photo: Ruven Afanador

Click image for hi-res version.

Mark Jaster

Wildly Inventive Physical Comedy

www.markjaster.com
Program Offerings
Workshops

“Clown extraordinaire and one of the most graceful performers
you will ever see on stage.” – The Washington Post

“His physical skills and comic invention are a joy to watch… Very professional in every regard, and a complete pleasure to work with.”
– Bert Goldstein, Cincinnati Playhouse

Performing popular shows worthy of his master teachers, Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux, Mark uses skillful movement, sly surprises, live music, humor and abundant audience participation to delight young and old. Put aside whatever you have come to expect from mime, and get ready to enjoy a world-class entertainer who was selected in 2004 to represent the United States at the Annenberg International Children’s Festival, and to showcase at the Midwest Arts Conference. More about Mark Jaster...

Mark Jaster Program Offerings

The Carnival of the Animals and Beyond The Sorcerer's Apprentice The Renaissance Book of Beasts

The Maestro A Fool Named O Piccolo's Trunk Harp & Fool

The Carnival of the Animals and Beyond

Click on image for hi-res version.

Click on image for hi-res version.

The Carnival of the Animals and Beyond is a new Children/Family show featuring the mimetic genius of Mark Jaster, the witty narrative of Sabrina Mandell, the soaring vocals of Kyle Engler, and the brilliant pianism of Daniel Lau.  In this lovingly refreshed interpretation of the Carnival of the Animals classic, the tortoise does a slow can-can, the pianist passionately prepares to play, the museum fossils frighten, and the shapes, character and rhythms of each member of the Carnival are deftly captured.  Accompanied by verses of Ogden Nash,
this is high-level entertainment for audiences of all ages.  The one-hour show ends with Guillaume Apollinaire's The Bestiary set to music by Poulenc, and beautifully sung by mezzo soprano Kyle Engler. Here the audience is asked to participate with Mark Jaster.  This is
family entertainment at its finest on an animal motif with texts in
English and French. Available with orchestra, piano reduction with Daniel Lau, or with recorded music.
Additional information.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Simple, elegant staging brings to life the orchestral classic by Paul Dukas. Like the familiar composition made famous in Disney's "Fantasia," this is based on Goethe's original poem. But here, Jaster, joined by Sabrina Mandell, uses mimetic action and simple props on a bare stage to engagingly portray the lazy apprentice's inept use of the master's magic and the frightening chaos that ensues. This is a delightful and accessible interpretation suitable for the family audience. Available with live or recorded music.

The Renaissance Book of Beasts
In this delightful program, Jaster animates a book of tales from the Renaissance, accompanied by a narrator and lively music of the period performed by Hesperus. Do you remember the story of Androcles and the lion? You haven't laughed until you've seen Mark act both parts at once. He impersonates a dozen more beasts, from mermaid to unicorn. A concert for the whole family, with Chaplinesque comedy for the children, thought-provoking imagery for the adults and joyful music for all.

	The Maestro In the tradition of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the circus of yesteryear, this high-energy show features an eccentric mute conductor who makes musical mayhem with the audience as his orchestra. Inspired by the great musical clowns of the early 20th century like Grock and The Fratellini Brothers, "The Maestro" is a concert of hilarity. Click image for hi-res download.
	A Fool Named “O” This mute jester has entertained far and wide with his wordless wit, kinetic humor and playful interaction. Developed and featured at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, "O" uses the simplest of props: a wooden hoop, a cloth, and some musical instruments (and non-instruments!) that might have been available to a medieval fool, and engages the audience in some really old-fashioned fun.
	Harp & Fool A unique blend of serious and silly sketches, from the absurd antics of a deranged harper's assistant to lyrical duets of some outrageous pairings of instruments to a harper's trip to the faerie world. With National Scottish Harp Champion Sue Richards. Click images for hi-res download.
	Piccolo’s Trunk A gentle, wordless and slightly kooky character engages the audience with a variety of comical and musical surprises. Piccolo's Trunk contains spectacular skill, foolish antics, playful participation and fun for all. Click images for hi-res download.

Mark Jaster Workshops

For high school, college and adult participants
4 two-hour sessions

Click image for high-resolution download

Mark Jaster, who studied mime with Etienne Decroux and served as Marcel Marceau's teaching assistant, teaches a series of four workshops in mime technique, drawing on exercises he learned from Decroux and Marceau, exploring topics of: • articulation and clarity • the balance of form and content • illusion • physical characterization • given student interest, the creation and critique of student material.