Press Enterprise Interview

The Press Enterprise
Bloomsburg Pennsylvania
May 20, 2000

Calif. Artist joins BTE production

(Caption under photo: Alyssa Ravenwood, an artist from California, designed over 30 masks, puppets and headdresses for BTE's production of "The Tempest.")

BLOOMSBURG- The work of Alyssa Eden Ravenwood is all over the stage in the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's production of "The Tempest." Ravenwood came from California to design more than 30 masks, puppets and headdresses for the show, which runs though Sunday. Her work helps create the fairies, hounds and harpies the flit thought Shakespeare's work.

In an interview with BTE staff, Ravenwood explained how she came to be a part of the production.

Q: You came a long way to be a part of BTE's production of "The Tempest." How did you become involved with BTE?

A: Jerry Stropnicky, director of "The Tempest" wanted someone who was trained in clown and physical theater comedy to play the role of Trinculo, the court jester. Jerry contacted Joan Schirle, co-founder of the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre, and she recommended me. I graduated from Dell'Arte in 1992.
BTE and Dell'Arte have a long-running friendship. Joan directed BTE's production of Moliere's "School for Wives." BTE performed "Letters to the Editor" at Dell'Arte's Mad River Festival. That was my first experience with BTE, and I thought it was a wonderful play. I jumped at the chance to work with them.

Q: So you were hired as an actor but you also designed the masks and you were the assistant director. How did that happen?

A: Jerry is wonderful at making the most of the gifts people have. When he found out that I was also a maskmaker, he incorporated masks into his concept for the show.
The play revolves around a magician who is shipwrecked on an island inhabited by a spirit named Ariel. Shakespeare mentions other spirits who help Ariel, "the rabble over whom I give you power."
Jerry wanted the Rabble to be a part of the whole play, to give a sense of what the island was like before humans came and also to provide comic relief. Jerry wanted the Rabble to perform in a slapstick/clown style so it was my job as assistant director to train these actors in the style of physical comedy.

Q: How do you do that?

A: I took the actors through "physical theater boot camp." Actors use their voices and their facial expressions to convey emotion and intentions.
The Rabble wear masks and they do not speak so these actors had to learn how to make themselves understood using only body language. They improvised scenes wearing white paper plates over their faces so their expressions could not be seen.
They learned how to express themselves using their hands and their bodies. The Rabble are not humans, they are spirits, so we worked on finding ways to move and walk that would make them look different form the human characters.

Q: What was your inspiration for the masks?

A: The play takes place on a magical island, so when I was searching for inspiration I looked to Bali and Japan, which have always seemed like magical islands to me.
I like to get inspiration from other sources, but I think it is important to make the work your won. The spices can come from other places but the stew should be your recipe.

Q: Did you study maskmaking?

A: Bruce Marrs was my mask teacher at Dell'Arte. He helped me refine my style but I had already designed a few shows by then and I have been making masks since I was a child. My parents are both sculptors and we went all out at Halloween.
One year I wanted to be a pirate. I was thinking eye patch, torn shirt, maybe a parrot. My father made me a whole pirate ship complete with sails!

Q: Which do you prefer; acting, directing or designing?

A: I enjoy them equally. They all create different challenges. I love collaborating with people, as I did with the Rabble. It was great watching them learn a new way of acting and then watching them take that technique and make something really special.
I love acting. I love it all. I couldn't pick, and fortunately I don't have to because I get to work at wonderful places like BTE who let me do all three.

Q: Where do you go after "the Tempest?"

A: I'm going back home to California, to my husband and my dog.
I've been asked to be the judge at the Maskibition this year, an international mask exhibition, I want to finish my solo show, "Orlando Eats Children With Wine," and tour it at next year's fringe festivals.
And I hope to come back and work at BTE again. I have enjoyed my time here very much and everyone in Bloomsburg has made me feel so welcome. It has been a terrific experience!