Gale McNeeley, and the Sophia Isadora School of Circus Arts, combine to present two separate workshops on the comic characters of the Commedia Dell’Arte (The Comedy of the Professionals), Saturday and Sunday February 22 and 23 from 2 - 6 PM.
The workshops will take place at the Sophia Isadora School of Circus Arts located at 4241 Park Boulevard in North Park San Diego.
Gale McNeeley says, “Each day is ‘a complete workshop in itself.’ You can sign up for either day and learn how to perform Commedia, Slapstick, Improvisational Comedy in the traditional, leather masks of the Commedia Dell’Arte.”
Gale McNeeley has studied and taught Commedia around the world. He brings Commedia to San Diego to celebrate World Commedia Dell’Arte Day.
All western comedy is based on the characters of Commedia Dell’Arte, from cartoons to TV situation comedy; from Shakespeare and Moliere to Ricky and Lucy Ricardo. Commedia is at the root of slapstick comedy. It marks the birth of Harlequin, Columbine and Pierrot, Punch and Judy, Dumb and Dumber. Gale says, “Commedia Dell’Arte is Romeo and Juliette, but with a happy ending.”
The fact that the characters wear colorful and expressive masks means that their bodies talk, and in spectacular ways. There is no limit to what they can say.
Gale McNeeley studied with three great Masters of Commedia: Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, founder of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, California, Antonio Fava, founder of the Scuola Dell’Attore Comico in Reggio Emilia, Italy and Giovanni Fusetti, founder of the Helikos Scuola Internationale Di Creazione Teatrale in Florence, Italy.
Gale brings to San Diego a beautiful synthesis of both classical and modern Commedia in its most accessible forms.
The cost of each 4 hour workshop is $50. Students can register by emailing Gale at gale.mcneeley@gmail.com, or by calling Gale at 805-406-4997.
Gale says, “No matter where you are as a performer, you are welcome.”
