TOTEMS LAB

Manhattan, New York
October 23rd - November 13th, 2023
Mondays 7-9pm
$160
This LAB will go deeper than traditional animal work that actors get in drama school. These four sessions will explore a relationship to and embodiment of animal energy as autonomous and sacred sources of guidance, power, and creativity impulse.
Using basic paratheatrical techniques presented in “Towards an Archaeology of the Soul", "State of Emergence", and "Sacred Rites" by Antero Alli. The methods are inspired by Jerzy Grotowski's period of exploring the 'ritual function' of theatre and has been developed by Antero Alli over the last 45 years, in Berkeley, CA and Portland, OR.
Watch THIS VIDEO to get an very quick idea of some basic paratheatre techniques.
"This work is a kind of archeology of the soul. The physical body is posited as the embodiment of the subconscious mind, and paratheatre methods are applied in a process of making the unconscious conscious, using a visceral embodiment of what Carl Jung calls "active imagination". - Antero Alli
Results for actors tend to be…
More About Paratheatre:
http://paratheatrical.com/intro.html
http://www.paratheatrical.com/faq.html
https://www.paratheatrical.com/artaud.html
Past LAB Notes:
Muse Return
Precision Lab
October 23rd - November 13th, 2023
Mondays 7-9pm
$160
This LAB will go deeper than traditional animal work that actors get in drama school. These four sessions will explore a relationship to and embodiment of animal energy as autonomous and sacred sources of guidance, power, and creativity impulse.
Using basic paratheatrical techniques presented in “Towards an Archaeology of the Soul", "State of Emergence", and "Sacred Rites" by Antero Alli. The methods are inspired by Jerzy Grotowski's period of exploring the 'ritual function' of theatre and has been developed by Antero Alli over the last 45 years, in Berkeley, CA and Portland, OR.
Watch THIS VIDEO to get an very quick idea of some basic paratheatre techniques.
"This work is a kind of archeology of the soul. The physical body is posited as the embodiment of the subconscious mind, and paratheatre methods are applied in a process of making the unconscious conscious, using a visceral embodiment of what Carl Jung calls "active imagination". - Antero Alli
Results for actors tend to be…
- Expanded authenticity, spontaneity, and power in voice/movement
- Increased unification of body, spirit, emotion, and imagination
- Activation of the energy body and amplified presence
- Increased receptivity to archetypal forces and dream imagery
- Experiences of revelation, self-discovery, and transpersonal gnosis
More About Paratheatre:
http://paratheatrical.com/intro.html
http://www.paratheatrical.com/faq.html
https://www.paratheatrical.com/artaud.html
Past LAB Notes:
Muse Return
Precision Lab
to enroll or ask questions: james@jameslouiswagner.com

THE FACILITATOR:
James Wagner a professional actor with an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre. He completed a PhD in transformative studies on 'Supernormal Functioning in Professional Actors’ at the California Institute of Integral Studies, with the support of a grant from the Esalen Institute. He participated in Antero Alli's paratheatrical research groups in Berkeley, California for five years and has now facilitated several labs of his own.
"James Wagner's group paratheatre training with me over the past five years has shown the necessary development of technique, skill, and talent to qualify him as a facilitator of entry level group paratheatre lab work. Wagner's unique contribution to this paratheatre medium is his instinctive grasp of the stage actor's craft and his enthusiasm for guiding theatre artists towards, and into, the deep creativity of the internal landscape." - Antero Alli
to enroll or ask questions: james@jameslouiswagner.com
TESTIMONIALS:

Paratheatre is a profound kind of mind-body-soul integration, and James is an incredible guide! He creates sacred, gentle space for exploration. I have experienced some deep confrontations within the work that have led to new awareness and growing freedom in my life. - Jessamine Kelly

Paratheatre is a space where I can recommit to my acting process and creative center: I engage my entire body, voice, and spirit in a way that I don’t very often get to in post-conservatory training life. I leave feeling free, grounded, inspired, powerful, and ready for whatever comes next. - Lea DiMarchi

As an actor who often finds myself “stuck in my head”, I found this workshop to be an incredibly approachable way to engage my physical instrument. James’ experience and gentle guidance combined with the asocial element of the technique gave me a freedom to engage the process without judgement. I found the two hour sessions felt like 10 minutes. Highly recommend. - Christina Germaine