Kathleen will be teaching a weeklong intensive workshop in
Meyerhold's Biomechanics at the Celebration Barn August 13-18, 2007.
For more information go to: www.celebrationbarn.com/workshop/main.html
email Kathleen at Lafkath@aol.com
Theatrical Biomechanics, the system of actor training and
approach to theatre which Meyerhold developed, provides a rigorous and systematic path for the
development of the actor’s psycho-physical instrument. This approach teaches acting through physical
work. At the same time it develops "purely" physical capabilities such as balance, strength,
coordination, agility, and flexibility and teaches a broad range of physical skills including
tumbling, acrobatics, partner work, and work with objects.
Kathleen has taught classes, workshops, and residencies at numerous colleges and universities.
Students and faculty alike have found Meyerhold’s Biomechanics to be of great value in
contemporary theatre training. For a sample of their responses go to
Comments from Students and Faculty.
Physical approaches to theatre training and to theatre are increasingly
in demand in American educational theatre. Educators and practitioners are turning to a wide variety
of methods-both contemporary ones and ones from earlier times-to meet this demand. Recently, the
work of the great Russian actor, director, and teacher, Vsevolod Meyerhold, has been attracting a
good deal of interest and attention.
The workshops offered by Kathleen Baum
immerse students in rigorous physical work. Even more important, they aim to give students a clear
conceptual understanding of the purpose and value of the physical training. Great emphasis is put
on the fact that even the simplest, seemingly ordinary physical exercises are really embodiments of
fundamental principles of acting such as concentration; awareness of self, of one’s partner, and of
the space; listening; give and take; and moment to moment life in a scene. Kathleen’s approach to
Meyerhold’s system seeks to help students integrate their physical, emotional and intellectual work
in their acting. It also seeks to help students make connections between Biomechanics and other
approaches to acting they may be studying.
Kathleen Baum has developed an approach where the Alexander Technique
becomes the "means whereby" students can find freedom and ease in this work.
Why combine Meyerhold and Alexander? Work in Biomechanics can be quite demanding physically.
Students often tend to approach it with excess effort and tension. The Alexander Technique provides
students with specific, positive means to address this issue. Kathleen begins any series of classes
in Biomechanics by introducing the students to the fundamental principles of Alexander. These
principles then serve as a touchstone through all phases of the Meyerhold work.
Photo: Top Left by Gerard E Moses
Kathleen Baum's Class At the Syracuse University Drama Department
Photos: Two Right by Kato McNickle
Wokshop by Kathleen Baum at The National Theater Institute at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
© 2002 Kathleen Baum lafkath@aol.com
All Rights Reserved - E&OE: Errors and Omissions Excepted
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