 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"Transformation-that is what the actor's nature, consciously or unconsciously, longs for." - Michael Chekhov
Walking the dog Theater Board of Directors:
Seth Lachterman-President
Richard Cross-Vice President
Nigel Harrison-Treasurer
Melania Levitsky-Secretary
Jennie Clifford
Helen Suter
David Anderson
Benedicta Bertau
Walking the dog Theater Advisory Board:
Peter Armour
Hans Bartges
Mark Fingar
David Sassoon
Mark Young
Mission statement:
Walking the dog Theater exists for the purpose of creating theater events that inspire, entertain, and build community. Vital aspects of this purpose include: engaging children, youth, and adults in their own creative potential, stimulating artistic life in underserved areas, supporting the work and growth of professional artists, and staging William Shakespeare's plays.
A little history:
Founded in Australia in 1997 by two Americans and two Australians, and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 1998, the company thrived for several years as a professional touring ensemble, performing and giving workshops over three continents, before landing in Columbia County, New York, and deciding to make a home in the beautiful Hudson Valley, just 130 miles north of New York City.
Walking the dog Theater established itself by creating avant-garde theater performances which incorporated movement and live, original music, and through successful children’s productions employing the same style. The touring ensemble gave performances and workshops in venues as varied as festival theaters, universities, schools, and prisons.
In 2006, Walking the dog Theater decided to create a true home in Columbia County, New York. As the company deepens its roots in Hudson and the county, it continues to welcome collaborations with local artists and the opportunity to discover new possibilities and directions for meaningful theater. WTD’s professional productions and educational programs focus on freeing the creativity of the artist, developing Ensemble Theater, and invoking the spirit of a play so that audiences can become enlivened by the theater event.
The Independent awarded the collaborative production of HAMLET best overall theatrical production 2007, and David Anderson’ Hamlet best male actor 2007.
Director biographies:
David Anderson, actor, director, playwright and poet, was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. In 1991 he received a Bachelor's degree in writing from Lakeland College. He taught English in Weimar, Germany, for three years before completing a post-graduate degree in Waldorf Education at Emerson College, Forest Row, England. He studied Speech and Drama at Threshold Theater in Christchurch, New Zealand, and has performed throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. An adaptation for the stage of his 45-part poem “Walking the dog” led to the founding of Walking the dog Theater in 1997.
In 2001 David Anderson and John McManus inaugurated Shakespeare Alive!, a yearlong course for youth in the art of acting. The college-accredited course completed its third year of training in 2004.
David recently played in a one-man A Christmas Carol and Adam, Cain, and the Emperor in WTD’s Suite of One-Acts Daemons, and Hamlet in the collaborative production of Hamlet, which The Independent gave Best Stage Production of 2007 and Best Male Actor of 2007 for his portrayal. In the last two years he has played Pale in Burn This, Sceparnio in the U.S. Premiere of The Storm, Jesus in The Gospel of John, and Roxane in Cyrano (all for Walking the dog Theater). He also played Jack Loring in the World Premiere of Sam Hall’s War Games (centerSTAGE); Ferdinand in The Tempest, the title role in Macbeth, Belarius in Cymbeline (Shakespeare Alive!);opposite Fern Sloan in For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again and Nippers in Bartleby the Scrivener (The Actors’ Ensemble); Frederick in the World Premiere of Black Earth (Circle X Arts, London); and for Walking the dog Theater: the title role in Hamlet (2001-02) and Leonce and Lena among others. For film: lead roles in Coda, Understudy,and Various States of Repose. He has directed 19 productions—eight Shakespeare plays and, most recently, The Servant of Two Masters, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. David has published poetry and written two plays: The Lost Son and Walking the Dog. He currently serves as Executive Artistic Director of Walking the dog Theater.
Benedicta Bertau, director, actor, clown and Producing Artistic Director/Outreach Director for Walking the dog Theater, Benedicta Bertau was born in Germany into a French/German family.
She received her Waldorf teacher Training Certificate from Emerson College, England, in 1996 and her B.A. in Dance/Eurythmy from Helicon College in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2000. Benedicta Bertau trained in Physical Theater in Chile, the Chekhov Acting Method in Berlin, Germany, and Clowning in the Netherlands. She speaks five languages fluently.
An experienced teaching artist and accomplished dancer of many styles, Ms. Bertau has led movement and theater workshops for people of all ages and abilities. She currently teaches a series of workshops for adults, TIME TO ACT, and workshops for children in association with the Crellin - Morris Association of Chatham, New York, the Mental Health Association of Columbia & Greene Counties, and other local organizations. She has directed Magellan; Leonce and Lena; Twelfth Night; two productions of Much Ado About Nothing (2005 and 2006), and Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid and The Miser. Recent directing credits include The Gospel of John (assistant to the director), The Beggar or the Dead Dog, and Red Carnations x2, a double bill including play and opera, all with WTD. She was most recently seen in Miracle Tomato, and stage credits include Daemons-A Suite of One-Acts, playing five men, including Christian de Neuvilette and Baron de Guiche in Cyrano, and Grumio in WTD’s critically acclaimed all-female production of The Taming of the Shrew.
Melania Levitsky is on the board of directors and member of Walking the dog Theater and The Actors' Ensemble. She is on the faculty of Shakespeare Alive!. She has performed the work of Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Dario Fo and her own one-woman play Blue Arches, among others. She is the drama director of Side-by-Side, a youth leadership training program and is a professional singer.
A little more history:
Founded in Australia in 1997 in Australia, Walking the dog Theater toured Walking the Dog, a dramatic staging of David Anderson’s long poem of the same name. Music, movement, song and drama wove together in this unique and critically acclaimed theatrical experience. Along with Walking the Dog, Walking the dog Theater also toured The Stonecutter, a Japanese folktale. The tour took the company to New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and North America.
In 1999, the company inaugurated Shakespeare Alive!, an intensive summer theater workshop experience for youth, which evolved into its own organization, eventually offering a yearlong college-accredited actor’s training as well as its annual summer productions.
In 2004 Walking the dog Theater developed its Shakespeare in Schools program. Since its inception this program has created 18 productions and a Midwest Shakespeare Festival with young people. In addition to its ongoing workshops for youth and adults, its in-school, after school, and summer intensive programs, the professional company produces original, new, and classical plays, with a special passion for Shakespeare.
Walking the dog Theater creates theater events that seek to inspire as well as entertain. In 2006, the company presented 11 youth and 5 professional productions, which included Lanford Wilson’s BURN THIS, the U.S. premiere of THE STORM (a new comedy adapted from Plautus), and BLUE ARCHES, an original one-woman play by Melania Levitsky, a long-term partner of Walking the dog Theater. In 2007, Walking the dog Theater created 16 productions, of which 6 were professional and 10 with students of varying ages. The Independent awarded the collaborative production of HAMLET best overall theatrical production 2007, and David Anderson’ Hamlet best male actor 2007.
Walking the dog Theater staff and colleagues:
David Anderson -Executive Artistic Director
Benedicta Bertau -Producing Artistic Director
Carolyn Polikarpus -Administrative Assistant
Youth Program Directors:
David Anderson
Laurie Portocarrero
Benedicta Bertau
Eddie Allen
Beatrice Cohen
Deena Pewtherer- Lighting Design
Jonathan Talbott-Music
Marilan Lund - Graphic Design
Daniel Region BLUE MESA PRODUCTIONS -Website
Nitin Vadukul, Iva Peele, Daniel Region – Photography
Dan Udell-Filming
Joanne Vilaghy – Fundraising
Patrick Doyle-Director of Operations Basilica Industria
Ralph Bedard-Construction Master at Basilica Industria
|
 |
|
 |
 |
