Roving Classical Commedia University* (*Totally Unaccredited)

Photographs & Comments from
Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Virginia and Istanbul, Turkey

"It is not just about Commedia but developing skills for acting and connecting honestly with moment-to-moment impulses in improvising and in performing. I am going to recommend you to all of my students and colleagues." Professor Judith Chaffee from Boston University (classical theater program) after taking our first summer session.

Murat, Ipek & Stanley at Theatre Maan in Istanbul

At Tiyatro Maan in Istanbul, Murat Aygen, Ipek Kutbay with Stanley above, below Dilruba Saatci 2009.

Dilruba Saatci Stanley Ipek in Istanbul in Workshop

Stephanie Monseu & Guest Musician Michael Smith
"Music" Stephanie Monseu & Guest Musician Michael Smith
Carlo Mazzone-Clementi with Hovey and Stanley at the memorial ofJacque Lecoq

Carlo Mazzone-Clementi with Stanley and Hovey at the memorial of Jacques Lecoq in Washington DC in 1999 (Photo from mask maker Michele Schultz)

Translator Ipek Kutbay going over  a paper about Isabella
Translator Ipek Kutbay in Istanbul, going over Isablella's feeling about old men and young lovers. Below - laughing in Istanbul.
Five students in Istanbul Laughing

Two Arlecchino's working with props. Dilruba Saatci and Fatih Sonmez.

Two Arlecchino's working with props. Dilruba Saatci and Fatih Sonmez.

 

R David Robinson  as Pantalone

"Extending Yourself" Summer Intensive 2005 R David Robinson

Teli Cardaci as Dottore
  Bookmark and Share
Mask Making Wanda Strukus sculpting  

"learn mask making" Wanda Strukus

DeSales University
September 2, 2005

Dear Hovey & Stanley,

Thank you. You have enriched our department, brought masterful training to our program, and supplied our actors with a golden experience as they embark upon a play (Triumph of Love by Marivaux) containing beautiful Commedia elements. I would strongly encourage educators, directors, and actors to work with you... now.

Commedia U. has opened my eyes to the importance of actor training in the "mother of all comedy" Commedia. I believe that the roots of your work in structured improvisations have informed even today's professional actor training modes, such as the Meisner Approach. Grazie! La Saluto!

With Admiration, Debt, and Gratitude,
Steven

Steven Dennis, MFA
Asst. Professor of Theater
Director, The Summer Theatre Institute
DeSales University

 
Fritz Grobe & Ayars Hemphill in masks performing  
"Full of surprises discover the unexpected expect the unexpected" Fritz Grobe & Ayars Hemphill

4 students in Istanbul doing an excersize

Trusting your instincts and each other.

Capitaino's boastful swagger, Katharina Weithaler in Istanbul 2009

Capitaino's boastful swagger, Katharina Weithaler in Istanbul 2009.

Hi Stanley

I just got back from a flurry of workshops I've been giving around these parts. Just want to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and how much I received from your class.

I have adopted the "Doctore" character and although this mask I made since I got home is a little more on the cartoon side than the comedia side (its' blue!) It is still very much a Doctore character and very French! I've used him to introduce a number of key note talks I've been asked to do at health conferences. He (and the character is definitely a he - wearing a doctor's coat) He is a lot of fun and warms the audience up to "what is next"

Thanks for your patience with us. And thank you for the pictures!

Hugs

Shobi Dobi, the Clown
AKA Shobhana Schwekbe
Editor/Publisher
The Hospital Clown Newsletter
PO Box 8957
Emeryville, CA 94662
www.hospitalclown.com

Hovey Burgess teaching

Hovey Burgess
Teaching History

Greetings from Mt. Airy, NC.

You folks will never know how much I use my Commedia training. As a clown, director, and as an actor I love finding new ways to use this great form to communicate. …You are all quoted . . . a lot! …

Sincerely,
Mark Donnell

"Character!" Teli Cardaci
Brighella & Pantalone making music together. (R David Robenson & ?
Brighella & Pantalone making music together. (R David Robenson & ?)
 
Improviso (Improvisation)" Judith Chaffee, Wanda Strukus & (Captaino - Ann Willcutt, Amanda Houtari, Tile Cardaci,Fritz Grobe or Nathaniel Gundy)

"Improviso (Improvisation)" Judith Chaffee, Wanda Strukus & (Captaino - Ann Willcutt, Amanda Houtari, Tile Cardaci,Fritz Grobe or Nathaniel Gundy)

 

Caroline Copeland with the New York Baroque Dance Company teaching dances from the early 1600's

Caroline Copeland with the New York Baroque Dance Company
Ayars Hemphill & Shobahana Schwebke in female masks
 

. . . . . . . "Situations!" . . . . . . . . Ayars Hemphill & Shobahana Schwebke

 
Pantalone's hugging  

"make new acquaintances" Glenn Russell & (Pantalone ___?)

 
Fritz Grobe & Amanda Huotari as Pantalone feeling money

"affordable prices" Fritz Grobe &
Amanda Huotari

8 people sculpting  
"mask making"
"Push Pull" Hovey Burgess & Glenn Russell  
"Push Pull" Hovey Burgess & Glenn Russell

September 7, 2002

Thanks ever so much for your Commedia dell'Arte workshop at the Celebration Barn Theater. Although I've taken a number of Commedia Dell'Arte and physical theater workshops previously, your Roving Classical Commedia University has all of my past experiences beat by far. I can assure you, as a result of my participation in your workshop, what I do personally with Commedia and what our Commedia Dell'Arte troupe does from now on will be completely transformed. You gave everyone an amazing depth in all the aspects of this art: from music and dance to circus skills and the history of the Commedia characters, from mask making and mask performing to working with scenarios and improvisation, the workshop was indeed amazing. I would encourage anybody interested in working in this style specifically or expanding their abilities in theater generally to take a workshop with the three of you.

All the best of luck,
Glenn Russell

Founder and leader of Pasta Shock, a Philadelphia based Commedia Dell'Arte Troupe

Tug of war with many people on the ground

"Rigorous Training"

Students in Istanbul studying  at a Pantalone mask

Students in Istanbul studying at a Pantalone mask

Exploring the mask

Sonnet E Carpenter & guest Baroque Musician Fran Berge playing "de la Fausse Coquette
Sonnet E Carpenter & guest Baroque Musician Fran Berge playing "de la Fausse Coquette"from the 1600's
Capatiano falling in love with Kelly Allen

 

"Falling in love"
(Captaino-Teli Cardaci or Fritz Grobe or Nathaniel Gundy) & Kelly Allen

We welcome all questions and comments.

Where actors have not been identified or correctly identified it merely proclaims the magical transformation made possible by the mask.

To contact Roving Classical Commedia University* (*Totally Unaccredited) 212-255-2882 e-mail IL-Dottore
Photographs on this page by Stanley Allan Sherman and other people © August 2002 - 2017