Students may discover the ability to witness their unlimited possibilities and will discover immediate access to the power of the imagination. The actions of greeting, beckoning, and throwing imaginary objects through space occur in a carefully orchestrated environment designed to touch the mythic imagination of all concerned.
Neutral Mask
The mask is an ancient transformation tool. Current theater programs have come to utilize this tool in order to aid with concentration, freedom of expression, and physical confidence.
Course Overview
TRANSFORM
Meet Your Instructors
The Mask has been Shelley Wyant’s teaching tool and since 1981 and she has offered workshops and residencies in both neutral and character mask at many universities and conservatories such as Yale, Brown, Smith, NYU, Lincoln Center Institute and Bard College.
Chris Browne Valenzuela is an award winning Chilean actor, playwright and educator based in New York City. His original work has been presented by various organizations, including Dixon Place and The Center, earning him The Hispanic Federation’s 2024 “Abniel Marat” Award for best playwright.
What You’ll Learn
Neutral Mask I:
Students may discover the ability to witness their unlimited possibilities. With the assistance of a shamanic orchestra of found objects, and Ms. Wyant’s collection of masks, students will discover immediate accesses to the power of the imagination. Students will work in pairs and all members of the class participate in this transformation exercise. The actions of greeting, beckoning, and throwing imaginary objects through space occur in a carefully orchestrated environment designed to touch the mythic imagination of all concerned.
Neutral Mask II:
Building on all of the freedom of physical expression experienced in Neutral Mask one, we move forward into a world of storytelling. Here we choose stories and the beginning, middle and end necessary to tell the story. We look to mythology, fairy tales, the Bible, Shakespeare and any great stories from the world cannon to explore hinge moments. Hinge moments are specific moments of profound change where the world of the character changes dramatically and the body tells the story. We explore characters of size; gods, goddesses, kings and queens of all genders as well as monsters and creatures enabling us to stretch the possibilities of our physical expression. We accomplish this by utilizing the tools of the breath, the specificity of footfall, the use of the knees and the power of focus.
Shelley Wyant has studied with Pierre LeFevre who originally devised the theatrical mask work with Michel St. Dennis and developed it further at Juilliard, in Paris with Jacque Le Coc, and in Bali with Idi Bagus Anom.
Character Mask:
Character Mask is “dessert”.
With a different set of masks we continue to explore.
First with the LARVA masks and then with Character Masks we continue.
Everything learned in NM1 and NM2 serve in this exploration.
We add voice to the free body and then find words to express the vast array of characters that populate our imaginations.
With texts and sonnets we continue to discover the possibilities.
TKS Student
Neutral Mask student
“Shelley is a master… someone who really cares and is attentive to each person, focusing on how we can be not only richer & more fulfilled actors, but also human-beings. For me [what I took away the most] was to be more open and full physically. She is a master.”
Schedule a Discovery Call
Have questions? Book a one-on-one chat with our Director of Admissions and Enrollment. We’re here to help you determine if Terry Knickerbocker Studio is the right fit for you.