Ashland Center for Theatre Studies

Past Elective Course

Mask Making and Movement

Ashland, Oregon

A week-long 3-credit graduate level course geared toward high school and community college theatre educators, covering several mask-making techniques and ways to use masks in theatre:

• Discover how to use masks as a teaching, acting, and rehearsal tool
• Explore different types of movement appropriate to different types of masks (neutral, character, abstract, and fantasy/animal)
• Investigate plaster casting and sculpting techniques
• Work with professional artists
• Learn standard performance and safety requirements for working with masks (vision, fitting, and rigging)
• Discuss history and cross-cultural uses of masks
• View and analyze the Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Throne of Blood
• Come away with lesson plans for three levels of mask-making projects you can use in your school

Here's what our students say:

• "An excellent combination of theory, movement, and technical (mask-making) practice"
• "I learned more than I expected and the information extended beyond mask making to help with other aspects of theatre."
• "I loved the passion that both Jamie and Deborah bring to their work and to the class. I feel inspired and rejuvenated by the breadth of ideas and expression."
• "It exceeded my expectations. I have so much to take back to the classroom, but I also have new direction and ambition in my own artistic work."
• "This is a brilliant collaboration. Deborah and Jamie have different strengths that compliment each other. Their pleasure at sharing their passion for masks is clearly evident. They are also able to create an emotionally safe environment in which to work."

Faculty

Jamie Peck, OSF actor and mask maker
Deborah Rosenberg, SOU costume design faculty

Daily Schedule

Evening Schedule 2010