American Heritage Living History Productions

and

Gelston Castle Estate

Present their

1^st Annual

FIRST PERSON INTERPRETATION SYMPOSIUM

Dean Malissa plays George Washington

PROPOSED for Wed. Oct. 24 - Sat. Oct. 27, 2013

This hands on symposium is designed to help get you

performance ready!

Location: Gelston Castle Estate

 980 Robinson Road

Mohawk, NY 13407

MISSION STATEMENT:

To foster, encourage, nurture, cultivate and facilitate history education and edu-tainment via the First Person Historical Interpretation style.

Adapted from Wikipedia:

Historical Character Interpretation

Historical character interpretation is a branch of first-person interpretation. It is increasingly becoming the way all first-person interpretation is performed because it adds an incredibly high degree of authenticity to a given performance or interpretation. 

This movement corresponds with the increase in focus on the educational benefit of a museum to the visitor as opposed to the previously held belief that the visitor is a secondary concern to the objects. While this has been a strong movement since about 1980, the concern for accuracy and consequent focus on portraying real people is a marker that can be interpreted as a new stage.

One of the main ways that museum theatre differs from museum interpretation is in the degree of disbelief involved in the performance; representing a historical figure requires less suspension of disbelief because the audience knows that the character being represented did exist. It is easier for an audience to believe that the performer is accurately representing a figure that they themselves can verify existed.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Recommended to purchase suggested  texts:

1.  Past into Present: Effective Techniques for First Person Historical Interpretation by Stacy F.  Roth
2. Telling History: A Manual for Performers and Presenters of First Person Narrative by Joyce M. Thierer

For maximum betterment, PLEASE COME TO THE SYMPOSIUM PREPARED TO DEVELOP:

An historical persona you want to create:

1. Highly recommended that you read Past into Present and / or Telling History and use their guidelines to get a head start on your research before heading to the symposium. The more prepared you are, the more committed you'll be.

An existing historical figure you want to further develop:

1. Bring all clothing, accoutrements and props necessary to perform your character(s).

or Both

Wednesday  Oct. 24, 2012:

• PM Arrival
• Cocktails-Reception
  • Meet the speakers/panel members/your coaches
    • Speakers give a Chautauqua style performance of their personas

 Thursday  Oct. 25, 2012:

• Morning session:  8 am
  • PROPOSED Keynote Speaker(s): Stacy Roth and / or Joyce M. Thierer (PROPOSED)
  • Lectures
  • Classes/ Workshops
    • Break out groups for practice
• Professional Development
  • Performance practice and critique by panel of experts
• Lunch
  • 12-1 pm
• Afternoon
  • Lectures
  • Classes/ Workshops
    • Break out groups for practice
  • Professional Development
    • Performance practice and critique by panel of experts
• Dinner
  • 6-7 pm
• Evening: Performance practice in front of peers and panelists
  • 7-9 pm

Friday  Oct. 26, 2012:

• Morning session: 8 am
  • Lectures
  • Classes/ Workshops
    • Break out groups for practice
• Professional Development
  • Performance practice and critique by panel of experts
• Lunch
  • 12-1 pm
• AFTERNOON:  PROFESSIONAL AUDITION PRACTICE
  • OPTION TO: Film a professional audition or performance video. Taped onsite. Max 2-3 minutes in length. Professional Videographer provided. You contract with the videographer for the cost of your demo performance.
  • Professional  Review of your performance audition by our panel of experts.
  • Includes a 15 minute personal consultation/critique from one of our professional presenters/coaches.

• Evening
  • Prepare for tomorrow’s performance (optional). 
  • Registration form will give you the choice of whether to elect to perform publicly.

 Saturday  Oct. 27, 2012:

• PUBLIC PERFORMANCE
  • Public will be invited to attend this advertised event on the property.
  • This is your chance to perform your impressions in front of a live audience
  • Booths/tents/bowers set up alongside the Gelston Castle Estate drive for each historical figure
    • Public arrives knowing  the performers due to previous advertising:
      • They are provided a program listing that includes  your
        • Name
        • Persona
        • Bio
        • Contact information
• Public pays $1.00 per minute to have a private audience with you!

• COST: TBD
• For more information: 
  • CONTACT: Kyle Jenks
  • [216] 509 7502
  • jaktar773@aol.com