Three Visions of Presence: a workshop with Dan Rothenberg
DC Workshop: Approaches to Performance Presence with Dan Rothenberg
Presented in association with Spooky Action Theater
Dan Rothenberg, co-founder and co-Artistic Director of the OBIE Award-winning Pig Iron Theatre Company, will teach a 3-session workshop for performer-creators in Washington, DC. Drawing from his encounters and collaborations with theater visionaries Jacques Lecoq, Joe Chaikin, and Toshiki Okada, Rothenberg will dig into performer presence, breath and play.
This workshop brings together touchstones from a two-decade investigation of performance style that bridges experimental, clown-based, and cabaret-based techniques.
What is the muscle that allows contact with the audience? How does the performer grab and shape the attention of the audience? How does an ensemble create a style—a complete performance world? Working with improvisation and writing-on-your-feet, Pig Iron’s co-founder will lead participants through a series of provocations that are expansive, joyful, and demystifying.
Rothenberg trained with Jacques Lecoq in Paris, and Pig Iron’s roots are in Lecoq’s work with physical performance and clown. In 1999, legendary director and founder of the Open Theater Joseph Chaikin directed and developed Shut Eye with Pig Iron—from which emerged a new pedagogy called “Ordinary-Extraordinary.” Then in 2011-2013, Pig Iron collaborated with award-winning Japanese writer-director Toshiki Okada whose self-conscious writing and unique physical performance style have made him a sensation at festivals across Asia and Europe.
DETAILS
Tuesday May 7 — 7-9pm
Tuesday May 14 — 7-9pm
Tuesday May 21 — 7-9pm
All sessions held at Spooky Action Theater
1810 16th St NW, Washington DC
COST: $120
Applicants are strongly encouraged to be up to date on their COVID vaccines and boosters.
We are thrilled to partner with Washington DC's Spooky Action Theater to present this workshop in May!