Rene Magritte would be proud. And there's plenty of altered Ken as well, so there's something for everyone. 1554 Market is what I saw, and postcard says there is also something at 580 Hayes at Laguna. Checkit.
xoxox
A
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
mugwumpin
I was at the San Francisco Theater Festival this weekend promoting my classes. I had the good fortune to be placed next to Michael Rice, the creator of the Cool as Hell Theater Podcast. He produced the interview with me that is accessible from the home page of my website. The Podcast is an ongoing series of reports about Bay Area theater happenings that is presented in collaboration with KQED. He gets invited to pretty much everything, and sees a lot of it. I asked him if there was a company whose work consistently impressed him. As a jaded New York theatergoer and Drama School grad, I am always on the lookout for theater that is genuinely inspiring, so a strong recommendation from someone who goes to a ton of it means a lot. He said there was a company called mugwumpin that he really liked, and that he would go see anything they did. That's exactly the kind of recommendation I am always in the market for. And if course I immediately wanted to pass it along to you, dear readers, so that you could go to the theater and be inspired as well.
A visit to the mugwumpin website doesn't tell you a whole hell of a lot (although the site is visually compelling!), but I did see somewhere that they were residents artists at the Exit Theater. Since the Exit is the home of the SF Fringe Festival, I figured it would be a good bet that they would have a show in this year's Fringe, which happens in September. And sure enough, there is: it's called Tesla's White Pigeon. The link to buy tickets didn't work when I clicked on it, but I am sure there is a way. I know I am going to get on the phone with the Exit and get some tickets.
And check out the Cool as Hell Theater podcast. Michael is an engaging (and tough!) interviewer, it's always worth a listen:
http://www.kqed.org/arts/cash/
Cheers,
Andrew
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
a cool Bay area theater blog
Tim Bauer is a Bay area playwright. I don't know his stuff, but he has a blog covering bay area theater happenings. Checkit!
http://timbauer.wordpress.com/
Cheers,
Andrew
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007
congrats to jay m
Hi all,
Mother of Invention newcomer is acting in a production of Midsummer Night's Dream in the woods! Congrats Jay! Details from Jay below:
i'll be performing "a midsummer night's dream," directed by stuart
bousel and presented as part of atmostheatre's theatre in the woods
series.
that's right, it's theatre-in-the-frickin-woods! we've got a beautiful
plot of land, about 30 miles out of the city, just off of skyline.
beautiful amphitheaters in the middle of a redwood forest. [honestly, i
feel better as soon as i get out of the car, but i'm from the forest,
you know? when i get back to nature i just feel calm, and free. but
anyway...]
the show's great. it's a LOT of fun, briskly paced, highly
intelligible, and it's got a great cast. it's a fun way to spend two
and a half hours on a summer day. and did i mention it's in the woods?
and on a personal note: i don't usually like to pimp my shit, but i'm
really proud of some of the work i've been doing on this show. i'm doing
two smaller parts, mainly for comic relief, but this shows just...feels
right. so, if you have a chance to make it up to the bay this august
[and let's face it, the only people who don't want to spend august in
norcal are northern californians], please come check it out.
tickets are going fast. i found out today like half of our dates are
sold out. so, my bad. but there are plenty of other performances. we
preview the last weekend of july and then do saturday/sunday through
labor day. all performances are matinees [duh, the woods are scary at
night], 1 o'clock curtain. here's the website:
http://www.atmostheatre.com/
i believe i've got a couple comps as well, so if you need one, ask early
and be poor. but come see the show.
peace.--jm
Sunday, July 15, 2007
congrats to Leigh
Longtime Mother of Inventioner will be playing Francisca in the upcoming Arclight Repertory production of Measure for Measure. Right on Leigh!
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Sunday, July 08, 2007
public enemy number one
In the body work portion of the class, I introduce the jaw as the actor's public enemy number one. Most of us carry tension there habitually, and the jaw is wired to the back and the rest of the body, so tension that originates there can easily spiral downward and create all kinds of physical static for the actor. Further, the jaw is a kind of gateway, so that impulses that originate in the gut or elsewhere are either allowed or disallowed by the jaw. And, for some reason, when we are engrossed in doing something that requires a lot of our concentration, like, say, playing a difficult portion of a scene, the jaw often tenses up to make sure that nothing is released that isn't supposed to be. However, this also (often) has the effect of making sure that nothing comes in, and this means that the actor has effectively isolated him or herself from his or her environment, which is bound to bring about stiffness and lifelessness. So learning to be aware of, and to release, jaw tension is indispensable
You can explore this yourself by choosing an activity that is challenging for you and paying attention to your jaw while you try to do it. I like to go out dancing, and when I start to get going, and feel inspired to show off some fancy footwork, my jaw will invariably tense up in some kind of misguided effort to "help" by stablizing me (a phenomenon sometimes known as "white guy overbite"). I also notice this in my T'ai-Chi practice. This awareness is the first step towards freeedom. The next is cultivating the habit of letting go of this tension when it arises. Do this enough and the letting go will become an unconscious habit This will probably take years, but Rome wasn't built in a day, right?
Cheers,
Andrew
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Friday, July 06, 2007
Jeremy on a roll
I reported recently that longtime Mother of Inventioner Jeremy Mascia was just picked up by Look Talent, and now he has been cast in a play called Eavesdroppers. Find out more by clicking on the title of this post.
That's fantastic Jeremy! Keep it up!
Cheers,
Andrew
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Friday, June 29, 2007
congrats to Dawn!
Hi all,
Longtime Mother of Inventioner Dawn Scott will be heading off to Denver this fall to start her program at the National Theater Conservatory there. One thing that is great about this program is that it is tution free-- she will get an MFA without paying a cent. The school itself finds funding for all of its students.
Dawn told me she observed an acting class when she visited and felt completely comfortable with what she saw being taught, based on her Mother of Invention experience. Best of luck to you Dawn!
Andrew
---
Sunday, June 24, 2007
congrats to Jeremy!
Longtime Mother of Inventioner Jeremy Mascia was recently engaged by Look Talent, an agency in San Francisco. Congrats Jeremy! Keep it up!
A
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Saturday, June 02, 2007
the incomparable Micaya
I made it back to hip-hop class today, after too long a hiatus, and it was just what the doctor ordered. It is taught by one Micaya, who has been teaching hip-hop in the Bay Area for 20 years, and choreographing and producing festivals besides. Her class is always a shot in the arm. She is always talking about the fire in the belly. Her hip-hop is not about prancin' around lookin' cute, it's about hurling thunderbolts. And it's great for actors: so many of us carry a lot of habitual tension in our upper bodies, and so it's hard for those impulses that start in the gut (if we're lucky!) to make it up and out. But hip-hop gets you LOW, real LOW, and nobody gets you lower than Micaya. And she breaks it down so well and so clearly. She teaches with precision and fire-- two of my favorite things. You can find her class schedule at www.micaya.com. Check it out!
A
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Friday, May 25, 2007
free feldenkrais!!!
Hi all,
I found these flyers for free or pay-what-you-can Feldenkrais training off of a bulletin board a few months ago, and have been meaning to post the information ever since. I don't know if the schedule information is current, but there is contact information for the teacher so you can find out what's what. Feldenkrais is a FANTASTIC thing for actors to do. Yo-Yo Ma did it, which gives you a sense of how high-end it is. So the chance to get it for free is something really special.
A little info from feldenkrais.com:
"The Feldenkrais Method, developed through 40 years of research by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, is a revolutionary approach to understanding human functioning. It utilizes movement and attention as the vehicles for enhancing our natural abilities to learn, to change and to continue to grow throughout our lives.
Born in Russia, Dr. Feldenkrais emigrated to Israel at the age of 13. After receiving degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering in, he earned his D. Sc. in Physics at the Sorbonne in Paris, subsequently working a number of years with Joliet-Curie in early nuclear research.
His interest in movement had deep roots in the martial arts. He studied with Professor Kano, the originator of Judo, and was one of the first Europeans to earn a Black Belt in the martial art (1936).
His own physical problems led him to a lifelong exploration of ways to improve our movement and functioning in general. His investigations reflected his various fields of expertise (physics, neurology, martial arts, cybernetics, body mechanics, and psychology) and resulted in a method that is a unique synthesis of science and aesthetics. It addresses universal human needs as well as a broad spectrum of individual problems, making Feldenkrais® work useful to a wide and varied population. Utilizing our brains innate capacity to learn, each of us can become more of who we imagine ourselves to be."
The teacher's name Sonja Riket and here phone number is (415)661 1852. Check it out!
Cheers,
Andrew
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
congrats to Hector!
Congratulations are in order to current Mother of Inventioner Hector Osorio, who has just been cast in Jonathan Moscone's production of Man and Superman at the California Shakespearre Festival. Right on, Hector!
Friday, April 06, 2007
full moon kayaking
If you're looking for something to do with a special someone, or just for something to do, you might consider full moon kayaking on the Bay. There are a few companies that do it, google will take you there. Kayaking is a great thing for actors to do. I often talk about how acting is a mind-body trick, a very particular coordination exercise that involves engaging the muscles in the abdominal core and keeping every thing else as open and relaxed as possible, so that the impulses born in the core can pass through the rest of the body expressively and transparently. Well, kayaking is a great challenge in this regard. You have to paddle, using your core muscles if you don't want your arms to get very tired, and if you are in the back, you have to steer with pedals. While you would paddle right to turn the boat left, you would use the left pedal to do the same thing. Plus you have to paddle in synch with your partner and keep an eye on your environment, other kayaks and other potential obstacles on the water. The nighttime/full-moon part of it adds a spiritual dimension to the whole thing. And we live near this beautiful bay. So what are you waiting for? Go!
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