Workshop: The Character Mask, A Two-Day Intensive

Unlock the transformative potential of character masks in this two-day intensive workshop. Explore the power of the half-mask, revealing hidden dimensions within yourself and your characters. Experience the surprise, the humor, and the emotional depth that masks can bring to your performance. Take your character work to the next level – join us for this unique theatrical experience.

What you will learn:

• Physical embodiment of character that will employ the entire self to enhance characterization.
• Character vocalization that will guide you in stretching beyond your comfort zone, breaking free from ingrained speech patterns.
• Subtle nuance of pitch, timbre, and tempo, and the transformative power of the mask on vocal expression.
• Two-person, character-driven scenes that explore what happens when these masks meet and share the space and how they interact.

Day one: We will start with trying on the masks, inhabiting the character, and using our voices and bodies.  Then the mask will tell us its story through a monologue or interview.

Day two: We will move on to two-person improvised scenes using characters we explored on Day one.

Who Should Attend: This workshop is open to anyone interested in exploring character including actors, dancers, improvisers, and anyone who wants to develop their character work.

What to Bring: 

Comfortable clothing that allows for free movement. Some costume pieces that we can use to help dress up our masks. Costume pieces might include an old coat, a hood, a scarf, a feather boa, a three-piece suit, whatever you would like to contribute to the mask to help complete a character. A small, hand-held mirror is optional. Day 2: Students will be asked to bring a poem or the lyrics of a song to better introduce us to the mask.

Note: We will be sharing the masks.  They will be cleaned between uses but please do not attend the course if you are feeling sick.  If you are not comfortable using the plastic character masks, paper neutral masks may also be used.

Bio:

Matt Keeslar's journey began at eighteen when he entered the drama division of The Juilliard School.  He studied neutral masks and character masks with renowned instructor Pierre Lefevre. During his time there, he honed his skills in productions like "Don Juan" and "Waiting for Godot," while also securing early film roles in "Quiz Show" and "Renaissance Man." Leaving Juilliard to star in Peter Yates' "The Run of the Country," Matt transitioned into a successful film and television career, highlighted by performances in "Waiting for Guffman," "The Last Days of Disco," "Scream 3," and the title role in ABC Family's "The Middleman." He also maintained a strong connection to theatre, originating roles in notable plays such as "Fit to be Tied" and "The Interrogation of Nathan Hale."