CAZENOVIA — This spring, theater artist and author Barbara Gregson and musician Eric Porter will present free theater arts classes for adults at Carpenter’s Barn and the Cazenovia Public Library.
The theater and music classes and performances will be held from April 17 through May 20 under the direction of Gregson and with music by Porter.
Gregson and Porter, who both live in Chenango County, work with people of all ages and abilities to create original shows featuring mime, improvisation, storytelling, masks, and live music.
With funding from a CNY Arts grant, the pair plans to present workshops for two groups of people in Cazenovia this spring. On Mondays, starting April 17, Gregson and Porter will work with adults ages 18 and older, including those with disabilities. On Wednesdays, starting April 19, the pair will work with adults ages 40 and older.
According to Gregson, each group will have five classes/rehearsals and then perform a final live show.
The inclusive adult group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cazenovia Public Library Community Room on April 17, April 24, May 1, May 8, and May 15. A pre-show rehearsal is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn leading up to a 1 p.m. final performance in the same location.
The 40 and older adult group will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn on April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, and May 17. The group will hold a final rehearsal on Friday, May 19 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. before performing for friends and families at 6:30 p.m. at Carpenter’s Barn.
Both adult groups can accommodate 20 people.
“I love the theater because it is a collaborative art form and combines so many different art forms,” said Gregson. “In order to create an original piece with a group, everyone needs to participate, learn the acting techniques, [and then] work in a small group and create their vignettes/pieces for our show. Everyone has to use their imaginations and creativity and then ‘play.’ I have so much fun and love seeing everyone’s creativity and artistry unfold as we write our show. For many adults and seniors, they have never had this arts opportunity before or not for many years. It is never too late to ‘Imagine, Create, Play!’”
Gregson has been a professional theater artist since 1975. She studied acting, playwriting, and storytelling in London, mime in Paris, and mask-making in Italy and the US.
According to Gregson, she uses ancient theater traditions and methods, such as mime, acting, improvisation, storytelling, and mask-making techniques, accompanied by live music, to create her theater performance pieces and shows.
“Since 1983, I have received state and local Arts Council grants to work with groups of people of all ages and abilities, in prisons, schools, institutions, senior centers, and [professional] theaters, so they may learn this accessible theater-making process in order to create their own community theater pieces and productions.”
Gregson is the author of “Theater Artists Play: A Theater Artist’s Guide to Making and Creating Your Own Theater Work!”
Since 2015, she has worked on 10 shows with Porter, who plays a variety of instruments, including percussion, guitar, and vocals.
“He is a brilliant composer and has written many songs for our shows and, best of all, can improvise,” said Gregson.
To register for Gregson and Porter’s upcoming theatre classes, visit cazarts.com and select “Classes.”
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
To learn more about Gregson’s work through the Gregson Theater, visit gregson.theater/index.html. For more information on Porter, visit ericporterstudios.com.
