Commedia Dell’Arte as Paradigm for Musical and Theatrical Improvisation

About This Event

Puerto Rican director, actor, educator, mask-maker, deviser and artivist Robi Arce-Martínez will present on the historical and contemporary impact of the commedia dell’arte tradition, focusing on its origins in street theatre and its constant yet ever-changing representations on stage and screen over the intervening centuries. Particular attention will be paid to parallels between the commedia dell’arte and 18th-century musical improvisation: both rely heavily on conventions and yet elicit spontaneous invention from performers who are skilled at capturing the essences of characters and relationships through nuanced gestures.

Featured Guests

• Robi Arce-Martínez, University of North Carolina, Greensboro