The One-Man Variety Show P os t “ I like him because he’s insane … completely insane. ” Matt Lauer, TODAY “ POST merits a place on anybody’s all-star team of the goofily gifted. ” The New York Times “ Uproariously funny. ” National Public Radio Entertains Engages Enchants
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Entertains Engages Enchants - Robert Post€¦ · Post Comedy Theatre Press Quotes With its dry humor, expert mime, versatile acting, skilled juggling, ventriloquism, splendid timing
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The One-Man Variety ShowPost
“I like him because he’s insane … completely insane.”
Matt Lauer, TODAY
“ POST merits a place on anybody’s all-star team of the goofily gifted.”
The New York Times
“Uproariously funny.” National Public Radio
EntertainsEngagesEnchants
Actor, mime, puppeteer, juggler, ventriloquist,
standup comedian & improvising whirling dervish, Robert Post is a one-man variety show who shares what it means to be wonderfully alive and human in a hugely entertaining show.
From meticulously crafted routines to freestyle improvisations, Post
keeps audiences riveted
on what he’s doing (and wondering how he’s doing it). His extraordinary physical control lets him create different “roles” for different body parts — including the sounds that help make the invisible visible.
Post has performed throughout the U.S. and in Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico and the Mediterranean, in countless settings including Broadway’s New Victory Theatre, The Big Break Festival in Moscow, Fes-tival Internacional Chihuahua in Mexico, New York’s Lincoln Center Institute, Young Audiences, Artists-in-Schools and many more.
Post has made three appearances on TODAY. His PBS special Robert Post: In Performance won the Education Network Award for Best Performance Program.
“He’s as riveting as he is eclectic … uproariously funny.” National Public Radio
“American comic insanity hits Moscow! Robert Post, the American comedian, brought his famous show to Moscow, evoking sweet, childlike emotions from a demanding Russian audience.”Russia Today
“[ POST has a ] remarkable ability to create characters... a whimsical sense of humor and lyrical style of movement”Los Angeles Times
“[ POST is ] a brilliant physical comedian, an intriguing writer and an inventive theatrical mind”The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“...a ‘don’t miss’ show. It’s hard to pick a favorite among the clever pieces because they are all so wonderful.”The Arizona Republic
Chrissie DiAngelus, Artist Manager & Representative, Piccadilly Arts
www.piccadillyarts.com888-761-9098
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
Press Quotes
With its dry humor, expert mime, versatile acting, skilled juggling, ventriloquism, splendid timing and keen sense of satire and the absurd, “The POSTman Delivers,” has a sophisticated air about it. The Post man of the title is Robert Post, who merits a place on anybody’s all-star team of the goofily gifted. —The New York Times
world-class...a brilliant physical comedian, an intriguing writer and an inventive theatri-cal mind
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The images were ingenious... his comic timing was flawless
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
remarkable ability to create characters... a whimsical sense of humor and lyrical style of movement...
Los Angeles Times
The contemporary, the classic and the timeless blend wonderfully... makes his comic points through time-honored physical dexterity”
The Village Voice
American comic insanity hits MoscowRobert Post, the American comedian, brought his famous show to Moscow, evoking sweet, childlike emotions from a demanding Russian audience, made up of both children and adults.
Russia Today
The comedian, political pundit and man of a thousand disguises... uses body language, masks, music and genius to create a body of work and a host of unforgettable, totally radical characters
The Tampa Tribune
brilliant, entertaining and believableThe Cincinnati Enquirer
He’s as riveting as he is eclectic… uproariously funny.
Bob Mondello, National Public Radio
...a don’t miss show. Its hard to pick a favorite among the clever pieces because they are all so wonderful.
The Arizona Republic
Robert Post specializes in a witty, bizarre deconstructed vaudeville of stage images the likes of which I feel sure you won’t see again any time soon
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
A Rather Unfortunate Evening for Burglar BurtRobert Post is a one-man band portraying the hapless Burglar Burt while manufacturing the squeaks, growls, snores and klunks that plague the last job he’ll ever do in this tribute to the comedic genius of Sid Ceasar.
TangoPost invites a pair of red long johns on the dance floor for a “steamy”tango. In the result-ing tangle of arms and legs it’s difficult to tell who’s leading who.
SPIKED!“...as American as cell phones, fax machines and bottom lines. Post’s harried office worker, whose life is governed by gadgets, will never catch up. The use of sound effects in this work is completely ingenious.”
Ace Wingspan, King of the SkyAce Wingspan is the fearless stunt pilot who takes us on an aerial joyride, astonishing the crowd with high-flying tumbles and heart-stopping dives. Post makes us see a movie in our minds. With his rubbery body, he recreates the magic and excitement of film’s long-shot and close-up techniques. His arm becomes the plane’s propeller and his fingers portray the pilot walking on the wings of the plane. This zany physical cartoon is accompanied by Post’s cacophony of mouth sounds worthy of a Loony Toons sound track.
Beyond the Wall (a Mystery)This six-character, quick-change spoof of a murder mystery, is performed behind and around a narrow black wall that is transformed into a variety of sets including an automobile, a castle door and bathtub. With a change of a hat, wig or impeccable dialect, Post switches at lightning speed between Inspector Wesley Bloom, from Scotland Yard to Tilson, a surly, gnarled, cockney butler to Nicole, the scheming French “beauty” to Fritz Hinkle, her pompous German husband to Lady McNaughton, very British, very intoxicated and remarkably casual about her husband’s death, and, finally, to Lord McNaughton, the Scottish stuffed corpse. The work is packed with visual imagery, verbal gymnastics and preposterous props, giving the impressions that many actors, rather than one, are working behind the screen.
Post ChildA dad driving home with his son after a per-formance? A performer reassuring his “inner child” as he struggles to stay awake? Post per-forms an enchanting duet with a puppet--a third grade version of Post--created by Henson artist Matthew Brooks.
Ballet 101In this hilarious parody of classical ballet training, Post depicts the character of Marcia, an extraordinarily gifted adolescent ballerina. With an expressionless mask set on the top of his head Post transforms his arms and hands into Marcia’s legs and feet, enabling her contortionist display. The class builds to an absurd climax as the, masked-faced prodigy literally flies out of the dance studio.
Pasquale’s KitchenA wacky TV chef whips up a culinary feast of juggling, visual gags, dialects, jokes, magic and rhythm. He serves up his special cook-ing secret, “let the cook inside you guide you.” While demonstrating French, Australian, Russian, and British specialties, Pasquale—like a method actor—totally immerses himself in the character. He battles an uncooperative seafood dish, creates quick bread like you’ve never seen, shakes a cow to make his own butter, and creates a new dimension of “natural food.”
Just Another HeadThis jarring interpretation of the Seven Ages of Man is performed within a stark black box, sug-gesting a puppet stage, revealing only Post’s head covered with a skull cap. The “head” appears to float, while his character ages, cre-ating an oddly beautiful image. Billy is taught from birth that certain activities are rewarded (with an oversized lollipop) and certain are pun-ished (with a red baseball bat). He struggles through the joys and confusions of childhood, high school dances, college sports (where Post competes with a ring toss and ping pong tour-nament using only his mouth), and his wedding. This simple life changes drastically when he finds himself in boot camp. Post’s zany antics with balloons and squirt guns quickly carries the audience from laughter to unsettled silence, as Billy is physically and emotionally wounded in battle.
Repertoire “Its hard to pick a favorite among the clever pieces because they are all so wonderful.” —The Arizona Republic
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
Performance History A sample list from countless performances!
Alverno College Milwaukee, WisconsinBig Break Festival Moscow, RussiaBrigham Young University Provo, UtahCastleton State College Castleton, VermontCAPA, Southern Theater Columbus, OhioCarpenter Center Long Beach, CaliforniaCincinnati Playhouse in the Park Cincinnati, OhioConcord College Athens, West VirginiaContemporary Dance Theatre Cincinnati, OhioCruise Artistes International France, Italy, Spain, PortugalCulver Academies Culver, IndianaDance Affiliates, Annenberg Center Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDiane Wortham Theatre Asheville, North CarolinaEastern New Mexico University Dept. of Theatre & Dance Portales, New MexicoFestival Internacional Chihuahua, MexisoFirst Night of Providence Providence, Rhode IslandGunston Arts Center Arlington, VirginiaHerberger Theater Phoenix, ArizonaKrannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IllinoisKravis Center for the Performing Arts West Palm Beach, FloridaLancaster Festival, Lancaster Symphony Lancaster, OhioL.A. Arts Lewiston, MaineLincoln Center Institute New York, NYLincoln Center Institute Western New York Buffalo, New YorkMable Tainter Memorial Theatre Menomonie, WisconsinMovement Theatre International Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaNew Victory Theater New York, New YorkNorthern Alberta International Children’s Festival St. Albert, Alberta, CanadaOberlin College Oberlin, OhioOhio University Athens, OhioPainted Bride Arts Center Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPurdue University Lafayette, Indiana Quad City Arts Quad City, IllinoisReston Community Center Reston, VirginiaSunset Community Center Carmel, CaliforniaTampa Bay Performing Arts Center - Off Center Theater Tampa, FloridaUniversity of Maine Augusta, MaineUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst, MassachusettsUniversity of Rochester Rochester, New YorkVictoria Theatre Dayton, OhioWexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
Post’s on stage performance is masterful as his imagination works overtime to blend comedy and creativity throughout his theatrical work. The sophistication and intel-ligence of Robert’s creative work is unique. He is truly a special performer who has the ability to adapt to and deeply engage widely diverse audiences. I highly recom-mend working with him.
-Scott Noppe-Brandon, Executive Director
Lincoln Center Institute, New York, NY
Robert’s performance is amazingly clever and funny in intelligent ways. His skills and talent as a physical actor are brilliantly showcased in the show. The audience is exposed to many elements of theatre arts such as Commedia del’arte, mime, puppetry and more. There is no dull moment!
- Mariko Y. Hancock, Dir. of Cultural Prog.
Castleton State College, Castleton, VT
A performance by Robert Post is many things - it’s theatre - it’s com-edy - it’s allusion - but above all, it is pure joy, laughter and an audi-ence pleaser. If you love watching your audience leave the theatre laughing, smiling and thanking you for a great evening, then book Robert Post.
- John Ellis, Managing DirectorDiana Wortham Theatre,
Asheville, NC
Children and adults alike loved your physical comedy, imagina-tive characters and slight-of-hand tricks. From the young school children to the seniors, physically and mentally challenged adults and youth, to college students and the typical concert goers, you gave an engaging, often times hilarious per-formance. You certainly contributed to our reputation of bringing the world’s best to our audiences.
Director, Visiting Artists Series
Quad City Arts, Rock Island, Illinois
Robert Post engages an audience of school children in the fantastic journeys of his imagination, creat-ing worlds which reflect the lives and concerns of kindergartners to high schoolers. He examines the issues of their existence through their imaginations and involves them in the process. I hope nobody hires him so that we can have him here all the time.
Educational Programming Director
L.A. Arts, Lewiston, Maine
Not only were our students entranced throughout the whole performance, but our staff was also. Descriptions ranged from “magnificent” to “totally awesome.” Our staff thought that the perfor-mance was educational as well as entertaining, and would like to see more of this type of program in the future.
PrincipalSalt Rock Elementary School,
West Virginia
The performance was absolutely first rate. Post had the student’s total attention at all times and they moved from one concept to another easily. He made us feel very special - and smart!
Elem. School TeacherHibbing, Minnesota
Robert has that rare ability to entrance the youngest of children (my two year old daughter fell madly in love at first sight) and, at the very same time, engross the most seasoned of adult theater goers. His shows are a delight for multigenerational audiences who can enjoy together his humor, magic and poignant commentary on life’s joys and trials.
Shelly Casto, Director of Education
Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University
Family Performance - OverviewRobert Post has performed for hundreds of thousands of young people and families in his tours and residencies across forty-five states, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Russia. His PBS television show also aired across the USA and Canada, winning the Central Education Network Award for Best Performance Program. Post was the featured artist for the National Young Audiences Conference and since 1994 has been selected to conduct teach-er workshops and performances for the Lincoln Center Institute sites throughout New York and Ohio. He continues to partici-pate in numerous educational programs including The Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools program, and The Muse Machine.
Post will select from the following works to create age appropriate shows:
• Ace Wingspan, King of the Sky • A Rather Unfortunate Evening for Burglar Burt • Ballet 101 • Beyond the Wall (a Mystery) • The Daydreamer • Just Another Head • Odds and Ends • Pasquale’s Kitchen• Post Child• Shticks • Spiked • Tango • The BagPresenter Quotes
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
Family Performance Repertoire
Odds and EndsA fast-paced introduction of Post’s unique style. His fingers take on a life of their own and become an Olympic diver or an uncontrollable toupee that won’t stay on his head. His nose comes right off for a quick cleaning, two arms form a giant mouth and a football play is rewind-ed from every angle at an impossible speed. This seven minute opening is a physical free-associ-ation to challenge and expand the imagination of the audience.
A Rather Unfortunate Evening for Burglar BurtRobert Post is a one-man band portraying the hapless Burglar Burt while manufacturing the squeaks, growls, snores and klunks that plague the last job he’ll ever do in this tribute to the comedic genius of Sid Ceasar.
Ballet 101In this hilarious parody of classical ballet training, Post depicts the character of Marcia, an extraor-dinarily gifted adolescent ballerina. She is cre-ated with an expressionless mask set on the top of Post’s head. Kneeling on the floor he trans-forms his arms and hands into Marcia’s legs and feet, enabling her contortionist display. The class builds to an absurd climax as the masked-faced prodigy literally flies out of the dance studio.
TangoPost invites a pair of red long johns on the dance floor for a “steamy”tango. In the resulting tangle of arms and legs it’s difficult to tell who’s leading who.
Driving LessonAn anxious father finds that giving his son a sim-ple driving lesson on a standard clutch, becomes a death-defying nightmare.
Beyond the Wall (a Mystery) This six-character, quick-change spoof of a mur-der mystery, is performed behind and around a narrow black wall that is transformed into a variety of sets including an automobile, a castle door and bathtub. With a change of a hat, wig or impeccable dialect, Post switches at light-ning speed between Inspector Wesley Bloom, from Scotland Yard to Tilson, a surly, gnarled, cockney butler to Nicole, the scheming French “beauty” to Fritz Hinkle, her pompous German husband to Lady McNaughton, very British, very intoxicated and remarkably casual about her hus-band’s death, and, finally, to Lord McNaughton, the Scottish stuffed corpse. The work is packed with visual imagery, verbal gymnastics and preposterous props, giving the impressions that many actors, rather than one, are working behind the screen.
Pasquale’s KitchenA wacky TV chef whips up a culinary feast of juggling, visual gags, dialects, jokes, magic and rhythm. He serves up his special cooking secret, “let the cook inside you guide you.” While demonstrating French, Australian, Russian, and British specialties, Pasquale—like a method actor—totally immerses himself in the character. He battles an uncooperative seafood dish, cre-ates quick bread like you’ve never seen, shakes a cow to make his own butter, and creates a new dimension of “natural food.”
ShticksThey’re just three sticks: about three feet long with red tips. But in Robert Post’s hands, they’re magic, pirouetting through the air in exact and almost mathematical patterns. Suddenly, they’re not just pieces of wood. One snakes through the air as a cobra. One leaves home to join the circus as a trapeze. Soon, they all conspire to make a movie, simultaneously starring as cow-boys, Indians, horses and speeding bullets.
The DaydreamerThis work was inspired by Post’s love for the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The school bus is out of control. Mr. Phillips, the driver, is turning purple. No problem for Bobby who turns the bus into a spaceship and saves the day. To conquer a bully he drinks a magic potion and grows fifty feet tall. But... he spills his drink in the process. This means big trouble. The only way out of the principal’s office is ...to become invisible.
Ace Wingspan, King of the SkyAce Wingspan is the fearless stunt pilot who takes us on an aerial joyride, astonishing the crowd with high-flying tumbles and heart-stopping dives. Post makes us see a movie in our minds. With his rubbery body, he recreates the magic and excitement of film’s long-shot and close-up techniques. His arm becomes the plane’s propeller and his fingers portray the pilot walking on the wings of the plane. This zany physical cartoon is accompanied by Post’s cacophony of mouth sounds worthy of a Loony Toons sound track.
Post will select from the following works to create a show appropriate for audiences of any age.
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
WORKSHOPSWorkshops will introduce participants to a sampling of the skills necessary to create and perform Post’s work.
Beginner’s Workshop (1 hr)Maximum 20-25 people. Workshop can be adapted for all ages.
Activities will include some or all of the following, depending on the abilities of the participants. - hand eye coordination exercises - relaxation exercises - basic pantomime techniques - beginning juggling - one word improvisations (based on speed and drawing from personal history) - ensemble graphics (use of body and vocal techniques to create imagined environments)Many of the above activities can be broken out into specific, intensive workshops
TECHNIQUE FOR THEATRE STUDENTS (1.5 hr)Maximum of 20 students who should be warmed-up prior to workshop
Activities will draw from the following: - hand eye coordination exercises - group improvisations - working with “frozen” images - ensemble graphics (use of body and vocal techniques to create imagined environments) - sound effects - one word improvisations (based on speed and drawing from personal history) - character studies - pantomime technique - hand isolation - handling of objects - showing variety of weights - dealing with imaginary objects
“Coffeehouse Critique” for Professionals or Advanced StudentsLength of evening and number of par-ticipants is quite flexible and should be discussed with Post prior to scheduling
This is an interesting offering for communi-ties with practicing performing artists who are creating solo or duet works (or would like to create works.) Post (and partici-pants) will spend a relaxed, informal eve-ning viewing and critiquing works by those who wish to show their works. He will begin the session with a general discus-sion about his working process, working with a director, touring, character work, and how to critique work in a productive manner. He will then ask participants to show their works, if they wish to do so, and will discuss the work with them. Sponsor should provide simple refresh-ments and a space large enough for infor-mal performances.
Residency Activities for AdultsDuring a residency, Post offers a variety of community activities ranging from workshops or informal performances for professional artists, teachers, social service workers, homemakers, business leaders, etc. Following is a sampling of activities. Additional ideas from presenters are welcomed for consideration.
INFORMAL PERFORMANCEPost’s forty-five minute informal performance can be adjusted for groups ranging from a group of teachers to prison inmates to the local Chamber of Commerce. Discussion with the audience will
continue throughout the performance and audience participation may be invited if time permits.
Technical Requirements: Performance area must be a stage or large unobstructed space (20’ depth X 20’ width 14’ height - mini-mum) with smooth (preferably sprung wood) floor. A clean floor is essential. Space must be available to artist for rehearsal and setup at least one hour prior to performance. Audience must be set up proscenium style.