JEF JOHNSON is a principal clown in the
international touring company of Slava’s Snowshow. As
Clown, he has also toured with Cirque du Soleil. Jef has
more than 20 years of experience working in a wide range
of physical styles.
His approach is rooted in subjective expression, physical
expression of condition through impulse and reflex.
He has studied corporeal expression from disciples of
Grotowski, Suzuki, Marceau, Decroux, Lecoq, Meyerhold,
M. Chekhov, Vakhtangov.
He has been commissioned for Master Classes, Lectures
and Workshops in Acting, Theory, Character, Mask,
Creative Play, Improvisation, and Clown for numerous
theatre companies and universities, including Cirque du
Soleil, New York Clown Theatre Festival, Camp Broadway,
Slava's Snowshow, University of Houston, University of
Pennsylvania, Columbia University, University of Minnesota,
Empire State College and NYU.
He also serves as Artistic Coordinator for the International
Nonverbal Theatre Initiative, based in St. Petersburg,
Russia.
For consultation, creative planning or coaching, click here!
international touring company of Slava’s Snowshow. As
Clown, he has also toured with Cirque du Soleil. Jef has
more than 20 years of experience working in a wide range
of physical styles.
His approach is rooted in subjective expression, physical
expression of condition through impulse and reflex.
He has studied corporeal expression from disciples of
Grotowski, Suzuki, Marceau, Decroux, Lecoq, Meyerhold,
M. Chekhov, Vakhtangov.
He has been commissioned for Master Classes, Lectures
and Workshops in Acting, Theory, Character, Mask,
Creative Play, Improvisation, and Clown for numerous
theatre companies and universities, including Cirque du
Soleil, New York Clown Theatre Festival, Camp Broadway,
Slava's Snowshow, University of Houston, University of
Pennsylvania, Columbia University, University of Minnesota,
Empire State College and NYU.
He also serves as Artistic Coordinator for the International
Nonverbal Theatre Initiative, based in St. Petersburg,
Russia.
For consultation, creative planning or coaching, click here!
| (c) 2008 Jef Johnson's Clown Lab All rights reserved. |
JEF JOHNSON'S CLOWN LAB
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"The scout stands,
peering into a still
stream.
The stillness reveals
to him what his eyes
cannot see, that
which is truly
beneath, behind,
and beyond.
In this reflection, he
is everything, and he
is nothing.
He is the stream."
Jef Johnson
peering into a still
stream.
The stillness reveals
to him what his eyes
cannot see, that
which is truly
beneath, behind,
and beyond.
In this reflection, he
is everything, and he
is nothing.
He is the stream."
Jef Johnson
THE PHILOSOPHY In life – we live, we
experience, and so shall we exist in the classroom.
Relying on experience, models and observation, we will
explore key impulses and discuss the true life of character,
as opposed to the fake life of an actor portraying
character by “performing” choreography (blocking) and
“reciting” lines.
My interest is in unlocking the life of the character through
physical experience and discovery. The work is focused on
perception. How we “think” about what we are actually
doing often pollutes the transposition of idea to
expression.
When we let go, impulse can be identified and better
understood. When we return to the base, the idea of
“creative play,” we can begin to construct meaningful and
truthful character.
Photos by Oleg Lugovskoy, Jr.
experience, and so shall we exist in the classroom.
Relying on experience, models and observation, we will
explore key impulses and discuss the true life of character,
as opposed to the fake life of an actor portraying
character by “performing” choreography (blocking) and
“reciting” lines.
My interest is in unlocking the life of the character through
physical experience and discovery. The work is focused on
perception. How we “think” about what we are actually
doing often pollutes the transposition of idea to
expression.
When we let go, impulse can be identified and better
understood. When we return to the base, the idea of
“creative play,” we can begin to construct meaningful and
truthful character.
Photos by Oleg Lugovskoy, Jr.