Foundations of Commedia del Arte Workshop

Have you heard the buzz about Commedia dell'Arte? The foundational and influential style of theatre popular when William Shakespeare was growing up? The one with the funny masks and improvised stories? Then we have you covered! Commedia Kansas City is presenting an introduction to Commedia dell'Arte led by their Artistic Director Patrick Rippeto. In this 3 hour workshop you will learn the 5 core Masks of this classic style. We will work with these characters' movements and postures along with how they think and act. And, we will do some improvisations with these characters. All the knowledge you would need to have a great understanding of Commedia. Join us in some fun, Zanni learning! Be sure to bring lots of water, clothes you can move well in and good flat shoes. 3:00-6:00 Saturday, May 18 at City in Motion 3036 Gillham Road, Suite C Kansas City MO, 64108 $30 in advance - ticket link pending $35 at the door Your instructors: Patrick Rippeto has been doing theatre for over 20 years. Early on he fell in love with performing in comedies with his high school theatre teacher exposing him to the works of Moliere, Kauffman and Hart, and Thorton Wilder. Following the love of silly shenanigans through college where he got his B.A. in Theatre at U.M.K.C. he left the country to study Commedia dell'Arte with the Maestro Antonio Fava in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In time he met Beth Byrd-Lonski and they formed a great performing partnership doing clown, mime, and Commedia. Now he, (with the help of Beth) brings this love of the classic comic style back to Kansas City to share with any who will watch, listen or learn! Beth Byrd-Lonski has been quite loudly advocating for Mime in the Kansas City area since 1995. making city organizers say Who let the Mime into this meeting? A phrase not heard often enough if you ask her. She has performed many times in the KC Fringe Festival, The Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Art in the Loop, and all over town during the lockdown (Safest social distancing art form EVER!) Beth's teachers and mentors include Marcel Marceau, Gregg Goldston, Antonio Fava and Kari Margolis. Beth is a cast member of the S.M.U.T. Variety Show at Missie B's, she'll be returning this Fall to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival as Sparrow the Court Jester, and you can find her in the KC Fringe Festival in Tim Mooney's Breakneck Midsummer Night's Dream as Puck! Ashton Barlow is a Director, Playwright, Producer, and the founder of Home Again Productions. He is currently based in the Kansas-Nebraska area and studies Religion, Philosophy, and Theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He works with Commedia dellarte along with various other mediums in his productions. Ashton's Commedia Show at The Kansas City Renaissance Festival was acknowledged as one of the best new acts of 2024! Ashton has been asked to return to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival this year and we're ALL hoping to meet future cast members in this workshop!