- News Archive 2008
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Haaz Sleiman playing drums with Richard JenkinsHaaz Sleiman has been studying the Alexander Technique for the past few years with Jean-Louis and Kristof. Recommended to them by Larry Moss, Haaz has applied everything he learns into his acting. The best example is his last role as Tarek in Tom McCarthy’s "The Visitor". An enormously appealing and likeable role, Haaz was able to give his character humanity and humor. Acting with Richard Jenkins was also a huge gift and helped him to elevate his performance. We celebrate Haaz and wish him well with his creative work.
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JEAN-LOUIS RODRIGUE TAUGHT THE ART OF ACTING INTENSIVE IN BERLIN, July 21-25, 2008.
Jean-Louis Rodrigue taught an Intensive course in the Art of Acting, using the Alexander Technique as applied to performance for a group of German actors and directors at Theaterforum- Kreuzberg and sponsored by Interkunst in Berlin. The intensive workshop focused on connecting the body and breath to performance and creating characters. The level of talent, discipline and focus was extraordinary, and the actors and directors are ready for more training to come next year when Jean-Louis and Kristof return to Berlin at the Berlinale Talent Campus in February 2009.
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Nick E. Tarabay stars in "Crash"A long time student of the Alexander Technique, Nick E. Tarabay is starring in a new TV series "CRASH". From the producers of the Academy Award winning Best Motion Picture of 2006, "Crash" is a provocative new 13-episode drama series premiering on Starz in October. Starring an ensemble cast led by film icon Dennis Hopper, the series looks at the way different lives intersect and collide in the melting pot of L.A. Nick worked with Kristof Konrad to get in to the physicality and the mind of a cocky, hot-tempered detective Axel Finet.
"Crash" premiers October 17th, exclusively on STARZ.
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Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan perform "In-I"Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche and internationally acclaimed contemporary dancer & choreographer Akram Khan have joined forces to create a new work of dance theatre, "In-I" which had its premiere at the Royal National Theatre in London on September 18 before touring internationally. Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor has designed the set and award winning composer Philip Sheppard has created the original score. Accompaying "In-I" is "Jubilations", a retrospective of Juliette’s 25 year film career and exhibition of her paintings at the British Film Institute Southbank. Passionate and brave, Juliette speaks about exploring love as the theme of the play: "It feels to me that love is the only way to survive in this world and that love is what life is about. I think I’m more frightened to be loved than to love. It makes me more vulnerable somehow. Because I’ve been disappointed in some of my relationships, I know that there’s something wrong that I need to understand, to face or maybe to surrender to. When do we call it love? How far do we love? Do we really dare to love? Can we call our needs 'love'? These are the questions explored in 'In-I'." Tour cities include Luxembourg, Rome, Brussels, Paris, Montreal, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanhai, New York, and possibly, Los Angeles.
September 6-October 20, 2008
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Cast and directors of The Reader - from left to right: Brian Morri, Chris Dolan, Jean-Louis Rodrigue, Stewart W. Calhoun, Allegra Fulton, Christian Lebano, Ann Stocking, Rhett Nadolny.Montalvo Arts Center is housed in the historic "Villa Montalvo", In 1939, Villa Montalvo was opened to the public as an arts center with artists in residence and a small gallery in the Villa. Today, Montalvo’s facilities now include two theaters, an art gallery, the historic Villa, a ten-acre artist residency complex, and a 175-acre park with hiking trails and formal gardens. The Center offers the following programs, enjoyed by more than 200,000 people each year: 1) Performing Arts; 2) Visual Arts; 3) Literary Arts; 4) Sally and Don Lucas Artist Residency; 5) Education and Outreach and 6) Montalvo Park.
Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Chris Dolan working on
The Reader.Bob Sain, the Executive Director of the Montalvo Arts Center stated in his invitation to Jean-Louis Rodrigue : "The development of The Reader and its process exemplifies Montalvo’s mission of engaging the community in the arts through dialogue and direct participation in creative practice, in addition to Montalvo’s goal of facilitating the creation of new works. Our upcoming theme exploring Iraq through the arts would be directly related to the public workshops and panels around The Reader, by bringing a historical context to the issues facing our society regarding global responsibility, literacy, and the human consequences of war. In addition, we are committed to inviting local youth and community members to participate in the development of The Reader and surrounding public conversations. The Montalvo Arts Center is very pleased to invite you here as a fellow in 2008 and beyond in support of the development of your work developing The Reader into a full theater production." A reading of the play as a work-in-progress will take place at the Montalvo Center in April of 2008. Chris Dolan, the Scottish author of the play adaptation will be participating in the week-long residency. Bernhard Schlink, the acclaimed author of the novel, has also been invited as a fellow and he will participate in events surrounding the reading.
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Sharon Lawrence as Vivian LeighThe complex and multi-layered personality of Vivien Leigh was a challenge for actress Sharon Lawrence, who will be starring in "Orson’s Shadow", a new play at the Pasadena Playhouse. Sharon came to Kristof to use the Alexander Technique to embody the physicality and the vocal requirements of the character, and express the many medical conditions of Vivien Leigh. Affected by bipolar disorder for most of her adult life, Leigh gained a reputation for being a difficult person to work with, and her career went through periods of decline. She was further weakened by recurrent bouts of tuberculosis, with which she was first diagnosed in the mid-1940s.
The Pasadena Playhouse describes the play as "An ingenious tale of two Hollywood giants – Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier. The time is 1960; the place is a London theatre. Legendary critic Kenneth Tynan has made a startling proposal: Welles should direct Olivier and the young Joan Plowright in Rhinoceros, Ionesco’s absurdist masterpiece. But it is the rehearsal process that brims with absurdity as titanic personalities, including Vivien Leigh, wrestle the muse. Based on an actual event, Orson’s Shadow is a witty and incisive depiction of the drama of theatre".
ORSON ’S SHADOW
By Austin Pendleton
Conceived by Judith Auberjonois
Directed by new Associate Artistic Director, Dámaso Rodriguez
January 11 - February 17, 2008
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org -
JULIETTE BINOCHE PREPARES WITH JEAN-LOUIS RODRIGUE FOR A THEATRICAL DANCE PROJECT IN 2008-2009
Juliette BinocheJuliette Binoche was in town last November to open "Dan in Real Life". Starring contemporary comedy giant Steve Carell and Oscar-winning Binoche, a coupling as unlikely as it is delicious. In "Dan", director Peter Hedges oversees something of a departure for both of his leads. Carell, one of today's hottest comedy actors, handles with aplomb a transition that has overmatched his peers, managing to be both funny as well as a credible romantic lead. As for Binoche, usually found in more ethereal roles (that Oscar was for "The English Patient"), she's successfully made herself into an approachable, everyday version of the woman of every man's dreams. What united both actors, Binoche related in an interview, was a shared viewpoint. The first time she met Carell, she says, "He said, 'I don't want this to be cute.' I looked him right in the eye and said, 'There's no cute in here. There's no cute coming.'"
While in town, Juliette took advantage of this opportunity to get a refresher course in the Alexander Technique with Jean-Louis, and prepare herself for her new theatrical dance project to be choreographed by Akram Khan this year. The project will open at the Royal National Theater in 2008 and travel all over the world with a stop at the UCLA Royce Hall in fall of 2009. Presented by UCLA Live, Binoche will be an artist in residence for two weeks.
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INTERKUNST IN BERLIN INVITES KRISTOF KONRAD AND JEAN-LOUIS RODRIGUE TO TEACH AN INTENSIVE ACTING WORKSHOP, July 21-25, 2008.
INTERKUNST is a registered non-profit association based in Berlin. It was founded on 1990 and is active since 1992. Activities are concentrated on the realization of multi-cultural projects, innovative forms of encounter and interdisciplinary forms of theatre and art. The association is in particular representing their European approaches by creating integrative projects for artists from different disciplines and of different nationalities. A main focus of the theatre work is lying in the area of cultural preventive measures, which is realized by creating educational cultural concepts and programs. Here, methods are developed in order to achieve a maximum involvement and activity of the audience.
Jean-Louis and Kristof will present a five-day intensive workshop “Connecting the Body and Breath to Acting” for actors and directors. The workshop will be in two parts: PART 1 : In our training, through mental and physical process we invite the actors to expand their level of awareness of themselves, in stillness and in movement, and begin to explore optimum functioning in their body. PART 2.: we apply the principles of the Alexander Technique and other movement techniques to prepared scenes and monologues. This is an extremely important part of the workshop because it gives real practical information to the actors and directors on how to apply this work in a very tangible and useful way to improving performance and breaking boundaries of limitations and restrictions. Interkunst e.V.
THE ART OF ACTING
MASTER CLASSES
für professionelle Schauspieler und Filmschaffende
im Sommer 2008 in Berlin
Susan Batson 2.-6.Juli 2008
Jean-Louis Rodrigue & Kristof Konrad 21.-25.07.2008
Mel Churcher 27.-31. Juli 2008
Larry Moss
Interkunst e.V.
postfach 62 03 62
10793 berlin
tel +49(0)30 781 40 01
fax +49(0)30 781 40 02
email:info@interkunst.de
http://www.interkunst.de/index_en.html -
JEAN-LOUIS RODRIGUE IS TEACHING AT THE UCLA ARTS CAMP - THEATER CONSERVATORY, June 29-July 11, 2008
The Theater Conservatory Workshop develops the advanced theater actor’s physical, emotional, and imaginative resources. This two-week journey incorporates the physical expression of movement, the spontaneity of improvisation, the liberating alchemy of mask and myths, and transformation into authentic character. Contemporary and classical scene work is at the heart of the workshop. This area is mandatory for any young actor who desires to work in the theater or who will be auditioning for a performing arts college or university. It is the foundation for a successful career and one that actors are constantly involved with as they hone their craft. Emphasis is placed upon making effective choices based on the given circumstances of the play and playing them from an open, present self in a way that is genuinely felt. Actors will learn to uncover their own humanity, to stand in a more spontaneous self, and to give more deeply to the character and the play.
http://www.tft.ucla.edu/artscamp/class.cfm?main=tac&side=act
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Alexander Technique
Jean Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad teaching musicians.