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Michael Cooper is an eye-popping visual artist and virtuoso mime whose exquisite
performances have dazzled audiences for almost thirty years. His one-man
extravaganza combines his breathtaking handcrafted masks, original stories of
courage and wonder, outlandish stilt dancing and a physical repertoire that ranges
from the madcap to the sublime. The result is a “moving sculpture.”
 Taking
up to three hundred hours to produce a single paper or cloth mask, Michael has
elevated this most ancient of theater crafts to the level of a fine art. His
ability as a wordsmith enables him to reel in the most discerning of crowds with
the nuance of a poet, the joy and timing of a first rate comedian and the twists
and intrigue of a master storyteller. And whether he’s high kicking on giant
legs, animating one of his magical creations or quite literally “leaning on
air,” the unending enthusiasm of this masked marvel captivates both young and
old.
Michael graduated from Goddard College with a degree in Peace Studies, a unique
major that continues to fuel his dedication to creating wholesome, uplifting
entertainment that appeals to his audience’s sense of humanity. He then went on
to complete six years of theater training with the two greatest mime teachers of
the twentieth century, Etienne Decroux of Paris, France and Tony Montanaro of
Paris, Maine. Since then he has crisscrossed the world, presenting his art in
such varied places as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Hong Kong International
Children’s Festival, Great Woods, The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, the Dublin
Theater Festival, Great Woods, the Eugene O’Neill Theater, Bass Performance Hall
and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
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PAPER
MASKS
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Time: |
45
minutes |
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Recommended
age:
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Grade
3 through adult |
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Number
of participants:
|
Up
to 40 |
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Chaperones
needed:
|
Gr.
3-5 One adult per 5 students
Gr.
6 & up --- One adult per 8 students |
Workshop
activities: Using paper templates that Michael will supply, each
participant will cut and fold their own paper mask.
In the process of going from a flat piece of paper to a fully rounded
mask, they will learn to conceptualize 3 dimensions, which is the essence of
sculpture. A fresh template from which copies can be made will also be left with
the workshop supervisor.
Materials
list: Tables and chairs, 1 pair of good quality scissors per participant,
several rolls of scotch tape (to be shared), several staplers (to be shared),
several paper punches (to be shared), string or yarn (two feet per
participant),1 black magic marker per 5 participants (optional)
Follow
up: Participants can create their own masks. They can find pictures and
make
drawings to help them create their
own mask templates using the same principles they learned in the workshop.
MIME
|
Time:
|
45
minutes |
|
Recommended
age:
|
Grade
3 through adult |
|
Number
of participants:
|
Up
to 150 |
|
Chaperones
needed:
|
2
adults |
|
Space
needed: |
A
large open room |
Workshop
activities:
Michael will teach many of the basic mime techniques and illusions,
including, The Wall, The Finger Ripple, Walking In Place, Leaning on a Cane, The
Stairs, The Ladder and Sitting in Air.
MASTERCLASS/TEACHER
IN-SERVICE
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Time:
|
1
1/2 to 2 hours |
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Recommended
age:
|
Adults,
or families with supervised children 8 years old and up |
|
Number
of participants:
|
Up
to 40 |
|
Space
needed: |
A
large open room |
Workshop
activities: This workshop begins with 10
minutes of Michael performing, followed by a combination of the paper mask
making and mime workshops. It ends with a question and answer period.
Materials
list:
See PAPER MASKS
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Please
contact
Baylin Artists
for technical information.
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