Wednesday October 19 at 8 pm free. Barry Karp, visiting theatre artist from Ottawa and and Artword friend and colleague, is in town. Barry will bring some special items from his collection of theatre masks to show you. And he has tales to tell about his exotic and adventurous theatre projects with R. Murray Shafer, Tomson Highway and others. His latest theatrical adventure is a re-creation of a 1930s circus, which he is hoping to bring to Hamilton! Come join us for a fascinating chat and visit. [Barry is rumoured to be behind the mask above.]
BARRY KARP a successful actor, teacher, director and author, began his professional career in Toronto with the Studio Lab Theatre. He received his training in the USA, Canada and France with many outstanding teachers. In 1975, Mr. Karp was invited to teach theatre at the University of Toronto. Along with his teaching responsibilities, he was asked to co-ordinate all of the cultural/artistic events at University College. He became interested in mounting national tours, festivals and events for the general public, and became the administrator of his own theatre.
After putting together a trend-setting national theatre festival in 1978, Mr. Karp was invited to help co-ordinate the revision of the Indian education curriculum in the Treaty 1X (Nishnawbe-aske). This project lasted five years, and resulted in the publication of six text books (written by Mr. Karp) and the re-focusing of the educational system to meet the needs of the Indian people. Mr. Karp has also been active in cultural work with the Canadian Native community. For his work he was honoured with the award of an Eagle feather.
In 1987 Mr. Karp was appointed the marketing director for the Theatre Ballet of Canada. Along with setting up the first European tour for the company, his responsibilities included running all aspects of the company’s public relations and corporate fund raising.
In 1990 Mr. Karp toured the Northern USA with a one-man show called “Face to Face.” He has conceived, organized and run a number of successful theatre training programs for young adults in Canada and the USA and was artistic director of three Children’s Theatre Companies. During the summer of 1994 he directed the highly successful production of R. Murray Schafer’s “The Enchanted Forest.” He is active as a professional theatre director whose work can be seen on a regular basis. Mr. Karp recently finished a new production by R. Murray Schafer called “The Spirit Garden.” It was aired on the CBC last year.
DIRECTING AND PERFORMING
Centrepointe Theatre, Ottawa, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Director)
Carnivale Lune Bleue, Ottawa/Kars (co-artistic director)
Third Wall Theatre Company, Ottawa (Mr. Loyal in Tartuffe)
Third Wall Theatre Company, Ottawa (the Messenger in Everyman)
St. Norbert Arts Centre, Winnipeg (Director, The Spirit Garden)
Canadian and Brazilian Government, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Director, The Enchanted Forest)
Patria Productions, Ottawa, Peterborough (Director, The Spirit Garden)
4th Line Theatre, Peterborough (Director, The Enchanted Forest)
The Wolf Project-R.Murray Schafer, (Director, And Wolf Shall Inherit The Moon)
The Canadian Museum of Civilization-(Director, The Travails of Travel)
Cirque Du Soleil Millenium Show, (Director, Ottawa)
The Museum of Science and Technology (Directed three shows for the resident company)
The Studio Lab Theatre, Toronto (Dionysus in ’69; and many more)
Venice Biennale for Children’s Theatre (Actor with Studio Lab Theatre-represented Canada)
The Studio Childrens’ Theatre, Toronto (directed and acted in 4 seasons of plays)
Theatre New Brunswick, Young Company (directed Aladdin, and Radisson
The Mime Company Unlimited, Toronto
Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa (directed Children’s Theatre Shows)
Williamstown Summer Theatre,Williamstown, Mass. (Actor-in two shows)
Ontario Puppetry Festival, London (master of ceremonies)
Northern Delights Theatre Company, Sioux Lookout (Director, Ayash)
NativeEarthTheatreCompany, Toronto(Director, The Sage, the Dancer and the Fool)
Debajemoojig Theatre, Manitoulin Island (Plays for The First Aboriginal Theatre Festival)
Imago Theatre Company, (Director,Ottawa)
Theatre of Giants, Ottawa
Theatre Direct, Toronto
University of Toronto, Professor in the Theatre Program
Gallup Ceremonial, Gallup, New Mexico
One Man Show ‘”Face To Face”, toured the northern USA
The Global Village Theatre, Toronto (plays for The Mime Company and the main stage)
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Co-Producer, “The Cree Cabaret”, NAC, Ottawa (2009)
Co-Producer, “If Cows Could Fly”, GCTC, Ottawa (2008)
Marketing Director- Theatre Ballet of Canada (1986-87)
Acting Coordinator of Indian Education-Ojibway-Cree Cultural Centre, Timmins (1979- 1984)
Curriculum Coordinator, The James Bay District-D.I.A.N.D., Moose Factory (1985)
Coordinator, Festival of Thanksgiving (Native Theatre), Manitoulin Island (1982)
Artistic Director-The First Canadian Festival of Mime, Toronto (1978)
Tour Manager-Theatre Direct, Toronto (1978)
Co-Founder and Director-The Unlimited Space Theatre, Toronto (1977)
General Manager- The Global Village Theatre, Toronto (1975)
Director-The Community Resource Group/Studio Lab Theatre, Toronto (1971)
Associate Director-The Studio Lab Theatre, Toronto (1970)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/PRESENTER
World Work, International Conference, Denver, Colorado
International Mask Conference, Abano Terme, Italy
The National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Citep Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick
The Council of Drama In Education, Toronto
Voices of Native People Conference, London
The Centre For Indian Art, Thunder Bay
Fort Francis/Rainy River Board of Education Teachers Conference
The Ottawa Board of Education Professional Development Day
The Cleveland Board of Education
The Pittsburgh Board of Education
Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania
CURRICULUM CO-ORDINATION: D.I.A.N.D. James Bay District; Timmins Board of Education; Sioux Lookout and James Bay Districts of Education; The Ojibway-Cree Cultural Centre
