VAUDE_VISUALS

When an individual thinks about becoming an actor they assume it means taking ‘acting classes’.

What is called ‘working from the inside out’. Learning a technique to act! Stanislavski – Method Acting – etc.

The most interesting training an actor can really have is ‘physical theater’ training. This is where the actor learns to act ‘from the outside in’.

I have been an advocate of the technique of French master Jacques Lecoq and his training. Many performing groups that I have photographed over the years have been trained by either Lecoq himself or someone that studied with him.

Currently, the show at Lincoln Center‘s Vivian Beaumont Theater is WAR HORSE and several of the actor/actress’s have had this training. I contacted Richard Crawford who is the co-director of Movement Theater Studio and he introduced me to two of his students who are performing in the show. I was invited backstage to interview Hunter Canning and Leah Hofmann.

After they talked about their training and how imperative it was for working in theater , I then interviewed Richard Crawford and Virginia Scott from MTS.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For more information on Movement Theater Studio go here.

In the current hit WAR HORSE several of the actors performing are trained in the mask/mime technique created by french master Jacques Lecoq as taught at Movement Theater Studio in New York.

Here is Richard Crawford (r) pictured in “WAR HORSE” as Sergeant Thunder yelling at Albert Narracot (l) played by Andrew Durand.

Richard Crawford (r)with Andrew Durand.   Photo by Paul Kolnik

I interviewed Richard Crawford in his dressing room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When I first became aware of Tom Murrin and his ‘aka’ The Alien Comic he had been performing for many years.

His work in the ‘performance art’ community is very significant and he has many admirers and friends to prove it.

This is a photograph I took of Tom at Dixon Place when it was located on East 1st Street.

Tom Murrin performing at Dixon Place in the alternate persona “The Alien Comic”.

I got to know Tom and as my work developed I began doing interviews with performers I liked.

Here is an interview broken into two parts that I did with Tom on Oct. 10th, 2008.

Part 2

In this last year I photographed many of Tom’s show and always had trouble focusing my camera because I really wanted to listen and absorb Tom’s delightful, heartfelt, political, funny, intelligent and aspiring stories.

Here are  few shots I did in the last year during Tom’s shows.

Tom Murrin performing in the Full Moon Show at LaMama

Everyone I  know who knew TOM MURRIN will miss him dearly. His love for the art, community, friends and family are still with us.

Thank you Tom Murrin

R.I.P.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
New York Times Obit for Tom Murrin

On February 25th, 2012 there was a gathering of 14 sword swallowers from the local tri-state area at Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Times Square, NYC.

Every year Ripley’s puts together this event at ALL of it’s Museums around the World.

Here is a video of that event that happened at Times Sqaure.

In Times Square, NYC there was a special gathering of 14 Sword Swallowers who were attending the 7th Annual World Sword Swallower’s Day at Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Held every year at all the Ripley’s World Wide on this day they all swallow their swords together at the same time.
Here is a video of that event. The Sword Swallowers present in NY were as follows:
Keith Nelson
Riley Schillaci
Harley Newman
Kryssy Kocktail
Liye Shelden Zou
Natasha Veruscka
Tony Gangi
Jim Stilianos
Kyle Mertz
The Lady Aye
Roderick Russell
Fred Kahl – The Great Fredini
David Darwin

Video shot and edited by Jim Moore
©2012 Jim Moore
http://vaudevisuals.com

Photograph from Harley Newman’s Website

I attended the ‘7th Annual ‘World Sword Swallower Day‘ at Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Times Square on Satuday.

There I met up with Harley Newman and did an interview about his work, career and ideas on sideshow performing.

‘Extreme Stunt Master’ – That is what Harley Newman has been called. After 40 years performing stunts and sideshow acts all over the world he talks about his work, beginnings and what it takes to do what it is that he does.
The Two Part interview is an in depth look at an individual who performs world class stunts and discusses them and their impact on the culture we live in.
Part 2 is about the difference he sees between himself and others who would like to do what he does. Describing the heritage of his sword and then swallowing it for the camera.
Intelligent and funny as well.

Video Interview by Jim Moore
http://vaudevisuals.com

Anyone interested in learning the ‘forgotten’ skills of the side show performer can take classes with Harley.

Check his website for more information.

Original Poster for “The Unholy Three”

If you never seen a Lon Chaney/Tod Browning film…this is a good place to start.

THE UNHOLY THREE.

Friday night March 16th at 8pm.

FREE

Here is more information on this wonderful silent film classic from Tod Browning with Lon Chaney.

From Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Unholy Three is a 1925 American silent film melodrama involving a crime spree, directed by Tod Browning.^[1]

The film was remade in 1930 as a talkie. In both the 1925 and the 1930 version, the roles of Professor Echo and Tweedledee are played by Lon Chaney and Harry Earles respectively. Both were based on the novel of the same name by Clarence Aaron “Tod” Robbins.

Three sideshow performers leave the circus after Tweedledee the midget assaults a child at one of their shows and become “The Unholy Three.” Echo the ventriloquist assumes the role of Mrs. O’Grady, a kindly old grandmother, who runs a bird shop. Tweedledee, “The Twenty Inch Man,” becomes her grandchild, and Hercules (Victor McLaglen) is their assistant. Soon an incredible crime wave is launched from their little store.

Convincingly disguised as a little old lady, Echo and his two carnival cohorts perform a series of Park Avenue robberies. Echo’s sweetheart Rosie (Mae Busch) plays along with the Unholy Three but changes her mind when their latest burglary, which ended in murder, threatens to send an innocent man (who is also Rosie’s Lover) to the electric chair.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This will be the first in a series of “A QUIET NIGHT AT THE MOVIES”  that will happen once a month at Dixon Place. Hosted by Jim Moore and DP’s Katy Einerson.

Dedicated to the Silent Film. Mostly Lon Chaney and Tod Browning collaborations unseen by the public very often.

Come and enjoy a nice quiet night out at the movies. (The films are not recommended for the squeamish)

Friday March 16th 9pm at Dixon Place – DON’T FORGET – it is FREE!

“The Big Bupkis” has returned!
Cholent Space
127 W. 24th Street
Thursday, February 23rd at 10 PM
Saturday, February 25th at 8 PM
Sunday, February 26th at 3 PM
Tickets $20

For more information go here!
http://www.newyiddishrep.org/

Vaudephone is a co-production of Vaudevisuals.com and the American Vaudeville Theatre/Travalanche

vaudevisuals.com
travsd.wordpress.com/

Recorded at Dixon Place on December 13th, 2011.

To see more of the Vaudephone series:
vaudephone.com