SHORT WORKSHOPS

Master Class

Zaloom narrates the arc of his career as a puppeteer, writer, and actor, showing excerpts from his time with the Bread and Puppet Theater; his own solo puppet shows; the TV show Beakman's World; a mockumentary he co-created, In Smog and Thunder; his Audience Monitoring Device, installed at Lincoln Center; etc. The workshop concentrates on contemporary puppetry and its relationship to performance art as well as the improvisational nature of work creation that Zaloom employs when making new shows.

A Theater of Trash

Workshop participants are asked to bring a minimum of six objects each — toys, appliances, packaging materials, tools, and other ordinary or extraordinary rubbish — to the workshop. Zaloom opens with a short discussion of object theater and then invites each person (and if there is time, teams) to operate the assembled junk as puppets and environments in ad libbed performance events.

Between these happenings, the group discusses what it has seen, not judging but exploring what took place, why, and to what effect. The session is interspersed with descriptions of how Zaloom invents his own found-object work. Also discussed: improvisation, free association, humor, child’s play as process, the nature of objects, and puppetry in general.
Technical needs: two (2) six or eight foot long tables (AKA banquet tables), one (1) card table, and at least 50 objects beyond what participants bring. These objects could include: a toaster and any other appliances, toy gun(s), plastic flowers, dolls, tools (such as hammer, wrench, etc.), various toys, an iron, hats, a phone or two....the more the merrier.

Cantastoria, or Story Telling with Pictures

Also known as “bankelsang” (Germany), “etoki” (Japan), “wayang beber” (Indonesia), etc., cantastoria (Italy) is an ancient art form of singing or narrating a story while gesturing to images (drawings, paintings, PowerPoint presentations, prints, etc.). Participants will create stories and then generate accompanying images in the class, ending with performances. Can be from 2 two hour classes to one week workshops.

Science Education and Entertainment: Edutainment?

This workshop is designed for both science and general education teachers. We explore unconventional ways to teach scientific principles, finding the common ground between science, art and comedy. Zaloom shows teachers some fun and easy to do, hands on science demonstrations, using audience participation and lots of humor.

Politics and Art: Oil and Water?

In this workshop, Zaloom leads participants in a detailed examination of making political theater. Participants are asked to bring along at least two news items, statistics, facts, articles, or issues that they are interested in treating theatrically. After hearing the originator’s ideas, the group discusses other ways of realizing the material. Some important questions are raised: Do art and politics mix? What is propaganda, and what is art? Can political art create change?

LONGER WORKSHOPS

Comic Monologues

This workshop consists of six to nine 90 minute (minimum) classes. Each participant brings one work-in-progress, original 2 to 5 minute comic monologue to the first session. We will then collectively evaluate the monologues, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and help the creators hone the writing. Participants contribute ideas and free associate in a collective creative process.

Then the actual performance of each monologue is worked on in detail as we begin to seriously rehearse. I will direct the performers, teaching the participants how to develop comedic timing, use the face and body, and other old but good tricks. At the end of the process, participants will publicly perform their shows; we then do a post mortem on the entire experience.

A Theater of Trash and Cantastoria, or Story Telling with Pictures

SEE ABOVE DESCRIPTIONS of shorter workshops. These longer versions can last up to three weeks and will end with short performances by individuals and/or groups.

Comedic Puppetry

Participants bring 3 to 6 minutes long comedic puppet shows that are in the early stages of development. At first, we all work together evaluating the potential direction and voice of the pieces. Then individuals go off and work alone and in pairs, helping each other bring shape to their work. Zaloom goes from show to show, giving input, encouraging improvisation, and creating a frame for the pieces. This workshop will end in a public performance and post show analysis.

YAK! A Childrens' Theater Creation Experience

Zaloom can work with up to thirty 6 to 11 year old children (with provided assistance), creating an original, highly comedic theater piece that culminates in at least one public performance. Children learn about free association, improvisation, applying play to work, joke creation, performance do's and don'ts, and other theatrical, problem solving, and art making skills.

 

 

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