I was accepted into the competitive Cornerstone Theater Summer Institute 7 in Los Angeles to learn community-centric theatre methods, theories and practices from America’s premier public engagement theatre company. I learned community-based practices in classes during the day, and in the evening, applied the knowledge in the process of professional production, serving as assistant to the choreographer, running movement rehearsals and dance calls. This theatre company’s work has been featured in PBS television programming and in American Theatre Magazine.
I was asked to take on the role of “The Banker,” based on the Monopoly game character (and physically broad and demanding in the farce comic style of the production), when the community member playing the featured role dropped out.
By Sigrid Gilmer
Directed by Juliette Carillo
Actor: “The Banker”
Cornerstone Theater Company, Institute 7
July 29-31, 2010
Los Angeles, CA
Photography: José Zárate
http://cornerstonetheater.org/about/