Dell'Arte International presents the
Class of 2010
three years...9 actor creators...25 original works..
MFA in Ensemble-Based Physical Theatre...
presenting
a new generation of theatre makers
from the only fully accredited program in the world to offer an MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre.
 Adriana Chavez hails from Southern California where she was born and raised. She is a first generation Mexican-American and comes from a huge family whose members either became public school teachers, or went into business for themselves by opening Mexican restaurants around the Southern California area. Adriana graduated with a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Chapman University located in Orange, CA. Before attending Dell'Arte International, she spent a number of years performing, teaching and living life in New York City. In 2004 she received a New York City Teaching Fellowship, followed by a Master of Science in Education from Mercy College and for two years taught theatre at P.79 in East Harlem. She is also a founding member of Collective Opera Company based in Brooklyn, NY where she has performed in collaborations with Jonah Bokaer, Elke Rindfleisch and Marisela La Grave in such venues as La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, Abrons Arts Center, Danspace, and P.S. 122. During the summer of 2009, Adriana co-created and performed in the inaugural production of SHAME!, with San Francisco based Naked Empire Bouffon Company. The summer of 2010 Adriana will be moving back to New York City and will perform at Tiny, Dangerous, Fun with clown partner, Heidi Rider. Together, they plan on creating and performing clown and other theatrical works anywhere and everywhere around the city and eventually the world. She loves to travel, dance, find ways to cook creatively, drink wine, eat cheese and jog...not necessarily in that order. Her dream is to one day own a coffee shop/wine bar/performance space and have a garden where she can grow her own salad greens and herbs.
Erin Crites is a native Californian but considers Louisville, Ky her home. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville in 2005 where she focused on theatre and philosophy. After finishing her undergraduate program, Erin worked as a video editor, coffee shop barista, and actress on the east coast for two years. Since 2006 she has been an on-again off-again member of the comedy group, the Indicators (www.indicatorsimprov.com) who specialize in improv, sketch and short film comedy. In 2007 she moved back to California and commenced studying at Dell 'Arte International. She has completed her master's degree and has already begun putting her ensemble based training to use by teaching children how to devise their own work in groups. She loves teaching, traveling, and creating. So far she has performed in over a hundred shows in eight different states and three different countries. She can't wait for the opportunities that will allow her to expand this list. She is thankful for the past, this moment, and the vast possibility of the future.
 Julie Douglas is an actor/creator who believes that live theatre allows for true human connection through its communal in-the-moment experience. Julie is originally from Napa, California. She received a B.A. in Theatre Arts (acting emphasis) with College Honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz. While in college she also attended American Conservatory Theatre's Summer Congress in San Francisco. Julie then moved to Chicago where she performed in a variety of theatre styles: Shakespeare, shadow puppetry, sketch comedy, Greek tragedy (to name a few) before finding a home at The Moving Dock Theatre Company. While a company member with Moving Dock, she studied Michael Chekhov's tools for the actor, devised original works of physical theatre with the ensemble, and attended the Michael Chekhov Association’s Summer Workshops. After eight and a half years in Chicago Julie returned to California to attend Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre’s MFA program and now holds an MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre. Over the three years at Dell'Arte she collaborated, devised, designed and performed in a variety of theatrical territories with an ensemble of ten actor/creators under the guidance and provocation of Dell'Arte International's faculty. Julie has also studied and performed in Russia, Italy, and Bali. She has experience in mask making and teaching, including youth, community members, and peers. Julie endeavors to make living, breathing art by coming together in community with an ensemble to create something larger than the individuals involved and to find its three dimensional expression in relationship with the audience. Contact: Pedralina@hotmail.com. Website: JulieDouglas.weebly.com
 Eunjin was born in South Korea and has built her career as an actor, theater director and mask maker. She holds her BA in Theater Directing from Dongguk University in Seoul, Korea and received an MFA(Master of Fine Art) in Ensemble Based Physical Theater from Dell'Arte International School in Blue Lake, CA. In 2002, she joined Wagon Stage Company, performed the various lead characters in styles such as Commedia Dell'Arte, Moliere, Anton Chekhov and other contemporary plays. For more than three years, she toured a number of theaters and festivals across Korea. During this time, she also participated in creating works of puppets and masks and started to explore the design aspect of theater making. Throughout three years of her training at Dell'Arte International, she investigated the territories of Clown, Commedia Dell'Arte, Melodrama and Tragedy as an actor/creator, and performed various styles of original pieces with ensemble collaboration. She was also in the mask design team for Commedia Christmas Carol (The Dell'Arte Company's 29th Annual Holiday Show) and made 40 traditional and contemporary styles of Commedia Dell'Arte masks. As a part of her training, she spent a month in Bali studying mask carving with Ida Bagus Alit and traditional Balinese dance with Ayu. She has a passion for physical theater, clown, comedy, and crafting work such as masks, puppets and props and continually pursues an artistic expertise in these areas.
Gabriel McKinney is a 2010 MFA graduate of Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theater. He has performed with the Dell'Arte Company in "Blue Lake: The Opera" and "Commedia Christmas Carol." As a student at Dell'Arte, he co-created a community based arts project called "Pelican Bay Speaks" that allowed him to collaborate with inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, CA. He was a founding member of Punch Clown Theater, with whom he created and toured "When The Roses Bloom Again." He has performed improv and comedy around the country at The Del Close Marathon at the UCB Theater (NYC), Chicago Sketch Fest, Chicago Improv Festival and Chicago Comedy Underground. In addition to the rigorous training at Dell'Arte, Gabriel has also trained with/studied at the following individuals/institutions: Blake Montgomery (The Building Stage), 500 Clown, The Second City Conservatory (Chicago), Dexter Bullard (Plasticene), Keegan Michael Key and Gary Austin (The Groundlings). Gabriel has experience teaching acting, physical theater and improvisation. He has as B.A. in philosophy from Western Kentucky University. Contact him at gabemckinney@gmail.com
 Elizabeth Colon Nelson
Born Southern. Raised Puerto Rican. Lives in Technicolor.
Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater MFA Graduate 2010.
Lee University Bachelor of Arts in English Literature 2002.
Travel to 12 countries and 42 of the United States of America.
Member of the Actors' Gang, Los Angeles as of April 2011.
Created work with the Dell’Arte Company in “Blue Lake: The Opera” and “A Commedia Christmas Carol.”Devised work with inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison in the creation of “Pelican Bay Speaks.” Other work includes: “Pierrot Lunaire”, Opera Cabal, Chicago, IL; “The Maids” High Concept Laboratories, Chicago, IL;“Bring May Flowers”,The House Theater, Chicago, IL. website: ecolonnelson.wordpress.com
Nicholette Routhier is a dancer, actor, creator, director, designer, choreographer, teacher, stage manager, clown,  revolutionary, collaborator, singer, administrator, acrobat, Tai Chi enthusiast and musician (Well, the last one is a bit of a stretch- She dabbles in the penny whistle.) In addition to attaining her MFA from Dell’Arte International, Nicholette has a B.A. in Dance from the George Washington University. Prior to attending Dell'Arte International, Nicholette danced professionally in Washington, DC with a number of local companies, including Clancyworks and Deborah Riley Dance Projects. She trained internationally with Friches Theatre Urbain, a Jacques Lecoq-based street theatre company in Paris, France and at Dell’Arte Abroad in Bali, Indonesia. She has experience teaching dance and theatre to students of all ability levels from youth to adult. Nicholette is currently living in Blue Lake, CA and working as Dell’Arte International’s School Registrar. For updates, photos, and resumes, visit www.nicholetterouthier.com. Contact her at nicholetterouthier@gmail.com.
Genesee Spridco is a director, educator, designer, performer, and mask maker. She was born near Milwaukee, but there isn't much of the midwest she hasn't lived/explored. The daughter of a long line of engineers, Gen creates costumes, masks, puppets and scenic devices in her spare time. In 2004, she was awarded with ACTF Meritorious Award for Technical Acheivement for a full body marionette created for Brecht's Good Person of Setzuan and her BFA in Directing and her BS in Theatre Education from Viterbo University. Gen's passion is in interactive theatre, one where walls (particularly that pesky fourth one) doesn't exist. Over the past ten years, she has performed, taught and directed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire and has now performed with several of the circuit veterans, finding a strange second family with the "rennie" community at large. Other interactive theatre credits include CLIMB Theatre, a touring theatre-in-education company based in the twin cities of Minnesota, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL and most recently The Seelie Players (www.theseelieplayers.com) an ensemble of movement professionals that present various enchanted characters to events across America. Now a resident of Chicago, she is Artistic Director of The Suitcase Shakespeare Co (www.suitcaseshakes.com), a touring company determined to merge physical theatre with classic works to connect in new visual and visceral ways. For more updates and recent work, visit www.spridco.com
 Emily Windler is a graduate of the Advanced Ensemble Acting program, a 3-year graduate level program at Dell'Arte International, including an internship with the Dell'Arte Company. Previous to Dell'Arte International, she spent five years vocally training with a focus in opera. Emily was born in California, but spent most of her childhood moving from state to state with her military family who finally settled in New Mexico. She has performed with many companies in Albuquerque, including In Strange Company - a physical theater company that explores multi-media, puppetry, and mask-, and Opera Southwest. Since being a student at Dell'Arte International she has found a passion for physical comedy, masks, and creating new works of theater both solo and ensemble-based. Upon graduating she has performed with the Dell'Arte Company as one of the lead roles in Blue Lake: The Opera and is the Assistant Director for the 2010 Dell'Arte Summer Youth Academy. To see what she's up to now contact her at emsterw@gmail.com or check out her work at www.emilywindler.freeiz.com
|