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WORKS     Theater Arts Workshops, Professional Development Workshops, Residencies, Coaching, Private Lessons & [NEW] Book-related Works (based on the book “Theater Artist Play”)

mask


I learned many new techniques and games. Your knowledge helped me as a seasoned professional to learn and have fun. Thank you. - Judy Nelson (theater director and international peace advocate - after the “Theater Artists Play” two-day workshop at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Sept 2018)

Theater Arts Workshops (1-3 days & 2-6 hours a day; ages 10 and up)

The Gregson Theater Arts Workshops are tailored to the individual goals of the participants, regardless of level of expertise, in schools, colleges, correctional facilities, senior centers, and community centers, meeting halls, corporations, theaters and other venues across the country.     «Learn more  (workshops in detail)»

Workshops in detail:

These workshops typically include a combination of two to three theater arts practices listed below. However, we can focus on just one, depending on the length of the workshop, place and needs of the participants.

Performance

  • Mime, acting & improvisation
  • Clowning & comedy, commedia dell’arte
  • Creating a theater piece
  • Public speaking & presentation (it doesn't have to be scary!)
  • Storytelling

Writing for the stage

  • Playwriting basics
  • Poetry plays, creating theater with poetry,
  • Using theater in the classroom,
  • New! Theater Artists Play (based the book).

Masks

  • Mask making (neutral and character)
  • Mask performance,
  • Creating a plaster life cast

Miscellaneous

  • Set design
  • Group drawings, wheelchair art
  • Finding work & arts grant writing
  • Creativity Found workshops
  • Visualizations, creating your artist house, etc.

[NEW] Theater Artist Play - Creating a Theater Piece (1-2 day workshop;   3 hours/day) - workshop based on Barbara's book of the same name. This workshop premiered at the 2018 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Barbara L. Gregson will share with you a few of her favorite and accessible theater techniques from her new book. Topics can include the ancient theater traditions of mime, storytelling and mask performance. You will take away new theater methods to help create, write and play your own original theater work and have the beginnings of an original theater piece of your own creation by the end of the workshop.

Creating a Theater Piece - things to consider

  • What is your big idea?
  • Where is the performance to be held?
  • When?
  • What style of production do you want to create?
  • Who will be involved in the process?

Don’t worry.  If you know most or only some of the answers to these questions, we can work together define the style of theater, the format, venue and other details for your theater piece.

Performance: Each performance workshop includes theater warm- ups games, acting and mime techniques and improvisations .  There can be an emphasis on mime comedy, clowning, slapstick, commedia dell’arte, mask performance, acting, storytelling and/or playwriting, such as writing from improvisation, monologues, dialogues, flash fiction and poetry. Performance workshops always culminate in final improvisational pieces created by the participants.

Mask Making: Make a papier maché, neutral or character mask from a plaster cast of your own face.

Mask Performance: Learn the art of mask performance. Use Gregson Theater masks to create short mime pieces, or use your own.

Life Casts: Make a plaster cast of your face to display and or use as a mold for leather and papier maché mask making.

Creativity Found: These workshops are especially appropriate for Professional Development (see below), for team building, for “people in transition” or for personal development.

NOTE: You can view many pictures of workshops and residencies in our slideshow.

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Professional Development Workshops (1-3 days; 6 hours per day)

Barbara tailors professional development workshops for educators and professionals in the private sector.

«Learn more  (details)»

Professional Development Workshops details:

For Professors and Teachers of all subjects and grades, including special education and ESL. How to Create a Theater Piece, Using Theater in the Classroom and with your curriculum or any of the Gregson Theater workshops (details above) that are beneficial to you and your students.

For the Private sector including for corporations, schools, medical institutions, entrepreneurs, business leaders, scientists, sales and marketing professionals, lawyers, teachers, artists, writers - anyone who needs or wants to make a presentation, a “Ted Talk”, a speech or lecture.

ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS: These Gregson Theater workshops are a truly fun and creative experience. They are guaranteed to build teams, camaraderie, creativity, improve analytical thinking and problem solving workshops can include elements of acting, voice, relaxation exercises, performance preparation, storytelling, public speaking, comedy and improvisation. These are also practical exercises that will improve diction, stage presence and confidence.

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Individual Coaching, Lessons & Consulting

These individual sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual or organization.

    «Learn more  (details)»

Individual Coaching, Lessons & Consulting details:

Take a 1-on-1 theater arts private lesson, creativity session, make a plaster cast or bring Barbara in to consult with your organization about funding resources. Below are several examples:

  • Arts Consultancies will help you find artists to build your arts programs or find grants and funding resources for your organization. Barbara can help you learn how to start and fund your own arts project or a Gregson Theater project or residency.
  • Creativity Coaching gives you many exercises and methods to help you create and finish your next project, book or life change. These are especially good for people in transition.  Sessions can be) in person or by phone or video chat, depending on location and individual needs.
  • Individual Theater Arts Lessons in acting, mime, presentation, voice, public speaking, mask making or other theater arts technique to help your professional work or personal development.
  • Make a plaster cast of your face, or your child’s to have for all time! And/or make a papier maché mask from the cast (ages 10 and up).

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Gregson Theater Residencies (10-20 days; ages 5 and up)

These residencies can include acting, mask making, mime, improvisation, play writing, set design and/or other theater arts techniques, all culminating in a final production.    

«Learn more  (details)»

Gregson Theater Residencies details:

For her theater residencies, Barbara shares her unique and creative theater making process with people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, ages and abilities in prisons, nursing homes, community centers, hospitals, schools, colleges and more. PLEASE NOTE: All participants are involved in all aspects of the final production.

Creating a Theater Piece - things to consider

  • What is your big idea?
  • Where is the performance to be held?
  • When?
  • What style of production do you want to create?
  • Who will be involved in the process?

Don’t worry.  If you know most or only some of the answers to these questions, we can work together define the style of theater, the format, venue and other details for your theater piece.

To learn how are these theater residencies are funded, go to the Funding page to find out how to bring Gregson Theater to your school or organization today. Also for a vast array and variety of past residencies and locations see the Gregson Theater press kit, including a resumé.

 

PLEASE NOTE: For any scheduled residency, the organization can receive free copies of Barbara’s book, Theater Artists Play.

See examples of previous productions and themes below.

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[New] Theater Artists Play! The Book

Barbara offers readings, workshops and live presentations based on her book, Theater Artist Play.

«Learn more  (details)»

Theater Artists Play! The Book details

Theater Artists Play” (book) - a guide to creating and making your own theater work. Barbara gives book signings at bookstores, libraries, arts councils, etc. She also gives book presentations and workshops specifically tailored to the book. Go to and Book page for more info. All book workshops and presentations include a book signing at the end of the event.
PLEASE NOTE: For any scheduled residency, the organization can receive free copies of Barbara’s book, Theater Artists Play.

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Acting

acting
NYS Veteran's Home, Oxford, NY

 

acting
Moonlight Mayhem Mt Marmalade, NYS Veteran's Home, Oxford, NY

Adding music

set design
Musicians playing for “Wandering Home”

Mime

mime
Herkimer BOCES students 2014

Mask and Mime Performance

Mask and Mime Performance
Herkimer BOCES 2014

 

Mask and Mime Performance
Herkimer BOCES 2016

Mask Making

Mask Making
Chenango Arts Council workshop 2015

 

Mask Making
Chenango Arts Council workshop 2016

Set Design

set design
NYS Veterans Home painting the set

 

set design
Residency

Putting it all together

adding music
Mime Choir

 

putting the show together
The Show!

 

putting the show together
The Show!

 

putting the show together
The Cast!

Street Theater

Street theater
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2003

 

Street theater
Guilford Days 2015, Guilford, NY

Other

Wheelchair art
Wheelchair art


Some previously used themes:

  • Your Ancestors/Family Histories
  • “What did she bring with her?”
  • Social Studies
  • New York or Pennsylvania history
  • William Penn
  • First Nation’s Peoples: “From Our View”
  • “My Life Stories” told in song and mime
  • Poetry/Haikus
  • Flash Fiction
  • Adapted Stories from Fairy Tales
  • Create your own Fairy Tale

Some past performances:

  • “A Long Walk to Water” book by Linda Sue Park, adapted by 7th and 8th graders at BOCES, Apalachin, NY
  • “The Ancients” - Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures, performed by 6th graders at West Winfield Middle School, NY
  • Recovery programs: “The Door” performed by men from the Return program at Girard Medical Center, Philadelphia
  • Short fiction and poetry turned into mime pieces with live music
  • “It’s Not Easy Being a Kid” - 5th graders’ stories and poems adapted into mime, song and theater pieces
  • “I Am Just a Kid, Give Me a Chance to Grow” - from 3-6 graders’ own stories
  • “Snatch the Book” - SESTU (Youth Development Center)
  • “My Life on the Streets” - performance of rap, mime and live music
  • “Wandering Home” - vignettes and poems by Mt View Social Club
  • “Moonlight Mayhem” and “Mt Marmalade” - a vaudeville show with mime and music at the Oxford NYS Veterans Home

 

My Disclaimer: I am not a therapist, but am a theater artist. I like to work with people who maybe in various stages of recovery, in transition or who are institutionalized. I don’t need to know why they are there or what they did to be there. I see everyone through the lens of a fellow artist and that is how we connect.

I give my students access to the creative form (in my case it is theater) and show them how to express themselves in this art form.

Call Today (607 895 6032) for a Free Consultation regarding how your organization can create an original theater piece or hold a theater arts workshop with Gregson Theater.

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