Commedia dell'Arte Workshop

The workshop explores the theatrical technique of Commedia dell’Arte, an Italian art form, which incorporates heavy physical actions in order to portray each fixed or archetypical character, telling an improvised story. Actors wear masks unique to the character, meaning there are no facial or vocal expressions involved. Also a background in improvisation will be necessary to develop one's confidence in acting and to be able to make decisions as each character. Accordingly, the technique requires ensemble work, so trust and being able to to feed off of other actors is crucial. The final project will involve creating an improvised skit, in which actors will craft their own masks complimenting the character they choose to portray. All students will perform together presenting the dynamics among the different characters as they exist simultaneously on stage. This workshop appeals to the whole UMD community as it showcases a unique method of story telling that emphasizes body language, something that society may not always focus on as much as words. Additionally, these fixed characters can be applied to modern day sitcoms, such as Friends, so the community may be able to learn about the origins of their favorite television figures.