IMMERSIVE EVENT ENTERTAINMENT & THEATRICAL CIRCUS ARTISTRY
Education
1998-1999
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California
M.F.A Degree in Integrated Media through the schools of Theatre and Performance Art, Design and Technology with a Minor in Lighting Design.
Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Worked with all the inter-school departments, including, Film, Art, Dance, Music, Theatre and Animation, in order to create new interdisciplinary concepts and theatrical productions that integrated the latest immersive technologies available at the time.
1996-1998
B.F.A in Musical Theatre. Studied a variety of performance techniques including:
Acting: Stanislavski, Meisner, Checkov, and Adler.
Dance: Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary
Music: Theory, Choir and Private Voice
1994-1996
A.A. in Theatre. Studied a variety of theatre and physical theatre techniques including Method Acting, Laban Movement, Viewpoints, Grotowski, and Suziki methods.
Workshops and Intensives
2021-2022
Character creation and clowning intensive with founder and master clown John Gilkey. A monthly workshop dedicated to character development through a variety of physical theatre and clowning techniques. This workshop was taken in conjunction with the development of a new experimental immersive physical theatre production Caraboom, in which a family of clowns attempts to run a car wash.
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2017
Butoh Dance Theater
The Art and Culture Center
Birca Residency Center for the Arts
Bornholm, Denmark
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Butoh Dance Theater, an artist in residency program and intensive with master Butoh dancer and choreographer Anita Saij. This month-long intensive required students to train and do performance research while secluded on a farm on the island of Bornholm at the Birca Residency Centre for the Arts.
The course was aimed at exploring the body, mind and spirit and its relation to existence, nature and culture.
2016
Eva Foam props and costume fabrication Workshop. Although focused on Eva foam design and fabrication, the course also introduced other materials such as Worbla the finest art, Worbla transparent art, expanding foam, epoxy transparent resin and liquid silicone.
2015
Giving shape to the imagination
Corporeal Mime
Moveo
Center for Creation in Physical Theatre
Barcelona, Spain
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"Shape the Imagination" is a Corporeal Mime international course and summer intensive that develops interpretive skills, improv body control and expressiveness. It puts the body at the service of the imagination. It focused on the following:
* stage presence, muscle tone and dramatic intention
* body articulation and spatial articulation
* weight as a dramatic tool
* physical dialogue and scenic relationships
* creation exercises
2014
This 3-week summer intensive focused on mask work and performance. It explores the various style of masks such as Commedia Dell'arte, Japanese noh theatre, Larval and other character mask work. The first week focused on awareness, availability, responsiveness, physical presence, and play. The Second week centred on dynamic movement with whole-body engagement with natural forms and forces via movement and gesture. The final week focus was on the play of the mask. From studies in the natural world -its forms, forces, rhythms-to the discovery of characters. The physical play of the mask in time and space, leading to characterisation, dramatic action and ensemble devising.
2006
Clowning intensive workshop with master clown Ronlin Foreman. The course was crafted as an invitation to play dangerously for laughter, joyously in terror and authentically with with both the participants and spectators. The course explored comic situations and circumstances; duos and trios exploring the road to Clown. In the second phase of the course we adopt the red nose, as a simple mask that alters our perception of ourselves and requires resilient, buoyant directions towards openness, vulnerability, and the ridiculous. Finally we explore the character based responsiveness that is the mind of Clown. - revealing the realms of poignant stillness, absurd logic, surreal conditions and situations and the possibility of hysterical outcomes.
2004
Taught by The School Director Daniel Stein, the Generating New Material one month intensive at the Dell'arte School of Physical Theatre was designed to give your imagination a whack on the side of the head. The course encouraged discovery in concrete ways to get beyond 'stuck' when creating new work. This was a hands-on intensive in devising new work by dealing with the emotions of shape, the excitement of rhythm and finding ideas from untapped and unconventional sources.
Work Experience
2002 - Present
CIRCX INC.
Founder Creative Director
Conceptualising and creating an average of one hundred productions and activations per year for corporations, product launches and private events. Managing all aspects of production, including but not limited to curating performances for special events and activations, talent buying and booking of specialised talent, coordinating performances and their technical needs, performing onsite entertainment management and direction, conceptualising and executing event design as well as custom tailoring to the clients' specific needs, design and fabrication of bespoke costumes and props as needed, interfacing with production houses in designing and implementing immersive sets and environments and integrating them with live performance, auditioning and training of resident talent in the companies signature performance style, organising and managing accounts, creative direction and design of all marketing material for the company.
PARTIAL LIST OF CLIENTS (full list available upon request)
C.B. SMITH PARK: Conceptualized and Co-produce and open air walk through seasonal attraction Ignite Your Light- 2021-22
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CATERSOURCE: Conceptualized and Co-produced an immersive performance installation for the closing night gala- 2021
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SHAQ'S FUN HOUSE: Producing immersive entertainment and theatrical circus side shows for South Florida 2018 - present
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NIKKI BEACH: Designed and created all costuming and provided entertainment for residency and special events 2017 -20
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ART BASEL: Produced set design, choreography and costuming for public sector Art Basel Miami Beach 2016
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RED BULL NORTH AMERICA : Produced entertainment & experiential marketing activations for RBGH 2012- 2015
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ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER: Providing Themed Entertainment fo promotional and marketing activations 2011-14
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SCORE NIGHT CLUB: Created and Produced a weekly changing vaudeville show: Madame Monsters 2011-12
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CLEVELANDER HOTEL: Provided programming, onsite management and entertainment for weekly show 2010-11
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TURNING STONE RESORT AND CASINO: Provided choreographed shows and immersive entertainment for Lava 2010-11
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UNIVISION: Provided circus entertainment and choreography for 'Premious Juventud' award show 2009
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TELEMUNDO: Provided an immersive cast of characters to infiltrate a taping of "Caso Cerrado" 2009
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DREAM NIGHT CLUB: Created a weekly changing cabaret show that lead to a feature on the Travel Channel 2008 -2009
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CIRQUE DU SOLIEL: Provided Performers for the Super Bowl pre game show, Miami Florida 2007
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GLOBAL GATHERING: Performance curation and programming for and outdoor dedicated VIP Stage at music festival 2006
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SUSHI SAMBA RESTAURANT: Provided entertainment programming and costuming for a weekly club residency 2005-10
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BACARDI LIMON: Designed costumes and executed performances for experiential marketing tour 2002-04
2005 - 2022
FACULTY
Teaching in both the high school and college theatre divisions. Courses include improvisation, a movement for actors, freshmen mentoring and Self Expression; a personally designed course that encourages students to use their personal life experiences as raw material for theatrical work. Developing a curriculum that includes movement, self-awareness and creative exploration. Implementing, a variety of performance techniques in physical theatre, voice and movement.
2021- 2022
Conceptual Designer and co-creative producer for this seasonal open air immersive attraction premiering at C.B. Smith park in Pembroke Pines. In charge developing the conceptual design and story line through digital mood boarding, and scaled model design.
2021- 2022
Lead Performer and CircX performance sponsor for Caraboom live, an unexpected spectacle of silliness and physical comedy following the trials and triumphs of the Caraboom family, conceived and directed by Natasha Tsakos. Premiered in Downtown Miami, in a parking lot where audiences sat in cars to watch the spectacle. Using carwash mechanics as dynamics for drama. Foam cannons, bubble machines and human water fountains immerse participants and passengers in a splash-filled adventure.
2019 - 2020
Conceptualising, producing designing and directing an innovative socially distanced theatrical drive through experience to premier at the end of 2020.
2018 - 2020
Responsible for casting, directing and managing a cast of over 50 plus performers including, strolling circus acts, interactive character actors, sideshow performers, atmospheric acrobats and other variety of talent. Collaborating with the producers in custom designing and fabricating costumes for all circus and theatrical roving talent. Producing midway|side shows and cabarets to run non-stop on a dedicated stage during the festival.
2017 - 2020
Reimagined the live entertainment presented at the day club. Curating a cast of dedicated performers, and trained them in immersive interactive entertainment. Coordinated with the marketing department to custom create Nikki inspired costumes that represented the brand, not only for their resident entertainment but other themed and holiday events.
2017 - 2018
Writing, producing, choreographing, directing and performing a 20-minute multi-media solo as part of Miami Light Project's Here and Now Festival at the Miami Light Box.
2013 - 2016
ART BASEL
ARTIST & PRODUCTION LIASON
TALENT COORDINATOR
Casting and coordinating all performance talent according to the specifications of each year's group of commissioned artists for Public Sector, Art Basel Miami Beach. Being the intermediary between each artist and/or their management and Art Basel Miami Beach. Negotiation of budgets and fees between local production services and talent agencies. Auditioning and casting talent according to each artist's needs. Producing costuming and props for each artist's site-specific performance art installation. Scouting all rehearsal and recording studio spaces locally for the out-of-town artists and talent. Coordination of all rehearsal schedules. On-site management of all talent for the activation days of Art Basel Public Sector both for the VIP and press soft opening and the public grand opening on the following day.
2013 - 2015
Producing all-immersive entertainment and performance activations for the Red Bull Guest House, a 4 day weekend hotel take over during Miami Music Week and Winter Music Conference in Miami Florida. Designing and creating custom costumes and characters for each of the four days events throughout the 3 years of activation
2012
Producing, designing, choreographing and directing a 3 hour spectacular in celebration of CircX's 10 year anniversary. Co-ordination and scheduling a cast and crew of over 40 for rehearsals and costume fittings throughout the 2 month process. Working with the in-house production union staff at The Fillmore Theatre for lighting, sound and aerial rigging. In charge of fund raising and public relations with all the local media and social networking. Ran a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the production.
2010 - 2011
SCORE NIGHT CLUB
MADAME MONSTERS CABARET
PRODUCER | CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Overseeing all aspects of the weekly production, including but not limited to marketing, directing, choreography, auditioning new acts and costuming resident talent. Writing a thematic outline and script for weekly changing cabaret shows. Organising and running production meetings on a weekly basis with club management and technical crew. Filming and editing videos on the shows bi-monthly to further promote the night. Curating creative videos and popular memes to project on the nightclub's LED screens and integrate them into the weekly script. Writing and sending press releases to the local media and updating all social media sites.
2010 - 2011
Choreographing 2 new acts per week as part of the cabaret format. Costuming resident cast including all back up dancers, show girls and promotional models. Assisting in the shows composition each week by co-ordinating the repertory acts and running rehearsals for the weekly shows.
2010 -2011
Designing and constructing costumes for a four-month residency circus production. Choreographing local talent and interfacing them with the flown-in CircX immersive talent. Coordination and stage management of acts throughout each evening production.
2008 - 2009
Overseeing all aspects of weekly production, including but not limited to marketing, casting, choreography, auditioning new acts and costuming of resident talent. Writing a thematic outline and script for the weekly changing cabaret shows. Organising and running production meetings on a weekly basis with club management and in-house technical crew. Creating and sending out press releases to local media and updating all social networking sites. Organising local and national media coverage.
2007 - 2008
Writing, producing and directing an original 30 minute multi-media production as part of the Miami Light Project's Here and Now Festival, presented at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
2005 - 2006
Teaching stilt walking to grade school students as part of the "Walking Tall" program; a community outreach initiative created by MPAC and funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Designing and constructing over 200 costumes for the "Walking Tall Circus" - a parade and culminating event of the "Walking Tall " Program.
2002 - 2004
Collaborated with the marketing company in character design and costume fabrication for all immersive activations. Co-ordinated all travel details for talent including weekly flights and hotels. Trained, directed and maintained quality control of all entertainment including flown-in talent. Conceptualised, created and choreographed custom branded entertainment for both stage and immersive activations.
2001- 2003
SWIG BARTINI WESTON
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
LIGHTING DESIGNER| PROGRAMER
Running a weekly immersive performance night that featured choreographed stage shows, free-styled costumed dancers, walk about strolling character performers and circus acts. In charge of all creative execution from costume and scenic production to lighting design and programming.
2000
THE CHAMBER ATLANTA
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
RESIDENT ARTIST | PERFORMER
Conceptualising and directing a variety of theatrical performances throughout the venue, including choreographed stage shows, interactive episodes throughout the crowd and living window performance installations with the resident cast.
1998 - 1999
RAGE NIGHT CLUB WEST HOLLYWOOD
LIGHTING DESIGNER | PROGRAMER
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
RESIDENT ARTIST | PERFORMER
Lighting Designer and programmer for the weekly Drag Show Cabaret. Directing and choreographing monthly immersive productions with local performance artists, including dancers, circus performers and costumed characters.
1996 -1997
MARSBAR
LIGHITING PROGRAMER | TECH
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
Programming the intelligent lighting system and running it during the night club's nightly operations. Maintaining all the lighting equipment. Auditioning and casting dancers and choreographing large-scale productions for special events.