Brief Background


I was accepted as an Artist to be in the Artists Directory of MA. by The Cultural Education Collaborative from 1987-92 and then by the Mass Council from 92 to the present.  Their Artistic and Education panels selected me to be eligible to receive Institute for the Arts funding for Events (performances), Extended Events, and Artists-in-Residence for all grade levels.


I have worked with Very Special Arts Massachusetts doing Residences and Festivals in the schools of MA since 1984-5.  I have been apart of a group of Artists that were trainers for VSA for new artist to their directory.   In 1992 I was trained to work with their new Mutli Arts Resource Guide for teachers. #617-350-7713


1972-1979
I was an Administrator and Faculty member of Tolstoy College at the University of Buffalo.  I was one of four Coordinators who inter faced with the University at large and who was responsible for curriculum development, hiring other faculty, and teaching classes.  (A Student at the University of Buffalo could take 28 credits in the college in working towards their B.A.).  The College was experimental in it's methods of teaching and it's academic look at Social, Political and Personal issues in people's lives on and off the campus. Besides teaching 3 to 5 classes a semester I performed in the following venues "Street Theatre", "Leaflet Art", and "Collage Costuming ".


1979-2002 

IJA - The International Juggling Association is an organization dedicated to the education and service of jugglers and juggling worldwide.  The major projects are a magazine, an annual convention and helping promote small regional conventions where workshops and performances are given.  I have attended 20 of these large conventions here in the States and in Europe.  I have also attended about 25 small conventions and did helped organize one yearly for 5 years at Hampshire College.  These conventions have offered me the opportunity to study and see some of the greatest jugglers in the United States and in the rest of the world.                           

I was voted chairman of this organization and servered on the board of directors as the Chair for 3 years.

Other places of Study
Ranging from several weeks long to weekend workshops.

Tony Montanaro - Ran a theatre School, based in Maine.

I have studied with Tony during 1985-87-90-94 –99-02  Mime, storytelling, improv, performing

Ecole Nationale De Cirque - a Circus School in Montreal, Que.

Ecole Sans Filet - a Circus School in Brussels, Belgium

Living Stage Theatre Company -  a small multiracial improvisational theatre company based in Washington D.C. who's focus was on Special  Needs

Brian Way - Author of Development Through Drama - A pioneer in arts and education and participatory children's theatre

Augusto Boal - Author, Actor, Teacher, President of Studied Interactive theater. At the Centre of Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro and Paris.

Involvement in other performance groups:
1987 to the present with "Blue Angle Arts", and "Thin Ice".
I have performed, written and directed in a number of ensembles that were collaborations of many different Art forms, producing plays and original works that were performed

1992-2003 “Up In Smoke” with Jody Scalise, A Health Education Show, performed about 1000 times through out the US for K-12 grades. (Produced a CD of the show)


I have done many school residences ranging from 3 to 33 days.  Here is a partial list of some of the school residences over 10 days.

Linden Hill School
South Mountain Road
Northfield, Ma. 01360
William F. Patterson  

West Side Community
Pittsfield, Ma.
Donald L. Taylor

North Parish School
Four Corners Schools
Greenfield, Ma.   Mary Ann Clarkson

Morningside Community School
Pittsfield, Ma 01201
Paula Virgilio

Caldwell School - 3 Residencies
FLLAC Collaborative
Fitchburg Public Schools
James Craigen

FLLAC Collaborative - 4 Residencies
Fitchburg Public Schools
James Craigen

Taconic High School
Pittsfield Ma.
Kathy Baker

Arts Council of Franklin County - 4 Residencies
12 Franklin County Schools
Felice Caivano
Middle School
Greenfield Ma. 01301
Helen Gibson

Four Corners School - 2 Residencies
Greenfield Ma
Pam Holiday

Center School
36 Hadley St.
South Hadley
Siri Nam Khalsabrow

North Parish Fall
Greenfield Ma.
Pam Holiday

B. F. Brown School
Middle School
Fitchburg, Ma.

Pittsfield High School
Pittsfield Ma.
Michelle Viscuso

Kenneth C. Coombs School - 3 Residencies
52 Old Barnstable Rd
Mashpee, MA  02649
Nick Feldman

McKay Campus School - 4 Residencies
Rindge Rd
Fitchburg, MA  01420
Dick Beardmore

Erving Elementary - 2 Residencies
50 Northfield Rd
Millers Falls, MA 01349
Mary Ann Clarkson

CAPS Collaborative - - 5 Residencies
Gateway School
53 School Street Gardner, MA 01440
Alice Russell


Quarry Hill School - 3 Residencies
Monson, MA 01057
Mary Lue Calahand