Performing Invisibility Class June 4, 12-3

I’m teaching a class for 

the Leimay Ludus Lab 

at Cave Arts Space in Williamsburg 

Sunday, June 4 form 12-3pm!

Tuition on $38. Sign up here: http://leimaymain.cavearts.org/?p=5416

PERFORMING INVISIBILITY with Kate Brehm, addresses the of mechanics of a performing body to which an audience is NOT meant to pay attention. The primary example of such a situation is the SEEN puppeteer, where the puppeteer is in no way hidden from view, but is not the focus of a scene. We’ll also consider the unseen puppeteer, actor/ dancer supporting architecture and scenery, and actor/ dancer supporting other actor/ dancers.

The class uses exercises and improvisations to hone the students’ visceral experience and directing of energy inside vs outside the body; performing a ‘silent’ core, while allowing energy extension; releasing the legs and arms from the tyranny of the torso; and following an energy vs leading an energy.  Students should wear movement clothing without designs or text. We’ll work with simple objects and the architecture of the space.

Kate Brehm is a movement director specializing in puppetry, scenic dramaturgy, and physical acting. Her New York based company, imnotlost, has been producing theater and events since 2003. She teaches performers practical and theoretical tools for performative visual thinking through her classes, Moving Objects and Performing Design. She is published in the Routledge Companion to Puppetry and Material Performance. Directing and/ or design credits: Things Fall Apart, Discrepancies, The Eye Which We Do Not Have, Dark Space, the Poofs. Events: Fireside Chats, Dance Hall Slow Dances, Slutty Puppets. www.imnotlost.net Since 2006 she has toured the US, Japan, and Europe performing and collaborating with critically acclaimed puppeteer, Basil Twist. She is trained in the Margolis Method of Physical Acting. www.katebrehm.com 

Theater Camp, one more time!

I don't have the opportunity to work for Whitebird very often, but its a joyful summer playtime for making theater with kids.  This year I designed a set of three giant bills featuring removable faces!  George, Andrew, and Alexander got replaced by Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Louisa May Alcott, and US!

Poofs in Canada

I was overwhelmed by the community and support at Les Sages Fous' Microfestival this June.  I was invited to bring an unfinished Poof performance to the festival and arrived with 4 Poofs, a Puff, and one human (me!).

By the weekend I was thoroughly inspired and had developed (with lots of assistance!) 15 minutes of clown-poof material to music from Swan Lake.  I hope to expand it to a 50 minute long show for touring.  Thanks to my Swiss and Canadian Poofers, and Jacob for his awesome directing.

Meditation Zero as culmination of Mabou Mines Residency

I wrote and directed another show inspired by the Erdos Discrepancy in May 2016 called Meditation Zero.   A band of pretend scientists perform research to early 80s music while pontificating on the nature of reality, humanity, and the on and the off.  The play is a rumination on what Freud would recognize as the Death Drive, but which I am reframing as The Cyborg Situation.

Performed by Kate Brehm, Anthony Napoletano, Hannah Schilsky, and Benjamin Heller.  Stage Managed by Hye Chyun.  Lit by Dave Moodey.  With eyeballs and advice from Gregory Schott and Karen Kandel.

Things Fall Apart

On March 5th and 6th, 2016 I performed Things Fall Apart during Culturemart at Here Arts Center.  The movement-theater-performance-art piece featuring myself and 4 folding chairs has been brewing for many years.  And i've finally completed it!

Thanks to: My ninja puppeteers Jenny Campbell and Jacob Graham; My long time collaborators Gregory Schott (directing) and Poe Saegusa (lighting); my new and all-in stage manager Hye Chyun; and the presenters: Kristin Marting, Kim Whitener, Barbara Busackino, and Basil Twist.

photo by Benjamin Heller

Slow Dancing in Times Square

By the grace of Chashama I was granted the use of a space most perfect for a slow dance, a former dance school with a large open wooden dance floor and vaulted ceilings.  I couldn't help myself and had to produce one more event.  Thanks to so many stars and helpers inlcuding the inimitable Sxip Shirey (MC) and the relentlessly groovin James Mulry (DJ)

photo by Timothy Murray

Discrepancies at Labapalooza

The last week of January was the culminating performance of what myself, Amanda Friou, and Sarah McMillan have been working on in St Ann's Puppet Lab for the last year.  Discrepancies: Meditation 1 featured 8 puppeteers, 1 actor, and nearly 200 tin cans.  Whew!  See more at http://www.imnotlost.net/erdos.html

Nutcracking

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/arts/dance/three-nutcrackers-on-one-sunday.html?_r=0

I never knew how much I liked ballet, but stage managing the Joffrey Ballet School's Nutcracker has made it clear to me.  I like the technique, the poses, and the strange relationship to silent movies!

Sister's Follies: Assistant Director and Puppeteer

I was proud to assist Basil Twist in developing his latest original puppet show, Sister's Follies at Abrons Arts Center.  Starring Joey Arias and Julie Atlas Muz as flying ghosts of the founders of the theater, the show was smashing.

Lectures and Classes at the 2015 Puppeteers of America National Festival

I was very proud to be part of the first scholarly section of the Puppeteers of America Festival, The Critical Exchange http://www.nationalpuppetryfestival2015.com/panel-discussions/  First I spoke on a panel about creating work inspired by theory.  Then I delivered my lecture on Affective Performing Scenery that I've been ruminating about for years.  And finally, I taught three classes in Moving Objects, my movement for storytelling class geared specifically at puppeteers.  Whew!

I was lucky enough to also see Les Sages Fous and Clare Dolan.  Amazing work!

Margolis Method 2015

As always, the method fills my body with energy.  I was upstate for a short two weeks, but came home feeling refreshed and inspired nonetheless.  I spent most of my time preparing for to teach my movement for puppeteers class in August.

Immersion Seminar at imnotlost StudioLab June 2015

After returning from the Quadrellenial I hosted by own pseudo-academic week of panels and workshops. The 2015 Immersion Seminar was the inaugural studiolab event featuring a combination of panel discussions on the impending directions of live arts and performing design, with on-your-feet performance technique workshops.  The theory and practice was topped off with the sensual silliness of a Slow dance.   http://www.imnotlost.net/seminar/calendar.html 

Prague Quadrellenial 2015

I'd been waiting for 4 years to go to this scenography conference!  It was super cool.  My favorite part was hearing Robert LePage speak about his work and company.  He starts from the object!  Me too!  Thus I felt akin at a conference full of fantastic thinkers and makers.  Lighting design, puppeteers, sound, theater photography, performers....  Some of my favorites:  CHANCE MAGAZINE and  Robert Lepage and The Magnetic Ballerina.

Dogugaeshi Tour in France!

I had a great time with new friends and old in May 2015 as the Dogugaeshi team performed in Metz, France at the Passages Festival http://festival-passages.org/ where we performed in a big circus tent! Then we were on to Le Mouffetard in Paris http://www.theatredelamarionnette.com as part of the international biennial of puppet arts.

The circus tent at the Passages Festival

Dixon Place Presents
The Erdos Discrepency
a puppet show by imnotlost

Theoretical math, abstract puppets, and a divine meditation on trust.

 Featuring a lone human performer against a tide of geometric performing objects and a chorus of indifferent puppeteers, Erdos submerges the audience in a series of meditations about our dependence on technology, the allure of blind faith, and the question of whether participation is even a choice. 

The first work in progress plays at Puppet Blok, WEDNESDAY APRIL 22nd at 7:30pm $12-$15  at Dixon Place 161 Chrystie st NY, NY  J to Bowery or F to 2nd Ave
 tickets here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9996238

 Featuring Kate Brehm, Rachael Shane, Alex Young, Maiko Kikuchi, Sarah Plotkin, and Kate Reilly.

Directed by Amanda Friou. Music by Nehemiah Luckett. Costume design by Sarah McMillan. Set and puppet design by Kate Brehm

 The Dixon Place Lounge is open before and after the show, and you can bring your drink in the theater! Proceeds directly support Dixon Place’s artists and mission.

Poofs at the Unscene

The Poofs are coming out to play for the Unscene Art Fair http://www.theunscene.org  It should be fabulous and weird.  We play Wednesday March 4th from 5-6pm,  Friday March 6th from 7-8pm, and Sunday March 8th from 6:30-7:30pm  Address 549 W 52nd st NYC

BLOOM in New Orleans

I traveled again with my compatriot, Lindsay Abromaitis-Smith, and a pile of strong-willed women to New Orleans where they mounted a gallery show and performance of BLOOM, Lindsay's performance piece about a woman turning into a plant.  The piece was striking and bold.  I was proud to serve the ALS-stricken star as her assistant.  Not to mention that Halloween and Day of the Dead in NOLA are visually stunning!

Artist Services OCT 2014

I showed up in midtown trying to "fix" people as my construction worker clown.  Some people need to be glued back together.  Some people need to be screwed shut.  Either way my tools were at the ready.  Part of the Garment District Arts Festival.

Dreary Coast OCT 2014

I was proud to assist in the minimal way I did with Dreary Coast.  A theatrical intervention into the heart of the city as I know it. Into Brooklyn landscape.  Created by Jeff Stark with costume design by Sarah McMillan, the immersive play on the Gowanus Canal revealed the kind of life that makes this city shine.

Rite of Spring, OCT 2014

The Rite of Spring by Basil Twist was mounted in its first run outside of its initial commission.  As Asst Technical Director AND performing Puppeteer my hands were full, perhaps overflowing.  I had a great time with my interns, the tech team, the puppeteers, and the crew at Rose Hall Jazz at Lincoln Center.