CLASSES
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CLASSES 🍎
Gabe McKinney: Make Work Shop
Make Work Shop
A two-day intensive designed for existing and emerging ensembles (performers who work together in groups of 2-8) wanting to kick-start the devising process. Working from a ‘strengths-based’ approach, this workshop aims to empower ensembles to build original work based on their unique artistic and professional goals and sensibilities. Workshop will culminate in an open showcase for an invited audience.
Ideally, participants will have had some background in clown or clown-adjacent performing and are excited about the highs, lows and in-betweens of the unwieldy beast that is ensemble collaboration.
We will employ various methods to generate and refine devised material and be deliberate in establishing healthy, positive forms of collaboration. Gabe will work intensively with each ensemble to facilitate the generative process, function as an outside eye/director for the material, and coach groups through the ensemble-building process. Given the intensive work, this workshop will be limited to three ensembles.
Sessions will be five hours of studio time per day, with an additional time for lunch break, over a two-day period. Ensembles will be asked to do a small amount of prep work prior to the workshop (creative, reflective, goal-setting) to expedite the in-person process.
CLASS:
Saturday 06/21 from 12-5PM
Sunday 06/22 from 2-7PM
CLASS SHOW in SKUNK ROOM: TBD
Class cancellation policy: 100% refundable up until 5 days before the class. 75% refundable within 5 days of the class start date. No refunds after the start date of class.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Gabe McKinney has been making comedy collaboratively in some form since 2001. Most recently: director and collaborative partner with Alec Jones Trujillo on OLD GOD. Directed NOUVELLES RECETTES for the 2024 le festival des Clowns de Montreal. Former faculty member at Dell’Arte International, where he also received his MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre. Worked as a clown consultant on Cirque du Soleil’s ZARKANA (Las Vegas). Directed the clown/slapstick production TYRE CHANGE SHOW for Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. As a performer: Five years as emcee in ABSINTHE at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Occasional host for THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK. Has appeared on America’s Got Talent, Hell’s Kitchen, The American Country Music Awards. Original Member of Wet The Hippo ensemble. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Louisville.