James Donlon·Flying Actor Studio
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Summer 2019 Workshop


Click a book to begin or scroll down:

Movement
Mime
Mask
Clown
Devised

Introduction Lecture Topics by James
  • The IS - (To Be) 
  • The VOID is where the IS begins
  • The Before THE BEFORE
  • The After THE AFTER
  • ESGE (Enter/Stop/Gesture or ‘I am doing’/Exit)  ESG(E)SG(E)SG(E)SGE. (E) is a transition 
  • Say YES
  • When in doubt don’t move
  • Don’t be careful - Be accurate
  • The Floor is your friend  - (above/below/with)
  • Comfort in free fall
  • Magic transformation

Physical Theater is:
  • A form of Zen-Buddism
  • ‘Location’ Zen
  • A Dance
  • An aura of self and there, 
  • The gift of self to space/time
  • A trance of self/space/time/viewer

CORE CONCEPTS in Zen that are the SAME in Physical Theater: 
  • Rigorous self-control, practice, and insight into the nature of things.
  • Not stand upon words
  • Silent Illumination
  • Spiritual practice with a teacher
  • Not through doctrine
  • The teachings of the elders
  • Ancient teaching
  • A great vehicle

Workshop Exercises
Class #1

Herding
Face/hand/spine - (undulations)
Run together (Walking Through Space)
Driving X 2
Throws
Shapes to Words
RT x 3 (teacher commands)
ESGE - (drawing)
Stop/start with ESGE
Hood intro with ESGE
​
- BREAK -

Neutrality walk with hood
Sign Language with partner
Foot dialogue
Basic Migration
Point/Isolation
Push/Pull
Quote of the day: “Intelligent Play” - Jadi Alexandra


Class #2

Herding
Isolate body parts
Face/hand/spine
Mime mask
Fly
Run together - sit in chair
Drive - above/below/with
Throws - Heels
Shapes to words
RT x 3 with group commands
Neutral cycle with self-analysis

- BREAK -

Point
Push/Pull 
Mime line
Basic Migration with suitcases - Prop as actor
Spend Time with us x 1 (No critique)


Class #3

Herding
Spend time with us X 1
Mystery, surprise, migration, enough is enough, connection, comfort in freewill, contrast, vulnerable, know yourself, Mood, transformation, joyful spirit, commitment, Before/before, after/after.
Full Neutral Cycle
Emotion sit with Hood
Hunter entrance with hood

- BREAK -

Throws
RT x 3 (actions)
Migration with suitcase/chair
Isolate point with ball manipulations (push/pull)
Start work on Homework - FAMILY AFFAIR


Class #4

Herd with screens
See FAMILY AFFAIRS
Neutral Cycle with time/space changes
Emotion Sit with hood
Hunter Hood Entrance with emotional comment
Screen Themes with Hood

- BREAK -

Neutral run x 1
Personal shape with Hood
Migration with chair and suitcase
Migration with set(table and 2 chairs)


Class #5

See Personal material
Neutral Cycle
Precision Hood
Sell Chair x 2

- BREAK -

Screen Themes - no hood
Mime ball & sticks
Crayon draw
Neutral Mask eyes
Neutral Mask cycle
Hunter entrance with neutral mask


Class #6 (Showcase)
  • ‘Las Tres Llamadas’ - James
  • James’ Introduction
  • Herding and colorful balls - group
  • Throw energy with a partner - group
  • Shapes to words - group
  • Family Affairs - Tannis, Jadi, Leslie
  • Neutral Cycle with hoods - group
  • Emotion sit with Hoods - group
  • Migration Set - M. Dias, Mikey, Mary
  • Jadi’s song
  • Basic Hunter Hood entrance - Alina, Courtney, Mikey
  • Hunter Hood entrance with emotional expression - Alina, Courtney, Mikey
  • Family Affairs - Aydin, M. Dias, Mary, Alina
  • Screen Themes - M. Dias & Mary, Mikey & Alina
  • ‘Mimos Locos’ song with James, Mikey, and group
  • Bows
Movement for Actors
​

Concepts:
  • Preparing to Move
  • ESGE
Warm-Ups:
  • Sunrise
  • Expand and Contract (on floor)
  • Rhythm and Time
Neutrality:
  • Hoods
  • The Neutral Cycle
  • Partner Neutral Cycle
  • Precision Exercise
Projects:
  • The Birth of the Neutral Couple ​
  • Ball Project
Neoclassic Clown
​

​Concepts:
  • What’s a Clown?
  • 6 Clown Types
  • The Big 4 States
  • Spending Time
  • Passing and Filling Time
Exercises:
  • Meeting Your Nose
  • Find Your Silly
  • Birth of the Innocent
  • Be With Us (aka Spending Time)
  • Observations of Passing and Filling Time
  • Rhythm / Time Exercises while Passing and Filling Time
  • One Passes Time, Two Fill Time
Projects:
  • Supreme Ruler
  • Supreme Ruler with Devil Assistant
  • Learn-A-Skill Clown
  • Emotional Restaurant ​
  • Fashion Show
Devised Theater
​

Concepts:
  • From Seed to Stage
Projects: 
  • A Story in Many Worlds
Neoclassic Mime
​

Concepts:
  • Prepare Your Body
  • Warming Up
Exercises:
  • Points in Space
  • Walking
  • Climbing Stairs
  • Climbing a Wall ​
Projects:
  • Personal Story
Neoclassic Mask
​

Concepts:
  • Breathing through the Mask
  • General Do’s and Don’ts
  • Full Mask
  • Half Mask
Exercises:
  • Explore the Mask
  • Enter and Sit
  • Transportation Center
Projects:
  • Forces Theme
  • Scene from a Play ​
  • Devil Reads
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