Dell’Arte International is the work of an extraordinary community of artists located amidst the majestic redwoods and rugged beauty of California’s North Coast. The combination of our actor training programs, the original touring productions of the Dell’Arte Company, our summer festival, our youth education programs in local schools, and our work in economic/community development make us a destination unlike any other on the American theatre map.
The four primary programs of Dell'Arte are:
Performance
The Dell'Arte Company has been at the forefront of the ensemble theater movement for more than 35 years. Employing and revitalizing traditional physical theatre forms to explore contemporary concerns, Dell’Arte develops original works of theatre through an ensemble process and has performed at international festivals in the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, South America and Canada.
Always exploring the work of the actor-creator, Dell'Arte has devised highly experimental touring pieces such as PARADISE LOST as well as imaginative family theatre such as LAND OF THE GRASSHOPPER SONG, and large-scale "theatre of place" spectacles at its annual summer Mad River Festival.
In 2011, the company premiered "MARY JANE: THE MUSICAL", an original musical exploring the back stories of the new 'green rush,' the marijuana industry of N.Calif. In 2004, the company premiered SHADOW OF GIANTS, an original drama about tree-sitting in Northern California, and in 2005 toured its contemporary adaptation of Moliere's The Miser titled THE GOLDEN STATE.
In 2006, the Dell’Arte Company and the acclaimed Jomfru Ane Teatret of De nmark
embarked on an exciting international collaboration to create a new work inspired by the Henrik Ibsen classic PEER GYNT. This production traveled to Denmark to open the Jomfru Ane season.
In Winter of 2007, the Dell’Arte Company teamed up with the Marin Theatre Company to present a contemporary adaptation of Moliere’s TARTUFFE. For the 2009-10 season the Company explored the work of Spanish playwright/poet Federico Garcia Lorca, with an original work for three actors developed through ensemble process.
The Dell'Arte Company creates and regionally tours an annual holiday family show, with many free performances sponsored by local businesses.
Training
The Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre is the North American center for the exploration, development, training and performance of the actor-creator. This year we celebrate 35 years in Blue Lake, where students from around the world train among the majestic redwoods and rugged beauty of California’s North Coast.
We are the only institution in the U.S. offering a full-time professional actor training program in physical theatre, through a one-year certificate program, and an accredited three year MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre.
Over the past 30 years we have attracted an international faculty and student body and trained performers from Europe, South and South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and North and South America.
We also offer summer workshops, open training sessions, and a Study Abroad program in Bali.
Youth
The mission of the Dell'Arte Youth Academy is to use physical theater to enhance the education and lives of young people, and by extension, their families.
We do this through innovative physical theatre practices, creating effective partnerships between professional artists, and the students and faculty of the Blue Lake Elementary School.
The Dell'Arte Youth Academy offers intensive, fun training in physical theater. Children develop as artists and people, learning acting skills through the study of improvisation, clown, mask, and physical comedy.
Presents
Since 1991, the Dell'Arte Mad River Festival has brought together performers and audience members from "around the world and down the block" for performances of theatre, music, comedy, storytelling, clown, puppetry and more.
Hosted in Dell'Arte's t wo theatres in Blue Lake, plus other venues in the area, the MRF has presented troupes from Brazil, Russia, Europe, Canada and across the United States, as well as top solo performers from around the world.
The Festival features original performances by the resident Dell'Arte Company and often collaborates with dancers, musicians, giant puppets, masked participants and a spirit of energy and creativity that must be experienced to be believed.
The Mad River Festival is held concurrently with the Dell'Arte Summer Workshops, allowing for a great opportunity to train and to observe some of the best physical theatre performers in the world.
Dell'Arte is one of the largest employers in the arts in California north of the Bay Area. We work in partnership with many local organizations and government agencies, and our combination of tuition, box office, tour income and foundation support generates well over a million dollars each year for the Humboldt County economy. |