Austin Stomps

A one-day intensive in the Suzuki Method of Acting and Viewpoints
Presented by the Generic Ensemble Company in partnership with Gale Theatre Company

When: Saturday, February 15; 10am – 6pm
Where: In a private studio in Travis Heights, Austin
What: The physical theatre strategies of Suzuki Actor Training and Viewpoints as developed by Anne Bogart and the SITI Company
Who: Ideal for actors, dancers, performance artists, movement artists, physical theatre performers, directors, and drama/dance students
Cost: $70-$250 Sliding scale; $60 early-bird special if registered by Feb 1. Please register by February 10. Registration is first-come first-registered.
Instructors: Katherine Wilkinson (Gale Theatre) and kt shorb (Generic Ensemble Company)
To Register: Email kt shorb: ktshorb at gmail dot com
 
Suzuki Method
The Suzuki method was developed by acclaimed director Tadashi Suzuki and the Suzuki Company of Toga. The training method works to build awareness of the human body - especially its core center with a focus on breath control, concentration and footwork in an effort to heighten the actor's natural expressiveness and emotional and physical commitment to the theatre. The physicality and discipline of the method is inspired by Japanese and Greek theatre, ballet and martial arts.
 
Viewpoints
The Viewpoints is an improvisational technique largely inspired by post-modern dance and was initially developed by choreographer Mary Overlie. Her approach - the Six Viewpoints - breaks down the two dominant issues performers deal with - time and space - into six categories. Artistic Director Anne Bogart and SITI Company have expanded and adapted this approach for actors. The Viewpoints maximizes the intuitive chemistry and spontaneity within a group of actors to quickly generate bold, theatrical work. Emphasis on flexibility, articulation, and strength in movement and makes ensemble playing really possible.
 
Katherine Wilkinson is Producing Artistic Director for the Gale Theatre Company. She has trained in the Suzuki Method and Viewpoints with the SITI Company and Zen Zen Zo. She was a Senior Teacher of Physical Acting at Zen Zen Zo from 2011-13.
 
kt shorb is the Producing Artistic Director for the award-winning Generic Ensemble Company. She has trained in the Suzuki Method and Viewpoints with the SITI Company and Zen Zen Zo.

This workshop and the work of the Generic Ensemble Company is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.

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Auditions

We are seeking ensemble members for the next iteration of "What's Goin' On?'

Become a member of a GenEnCo Production!

Auditions: Sept 28 or 29, 2013 from 1-4pm. 

The Generic Ensemble Company (GenEnCo) seeks performer-collaborators interested in experimental approaches to the work of Bertolt Brecht. Investigating racial representation, the 1970s, simultaneity, joyous chaos, and various modes of story-telling, we will devise an ensemble-based theatre piece for an evening length premiere at the VORTEX in May 2014. We will build off the work we created from the May 2013 workshop version of our piece. We are looking for people who are: open to collaborative process; interested in progressive, critical, and politically-engaged conversations and actions; willing to work hard in politically, physically, and spiritually demanding ways; engaged in body-centered work; and members of communities that are historically marginalized or disenfranchised. People of color and gender queers are especially encouraged to audition. Experience in physical theatre, movement, mime, and/or ensemble-based work is a plus, but not required. 

Rehearsals begin on October 5 and will be once a week October through January, twice weekly January through March, and 3-4 times a week March-May. GenEnCo is an Austin-based theatre troupe that makes the invisible visible through bold, socially relevant, body-centered theatre. 

If you are interested, please email ktshorb [at] hotmail [dot] com for time and location. Include in your email address and date preference, if any. If you have a performance resume and headshot, please include that as well. 

Make Performance Art with Us!

Sitelines, Action II: JOIN US

We Want YOU--our audience, our extended ensemble, our supporters

As each "Sitelines" action must be in partnership, for this next action, we invite: anyone who has been or currently is affiliated with GenEnCo; anyone who wants to be affiliated with GenEnCo; anyone who supports or believes in our mission of "making the invisible visible through bold, socially relevant theatre" that centers marginalized bodies (particular queers, people of color, gender queers, immigrants and children of immigrants).

“Sitelines” is a series of short, site-specific, free and public performances devised and developed as an ensemble, which includes suggestions submitted by ensemble members and the public. Each Sitelines action will be roughly 15-30 minutes long, with 2-3 week/10-15 hour incubation/rehearsal period for each action. The core ensemble for each piece will be the Generic Ensemble Company, alongside guest performers/partners. We go to the audience, rather than waiting for the audience to come to us. The public is notified of the site and theme less than 48 hours in advance.
Requirements for participation in Sitelines, Action II:

• You believe in our mission
• You wish to perform in front of potentially countless strangers or actively support others doing so
• You attend the three rehearsals
• You like to share your ideas. You are open to listening to others. In short, you can "hold on tightly and let go lightly" and/or "move up, move back"
• You exercise respect and enthusiasm

Rehearsal Times: 
Saturday, September 7, 1pm-5pm: Bennu Coffee Shop
Sunday, September 15, 3pm-7pm: Place TBA
Sunday, September 22, 3pm-7pm: Place TBA
Performance date, time, and place will be determined at the first rehearsal and announced to the public 48 hours in advanceThis performance and the work of the Generic Ensemble Company is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.

Sitelines Action I: Dirge for a Cup

JUST IN!

Saturday, August 10 @ 11 am
South First Street and Barton Springs Road -- Roving
In partnership with Love & Monsters Puppet Co.

“Sitelines” is a series of short, site-specific, free and public performances devised and developed as an ensemble based on suggestions we solicit from the public. Each Sitelines performance will be roughly 15-30 minutes long, with two-week incubation/rehearsal periods for each. The core ensemble for each piece will be the Generic Ensemble Company, alongside guest performers. We go to the audience, rather than waiting for the audience to come to us. The public is notified of the site and theme less than 48 hours in advance.

Action I: DIRGE FOR A CUP meditates on the text "When I am empty, please dispose of me properly."

Featuring:
Clergy--kt shorb
Pall Bearer--Camille Deprang
Mourner--Rosalyn Nguyen
Bard--Ashley Hicks
Clown--Wendy Vastine
Photographer--Kim Curette

With support from Laura J. Khalil and Merylin Castelan.

We will hold an open call for the collaborators for the next Action in early September. Please sign up for our mailing list (to the right) or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get the deets. 

This performance and the work of the Generic Ensemble Company is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.

What's Goin' On? (Workshop Production)

• The Generic Ensemble Company in conjunction with LuckyChaos Theatre present What’s Goin’ On? (Workshop) Friday-Saturday May 3-4; 10-11 8pm Salvage Vanguard Theatre (2803 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722). What’s Goin’ On is a an ensemble-based, original performance reinterpreting Bertolt Brecht’s classic play, The Good Person of Szechwan, exploring binary notions of Good/Evil, Male/Female, Wealth/Poverty, Coercion/Consent and Artifice/Authenticity. Simultaneously critiquing Brecht’s treatment of gender, sexuality and orientalism in Szechwan while also drawing inspiration from it, this show examines the question: What does it mean to be virtuous in our current historical moment, when societal pressures and inequality continue to marginalize our bodies and lives? Created from scratch by the performance ensemble, What’s Goin’ On’? employs new text created by ensemble members layered with activist aesthetics, choreographed movement, indeterminate games, quotidian rituals made extraordinary, and simultaneous conflicting actions to present a dense and complex collage. Drawing material relevant to ensemble members’ daily lives, What’s Goin’ On’? reflects the individual identities and personalities of each collaborator, while also reflecting The Generic Ensemble Company’s continued commitment to make the invisible visible through bold, socially relevant, body-centered theatre that showcases mostly-queer identified, mostly-people of color who are mostly women-identified. This piece is an in-progress performance featuring: Morgan Robyn Collado, Kimberly Curette, Kirsche Dickson, Ashley Hicks, Anna McConnell, James McMaster, Julie Moore, Julián Padilla, Saray de Jesus Rosales, Wendy Vastine, Leng Wong, and kt shorb with support from Kimberly Alidio, Margaux Binder, Paige Binder, and Laura Khalil. Tickets are sliding scale $5-10. What’s Goin’ On? is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.

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Auditions!

Casting Call 

Auditions: Feb 2-3, 2013. Please email ktshorb[at]hotmail[dot]com for time and location. The Generic Ensemble Company (GenEnCo) seeks performer-collaborators interested in experimental approaches to the work of Bertolt Brecht. Investigating racial representation, the 1970s, and various modes of story-telling, we will devise and ensemble-based theatre piece for an in-progress showing in May 2013, which will eventually lead to a full-length production in 2013-14. We are looking for people who are: open to collaborative process; interested in progressive, critical, and politically-engaged conversations and actions; engaged in body-centered work; and members of communities that are historically marginalized or disenfranchised. People of color and gender queers are especially encouraged to audition. Experience in physical theatre, movement, mime, and ensemble-based work is a plus, but not necessary. GenEnCo is an Austin-based theatre troupe that makes the invisible visible through bold, socially relevant, body-centered theatre. 

Rehearsal, April 18, 2012.