Performance Workshop This Weekend

Performers of all types (actors, artists, writers, salespeople, musicians, etc.) are invited to a weekend long workshop in Middletown, led by an international leader in performance theory:

The paralyzing fear of “getting it wrong” or “failing to impress” others is a common symptom of living in a world where “success” is measured by competition, material possession and privilege. Overcoming the mind’s preoccupation with failing to satisfy what is expected of us is key to reclaiming the creative potential and sense of joy that comes with play and community.

Jef Johnson returns to Middletown to address this topic with a new and exciting performance based workshop. In this workshop Jef will introduce the ideas of “creative disassemblage” and “reverse timeline.” Through a series of individual and group games, exercises and challenges, participants will discover a fun and creative approach to problem solving, public performance and personal expression. 

“Through creative association, we learn to build up our world with possibility of what is, what can be and what might be. We learn to open our minds and our hearts to see more than what we might otherwise expect to see. Through creative disassemblage, we discover how seemingly finite and definable objects and circumstances contain within them the same range of creative possibilities.” - Jef Johnson

This workshop is also designed to bring people together from a range of interests and disciplines, to share and build community in Middletown. A portion of the workshop will focus on strategies for creating public events, outreach projects and performances. This workshop is for artists, performers, writers, photographers, teachers, planners, musicians, engineers, policy makers, sales people, business owners, public speakers, and anyone interested in the question of “performance.”

**Recommended for groups also, faculty or organizations. Please inquire about group discounts.

June 1: 6-10pm 

June 2: 10-6pm 

June 3: 10-6pm 

Cost: $200 (partial participation possible - please inquire) Discount: 25% for those who have previously attended a workshop with Jef Johnson Discount: 25% for those who mention discount code: HURRICANE CLOWN 23 

To register or learn more details, contact Aryn Kyer at arynky@gmail.com

ABOUT JEF: Jef Johnson is a leader in the field of performance theory. His research focuses on naive experience, consciousness, play, patterned behavior and social identity. He is a principle artist in the Broadway and International touring company of Slava's Snowshow. He has also worked with Cirque du Soleil as clown, special artistic consultant and workshop director. He has been investigating personal perception, performance and play for the last 25 years and has more than 20 years of experience working in live performance. He has given Master Classes, Conferences and Workshops to many organizations, theaters and universities including Cirque du Soleil, Slava's Snowshow, Circo Sentido, Circo de Mente, Camp Broadway, University of Houston, University of Pennsylvania, Colombia University, University of Minnesota, CUNY, SUNY, NYU, UNAM, UDEM, UQROO, and CENART. He is director of Mascara/Clown and is on the faculty of the Nouveau Clown Institute in Barcelona, Spain. Currently he is in Mexico, conducting research into the nature of human consciousness, creative association and social performance. Drawing from Clown, Mask and Butoh, his work has initiated deeper investigation into the primary essence of human experience, character and performance.