CURRENT Future and recent work
Current and Highlights 2021-2025!
Current & Upcoming Workshops, Events and Theater Residencies:
2025 THEATER ARTS WORKSHOPS
Contact Barbara Gregson now to book a workshop or to find out more information about upcoming Gregson Theater residencies, workshops and events.
Theater Workshop & Live Performance: Gregson Theater was awarded an “Artists in the Community“ grant of $1,100 through the Earlville Opera House, to give a 2-day professional development workshop for actors entitled “Ancient Players’ Techniques“. This 2-day workshop is for the Norwich Community Theater group as well as for all interested professional or amateur actors and theater enthusiasts. Come join us.
The workshop will culminate in a live improv performance for friends and family held on the Martin Kappel Theater stage at the Chenango Arts Council, Norwich NY.
ANCIENT PLAYERS TECHNIQUES SCHEDULE
Day 1 - Wednesday, November 5th, 5:00-7:00PM
Day 2 - Thursday, November 6th, 5:00-7:00PM
Matinee Performance - Saturday, November 8th, 1:00-2:00PM
As a participant, you will learn, mime, acting, improvisation and storytelling techniques so you may create your own short performance pieces. You will be able to perform and feel confident anywhere and everywhere, including at auditions. Eric Porter will work with everyone on improvisational musical accompaniment.
TO REGISTER: Please call the Chenango Arts Coucil (607-336-2787) to register.
Many thanks to The Chenango Arts Council for sponsoring us.
This project is partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
"Mime Moves" - A fitness class series with mime and movement as a base for adults especially 50 plus. We are currently looking for locations in the Southern Tier, or Central NY to start classes. Please contact Barbara Gregson if you know a good location for a class.
Highlights of Recent Events, Workshops and Residencies:
Workshop & Residency - "Catskill Tales of Love and Transformation"
Thanks to a $5,000 Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) grant from the CREATE Arts Council, Schoharie, NY, Barbara Gregson and Eric Porter of Gregson Theater were the Artists in Residence to produce and direct an original show, "Catskill Tales of Love and Transformation" with members of the Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Centers of Cobleskill and Oneonta, NY. Rehearsals were held in September at the Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center, Cobleskill with a final show following on September 26th, 2025. During the residency, Barbara Gregson taught the cast mime, acting techniques, improvisation and storytelling. They also worked with masks, which they used throughout the show. Eric Porter created improvisational music and sound effects to accompany the cast's own versions of local folktales. VIEW POSTER VIEW PROGRAM
This project is partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by CREATE Arts Council, Schoharie NY with an SCR grant from New York State Council on the Arts. - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Workshop - “Unmask Your Creative Self and Make a Renaissance Theater Mask”
The Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center, Cobleskill, February 26th and 28th, 2025
The Gathering Place 50 Plus Community Center, Oneonta, January 3rd and 6th, 2025
Mt View Wellness Center, Oneonta, NY, December 10th and 12th, 2024
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Theater Arts Workshop - "The Jesters and The Bards Legacy"
The Gatehouse, 129 Main St, Morris, NY, Saturday, October 5th, 2024 VIEW POSTER
Mt. View Wellness Center, Oneonta, NY, November 8, 2024
Grants Received 2024 - Barbara Gregson received a Professional Development grant in June, 2024, an "Artists in the Community'' grant program, administered by the Earlville Opera House to develop a super creative mime and movement class for adults, especially those 50+.plus. "Mime Moves" which is a series of fitness classes in which Mime and Movement for Actors is the base. Barbara consulted with Elizabeth Moser, Theater Professor at Binghamton University, to further develop the Mime Moves curriculum. Contact Barbara Gregson for updates on where and when the classes will be held.
Special Presentation
Barbara was a speaker at the 51st Annual Conference of the State Society on Aging of New York entitled "Aging: Embracing the Journey, Shaping the Future" on September 30th and October 1st, 2024 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her presentation, "Whispers of Ancients: Discover Your Storyteller, Shaman Roots with Masks, Myths and Mime", focused on the benefits of learning and using historic theater skills to improve the mental and physical health of our aging population.
Theater Arts Class - new class
Barbara Gregson has developed a new mime class, “MIME MOVES - Imagine, Move, Play!” which is a creative fitness and movement class for adults, especially those 50+. It has already been piloted and offered around the Southern Tier, NY starting in the fall of 2024. Barbara taught this class for the first time October 2 - November 6, 2024 at Limitless Performing Arts Complex, 22 River St, Sidney, NY VIEW POSTER
Barbara Gregson is taking the mime techniques off the stage and from her rehearsals with performers she has directed taught over the years into a gym, senior center, library, community center or dance studio.
Participants will discover their creativity, use their imaginations, express themselves with their bodies, interact with others in the class and have fun. They will learn the same exercises and techniques that professional actors, mimes and storytellers learn and use in their work. These include group stretching warm ups, theater games, mime isolation exercises, full body movements, character runs and walks, improvising, playing off one another and having fun!
About “Mime Moves” - a little history
Barbara Gregson, has been a movement theater artist since 1975 when she studied mime in Paris with Ella Jaraoszewicz. In the years since, she has incorporated her theater training from English theater schools and street theater background in Europe into writing and producing original theater productions with a vast variety of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Movement, mime and physical theater has always been the basis of all of the shows Barbara Gregson has performed in and directed.
Theater Arts Residency - Morris & New Lisbon, NY, May - June 2024
The show, "It Happened One Day at the Stagecoach Stop . . .", was a 19th-century historical street theater production. This performance was part of the Butternut Valley Alliance's "Art Exhibition: On the Trail of Art" which was performed at The Texas School House State Forest, 734 Jones Rd (trailhead),
Burlington Flats (New Lisbon), NY. We performed in the woods on June 8th, 2024. We strolled through and interacted with the audience and then ended up on the outdoor stage. VIEW 2‑MIN VIDEO
Theater Arts Residency - inclusive class, Cazenovia, NY, May - June 2024
In this "Masks, Myths and Mime" residency, participants made masks, learned theater techniques to create an original theater piece.
Participants rehearsed at the Cazenovia Public Library and performed at Carpenters Barn, Cazenovia. VIEW FLYER READ CAZ REPUBLICAN ARTICLE
This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by CNY Arts - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Residency - Manlius Senior Center, Manlius, NY, April - May 2024
In this residency for adults, community members from the area and from the senior center learned and practiced theater techniques in order to write and perform an original theater piece, "Dear Goddesses". All adults ages 50 plus were invited to participate. Read the March 5th article in the Eagle News Bulletin. SCANNED ARTICLE ONLINE ARTICLE
This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by CNY Arts - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Residency - Oxford Memorial Library, Oxford, NY, October - November 2023
A group of kids to adults learned the ancient theater arts traditions during a "Masks, Myths and Mime" residency. They learned mime, acting, play writing, improv and Renaissance mask making a character mask using a plaster cast of their 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 administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
Theater Arts & Mask Workshop - Herkimer, NY, 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.
Theater Arts Residency for Teens - Morris, NY, August 2023
Theater Arts came to the Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center in Morris, NY for the first time! Barbara Gregson directed a free theater arts program for teens, "Teens Tell Tales." 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 was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Residency - Oneonta, NY, 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, part of Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS - rehab.org), celebrated their 10 years of performances and receiving grants with Gregson Theater since 2013! 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 administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
Two FREE residencies through CazArts - Cazenovia, NY, 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 partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by CNY Arts - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Workshop - Herkimer, NY, March 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 - Norwich, NY, 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 administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
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Theater Arts Workshops for KIDS! - Norwich, NY, 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 - Oneonta, NY, July 2022
The Mt View Players of the Mt View Wellness Center (part of RSS – rehab.org) returned for their 9th year with Gregson Theater. “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 in July.
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Theater Arts Residency - Oneonta, NY, October - November 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 8th year Gregson Theater worked with the Mt View Players. This project was partially funded by the NY State Regrants program administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Residency - Norwich, NY, July - August 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 administered by the Earlville Opera House - READ MORE.
Theater Arts Residency - Oneonta, NY, May - August 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 8th 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 administered by the Earlville Opera House - 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.
REGRANTS PROGRAM
Several of the above residencies and productions are funded by Earlville Opera House's Arts in the Community Grants Program, made possible by the NYS Senate with support of the Office of the Governor, and administered by the New York State.
Several of the above residencies and productions are 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.
Several of the above residencies and productions are 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 CREATE Council on the Arts.
REVIEWS
"I am finally getting to enjoy your book and it is such a wonderful and valuable one. Thank you for all that you do." - Kathy Varadi (actor)
"This was the most creative theater residency /experience we have ever had at our school! Thank you!" - Mr. Johnson (high school music teacher, Philadelphia)
"I love that now I have the ability to create my OWN productions through masks and mime and improvisation - being creative" - Beth (age 16, after she attended a Gregson Theater Masks and Mime Workshop at a BOCES Herkimer, NY)
Call Today (215 850 7443) for a Free Consultation to find out how you or your organization/group can work with Gregson Theater to participate in a workshop or other theater experiences.
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