CURRENT    Future and recent work

Current and Highlights 2021-2023!

 

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Current & Upcoming Workshops, Events and Theater Residencies:

“Mime, Masks and Myths" - inclusive class, Cazenovia, NY, May - June 2024
In this class, participants will make masks, learn theater techniques to create an original theater piece.
Eight rehearsal/classes will be held from  May 5th - 31st, 12:45-2:45PM at the Cazenovia Public Library, Cazenovia NY with the pre-show rehersal on May 31st at 10:00AM-1:00PM and performance June 1st at 1:00PM, both at Carpenters Barn, Cazenovia, NY. To register, contact the library by email (rjoseph@midyork.org) or phone (315-655-9322). Contact Barbara Gregson with any questions. VIEW FLYER     READ CAZ REPUBLICAN ARTICLE

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

“Letter Never Sent" - theater class for adults, Manlius Senior Center, Manlius, NY, April - May 2024
In this class for adults, community members from the area and from the senior center will learn and practice theater techniques in order to write and perform an original theater piece. All adults ages 50 plus are invited to participate.
Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from  April 18th- May 17th, 1:00-3:00PM  at  the Manlius Senior Center. The performance date and time to be determined soon. Contact Barbara Gregson with any questions. Read the March 5th article in the Eagle News Bulletin. SCANNED ARTICLE    ONLINE ARTICLE

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

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Highlights of Recent Events, Workshops and Residencies:

“Mime, Masks and Myths" - Oxford Memorial Library, Oxford, NY, October - November 2023
A group of kids to adults learned the ancient theater arts traditions, such as mime, acting, play writing, improv and Renaissance mask making a character mask using a plaster cast of your face. No theater experience was necessary. We selected the Pandora's Box  myth which participants adapted into a short theater piece for our final performance for family and friends.   VIEW SHOW FLYER  
This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE. 

“Unmask Your Creative Self" - October, 2023
Barbara Gregson directed the Herkimer 7th and 8th grade, Middle School students at a theater arts and mask workshop, "Unmask Your Creative Self" at The Gateway Center, Herkimer, NY on October 2023.  The event was sponsored by Herkimer BOCES.   

“Teens Tell Tales" - August, 2023
Theater Arts came to the Butternut Valley Arts Center in Morris, NY for the first time! Barbara Gregson directed a Free Theater Arts Program for Teens. Teens from 12-18 registered and participated in the program. During this workshop, students learned, mime, acting techniques and storytelling along with mask making. Students created  and performed an original final show for family and friends.    VIEW FLYER         VIEW EVE SUN ARTICLE      VIEW WHARTON VALLEY GAZ ARTICLE      VIEW SHOW PROGRAM

This project is partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE. 

Theater Arts Residency - May-June, 2023
“Tales of Love and Transformation"  was directed by Barbara Gregson, with original music composed by Eric Porter (ericporterstudios.com). Mt View Players/Mt View Wellness Center celebrated their 10 years of performances and receiving grants with Gregson Theater since 2014! We also partnered with The First United Methodist Church of Oneonta, NY. Everyone 18 and older was welcome! All classes/rehearsals and two performances were be held at The First United Methodist Church, Oneonta, NY.   VIEW FLYER   -   GOFUNDME LINK   -   VIEW SHOW POSTER
This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE.

Two FREE classes and performances through CazArts in Cazenovia - April-May, 2023
“Creativity & Storytelling for Theater-Making " this first class was directed by Barbara Gregson with music by Eric Porter (ericporterstudios.com). Participants (adults, ages 40) discovered and developed their artistry, creativity & storytelling self in this collaborative, creative theater-making process. They used theater techniques learned to and create improvisations along with music accompaniment, culminating in a FREE, live performance. 
“INCLUSIVE - Creative & Fun Process of Storytelling! "  this second class was directed by Barbara Gregson with music by Eric Porter (ericporterstudios.com). This class explored the creative and fun process of storytelling with live music. Participants learned the basics of acting, mime, character development & use of theater character masks. FLYER1   -   FLYER2   -   CAZ REPUBLICAN ARTICLE   -  PERFORMANCE INFO1  -  PERFORMANCE INFO2
These two projects were made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

“Theater Arts & Masks" - October, 2023
Barbara Gregson directed the Herkimer 7th and 8th grade, Middle School students at a theater arts and mask workshop, "Theater Arts & Masks" in March 2023.  The event was sponsored by Herkimer, NY BOCES.   

Theater Arts Residency - September - October, 2022
“Minstrels, Trappers, Peddlers and Pirates Along the Chenango Canal"  was directed by Barbara Gregson, with original music composed by Eric Porter (ericporterstudios.com). A performance was held October 8th at the Chenango County Historical Society pavillion, 45 Rexford St, Norwich during their "Path Through History Weekend." Two additional performances were held October 14th at 6:30PM and October 15th at 1:00PM in the Martin Kappel Theater of the Chenango ARTS Council, 27 W Main St, Norwich. This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE.

VIEW POSTER

Theater Arts Workshops for KIDS! - August, 2022
This workshop for kids was called Summer Cool: Student Theatre & Arts!  Students learned visual and theatre arts with two instructors, Barbara Gregson and Brandon Law, creating portraits of themselves and one anotherand practicing the Renaissance tradition of maskmaking. Participants then practiced the arts of improvisation, mime and storytelling, putting their new skills to work for a real performance on the Martin W. Kappel Stage!

VIEW INFORMATION SHEET      VIEW EVENING SUN ARTICLE

Theater Arts Residency - July, 2022
The Mt View Players returned for their annual show; their 9th show to date. “At Last I Found . . ." was performed at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO), 111 Ford Ave, Oneonta, NY. This was a collaborative, original production which looks at the unexpected paths we take in life, and is based on the haiku poem  from “Ariwara no Narihira" (or "I Have Always Known").  “At Last I Found . . ." was performed by the actors and artists, of the Mt View Players, in mime, poetry, mask theater and live music and was directed by Barbara Gregson with original music composed and played by Eric Porter. There were four shows: July 15, Friday (two shows), 5:30PM and again at 6:30PM and July 16, Saturday (two shows), at 10:30AM and again at 11:30AM. 

Theater Arts Residency - Oct - Nov, 2021
“Song of Pandora,"  based on the myth of Pandoras Box. Directed by Barbara Gregson, original music by Eric Porter, with the Mt View Wellness Center and the “Mt View Players." Produced and performed at the First United Presbyterian Church (Red Door Church), Oneonta, NY. This was the 6th production with the Mt View Players. This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE.

Theater Arts Residency - Jul - Aug, 2021
“The Players and the Pirates Along the Chenango Canal," based on the 10th century Japanese legend, “The Musician and The Pirates." Our version took place in 1870 when a band of players from NYC is attacked on their packet boat along the Chenango Canal by a band of Pirates. It was Performed on Aug 27 and 28, 2021 at The Chenango Arts Council, Norwich NY. The cast consisted of community members from Norwich and Oneonta, NY along with Barbara Gegson and musicians, Eric Porter and Carl Pickett. It was a huge success! This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE.

Theater Arts Residency - May - Aug, 2021
Barbara Gregson and musician Eric Porter returned to work with The Mountain View Players at the Mt View Wellness Center, Oneonta, NY for the 5th year. Their new piece, “Waiting For" was written and performed by Barbara Gregson, Eric Porter, Oneonta community members and The Mt. View Players. The shows were performed on Aug 6, and Aug 7, 2021 at the First United Presbyterian Church (The Red Door Church). The audience moved from room to room, throughout the building, while the cast performed a series of comedic vignettes. This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program - READ MORE.

 

Staying Creative During Coronavirus - March 2020 - December 2021
During the first year of the COVID 19 pandemic, we canceled many planned live, theater residencies, classes and productions and put our creative energies into writing and producing the "Artists Lost and Found" podcast. This is a podcast all about our favorite topic, the arts, art making and super-brave artists who create against all odds. “Artists Lost and Found.” The first episode launched in July 2020 and the last in January 2021. Listen or search on Spotify, Itunes, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

PUBLISHED BOOK -“Theater Artists Play! - a THEATER ARTIST'S GUIDE to making and creating your OWN theater work”. The book is available through Amazon and on this site. Learn more.

 

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REGRANTS PROGRAM - Several of the above residencies and productions were made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and legislature of New York State, and administered by the Earlville Opera House.

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