ROBERT ALLEN
hai@robert-allen.net
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EDUCATION
MFA in Directing, Columbia University, 1998
MFA in Performance & Choreography, UCLA, 1991
—Member of UCLA Dance Company, 1989-90.
BFA in Painting, San Francisco Art Institute, 1983.
ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK
Yoga Teacher certification, National Yoga Alliance, 2008
Michael Chekhov technique teacher certification
University of Southern Maine & the Michael Chekhov Theatre Institute
2005 & 2006
SITI Company Summer Intensive, Saratoga NY 2003
SITI in LA, August 2001 & 2002.
Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, summer 1999 & 2000.
Modern Dance Training 1983-1989
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DIRECTING
Galileo in America an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
The Experimental Media & Performance lab, University of California, Irvine; February/March 2012
Earthbound an adaptation of August Strindbeg’s A Dream Play
In collaboration with Joseph Byrd & Valerie McCann; projected release for webcasting 2012
Wisp: (World Interactive Social proxy) the social cloning of the artist Antoinette LaFarge
Produced in collaboration with the actress Laura Kachergus; Winter 2010
Hangmen Also Die with text by Heiner Müeller, Bertolt Brecht, and other contemporary sources
In collaboration with Antoinette LaFarge for the Laguna Museum of Art; February 2010
Playing the Rapture an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
The Baltimore Theatre project; March 2008
Demotic 2006 an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
The Baltimore Theatre project; November 2006
The Faulkner Project: As I Lay Dying created for and by the UMBC theatre department
Arrangement by Justine Moore.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County; November/December 2006.
For a Better World (Für Eine Bessere Welt) by Roland Schimmelpfennig
University of Maryland, Baltimore County; December 2006.
North American Premiere.
Galileo in America an original theater work based on The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht
Staged readings, Goethe Institute L.A. and the Villa Aurora, October 2004.
Demotic 2004 an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
Original workshop sponsored by the University of California, Irvine; Beall Center
for Art and Technology, July 2004.
The Dream Play by August Strindberg, adapted by Courtney Baron.
California State University Long Beach, CA; University Players, March 2003.
The Roman Forum Project 2003 an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
University of California, Irvine; Beall Center for Art and Technology, March 2003.
Zwischen Fear und Sex: Fünf Proben an original work created for dancers and actors.
Texts in English, French and German included excerpts from the works of Heiner Müller, Kurt Vonnegut, W. H. Auden, Sophocles, Herman Hesse, and Shakespeare. Festspielhalle, Hellerau Germany, in collaboration with the Palucca Schule, Dresden Germany; June 2002.
Twilight by Anna Deveare Smith
California State University Long Beach, CA; University Players, March 2002.
Twilight was restaged for the 10-year anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, sponsored by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; April 2002.
“Virtual Live” an experimental media/theater event by Robert Allen & Antoinette LaFarge
Presented at ‘Location One,’ NYC; January 2002.
How I Got That Story by Amlin Gray
Presented at ‘Space at 24,’ NYC; A production of Pathogen Arts, August 2001.
The Roman Forum 2000 an original theater work created with Antoinette LaFarge
during the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles
as part of the national project “Democracy—The Last Campaign.”
Dear Anton adapted by Courtney Baron from the plays of Anton Chekhov
Premiered as part of the Chekhov Now Festival, sponsored by the
Laboratory for International Theatre Exchange, New York, October 1999.
The Creditors by August Strindberg
Presented in August 1999 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival;
in a new translation by Harry G. Carlson.
Couples by Giovanni Pucci
Presented as part of the Outlet Theatre Summer Reading Series, July 1999.
“August in January,” a festival celebrating August Strindberg’s 150th birthday.
Directed The Creditors and Coram Populo and served as co-organizer of the festival, which included a symposium, “The Other Strindbergs,” at Marymount Manhattan College, Jan. 1999.
Le Ménage by Aïda Croal
Premiered at LaMama E.T.C. in October 1998.
Madness & Joy by Giovanni Pucci
Presented in September 1998 as part of the New York City Playwrights Festival.
Still Lies Quiet Truth by Antoinette LaFarge
Premiered in August 1998 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival; and presented again in November 1998 as part of the New York Digital Salon.
The Good Night by Courtney Baron
Premiered in June 1998 at the Theatre for the New City, New York.
The Great Highway by August Strindberg
Presented in December 1997 at the Horace Mann Theater, Columbia University, New York.
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Presented at the Horace Mann Theater, May 1997.
The Dream of Heaven and Hell by Courtney Baron
Premiered in February 1997 in the Columbia University New Works Series for Playwrights.
The Dance of Death (part 1) by August Strindberg
Presented at Columbia University, December 1996.
Le Ménage by Aïda Croal
Workshopped in October 1996 in the Columbia University New Works Series for Playwrights.
ASSISTANT DIRECTING
Annual Halloween Ball of the Theater for the New City; artistic director Crystal Fields
New York, October 1998.
Secret History of the Lower East Side directed by Matthew Wilder
Produced by En Garde Arts, New York, September-October 1998.
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SELECTED CHOREOGRAPHY
Willy Mickey and the Duke by Burman and Vinson
An original Doo Wop musical premiered November 2002, Cal Rep Theatre Co., directed by Joanne Gordon
Princess Ivona of Burgundia by Witold Gombrowich
September 2002, Cal Rep Theatre Co., directed by Adrian Giurgea
Murder by Hanoch Levin
October 2001, Cal Rep Theatre Co., directed by Brian Michaels
Lamarck by Dan O’Brien
September 2001, Cal Rep Theatre Co., directed by Adrian Giurgea
“Trojan Waltz“
Video based on the dance Trojan Waltz; produced in collaboration with video artist Lorie Erikson, June 1991.
“Why Sharks Don’t Have Bones and Other Stories“
Evening of dance theater presented at Schoenberg Hall, UCLA Center for the Performing Arts, Jan. 1991. Program included: I dreamed…; Channeling the Shark Mind; Trojan Waltz; I Throw Her in the Air; Roaring.
I Throw Her in the Air
Experimental dance work premiered September 1990 as part of the L.A. Open Festival.
Channeling the Shark Mind and Trojan Waltz
Experimental dance works premiered in Los Angeles, April 1990, as part of “Mappa Mundi,” a performance series organized by Combine, a choreographers’ collective I co-founded.
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PERFORMANCE
Solo performer with Schauspielhaus Bochum (Germany), 1991-1995.
—”Antique Project“: Reinhild Hoffman, choreographer. Includes: Denn ein für alle Male ist Orpheus, wenn es singt; Zeche Zwei; and Zeche Eins.
—Die Stunde da wir nichts voneinander wussten (The Hour in Which We Knew Nothing of Each Other): premiere, spring 1993. Written by Peter Handke; directed by Jürgen Gosch.
—1991 (duet with Reinhild Hoffmann): toured 1993-94 to Lisbon; Rovoreto (Italy); Karlsruhe and Bochum (Germany). R. Hoffmann, choreographer.
—Volx-Muzak: premiere, winter 1992. Rhys Martin, choreographer.
—Return: premiere, winter 1992. Anna Pocher, choreographer.
—AIDS Benefit: winter 1994. Duet with Remo Rostagno.
Member of Kei Takei’s Moving Earth Company, 1990-91.
Created and performed in 24 Hours of Light. Premiere: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, summer 1991. Also performed at Philadelphia Mythos Festival; Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (FL); Art Awareness (NY); and UCLA.
Member of Gary Palmer Dance Company, San Francisco, 1987-88.
Featured performer in Aphelion; Stormy Weather; Love It to Death; and The Opposites.
Cattle Calls, choreographed by Heidi Duckler for Collage Dance Theatre
Premiere at The Powerhouse, Santa Monica, CA, June 1991.
Church of Food, choreographed by Heidi Duckler for Collage Dance Theatre
Premiere at Unitarian Community Church of Santa Monica, CA, June 1990.
The Dance Collective, Los Angeles Festival, choreographer Sarah Elgart
Featured performer, September 1990.
Dream Jumbo: “Sound Distancing of a Good Man” and “Matrix Mutants.”
Directed by Robert Longo with choreography by Bill T. Jones.
Presented at Royce Hall, UCLA, October 1989.
Family, choreographed by Daniel Shapiro & Joni Smith
Premiere at Royce Hall, UCLA, March 1989. Repeated March 1990.
This And/Or That, choreographed by Ellen Webb & Sandy Walker
Premiere in Cal Performances/OnStage Zellerbach series, Berkeley, CA, May 1988.
Search, choreographed by Lucas Hoving for the Lucas Hoving Dancelab
Premiere at New Performance Gallery, San Francisco, May 1988.
SELECTED THEATER PERFORMANCES
Scapin by Molière; class workshop by Nikolaus Wolcz
role of Argante; spring 1998.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare; directed by Alfredo Galvan
role of Prospero; spring 1997.
Miss Julie by August Strindberg; class workshop by Anne Bogart
role of Jean; fall 1996.
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PUBLICATIONS
“A Meditation on Virtual Kinesthesia”
Extensions: the Online Journal of Embodiment & Technology
February 2007 (with Antoinette LaFarge).
“Media Commedia:” The Roman Forum Project
Leonardo: the Journal of the International Society for Art, Science and Technology, Summer 2005 (with Antoinette LaFarge).
“Lament of the Repubocracy” (video with text introduction)
Horizon Zero, Issue 13: Perform, Banff New Media Institute, Winter 2003 (with
Antoinette LaFarge, and performed by John Mellies).
“Christmas: Ein Schauspiel,” Haifisch Press, Germany, Winter 1992.
“The Best Of the Beast,” Gnosis, Spring 1992 (with Antoinette LaFarge)
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TEACHING
Assistant Professor of Theater (Directing Specialist), Theater Dept.
University of Maryland Baltimore County, 2005-2007.
Full-Time Lecturer; Head of Movement, Theater Dept.
California State University, Long Beach, 2001-2003.
—Movement for actors; fundamentals of acting.
Theater Instructor
Cypress College, 2000-01.
—Movement for actors; general theater classes.
Teacher
Schauspielhaus Bochum Jugendklub, 1993-94.
—Movement for actors.
Teaching Associate
UCLA, 1989-91
—Introduction to Modern Dance 1A-E.
WORKSHOPS
ART (American Russian Theatre) Players, Winter 2005
—Viewpoints; Acting; Composition
“Order and Disorder,” Paluca School, Dresden, Germany, Summer 2002
—Physical training for actors; Acting for Dancers; Composition
Fellow Travelors Performance Group, Summer 2000
—Acting for Dancers
SYMPOSIUMS & PANELS
PERFORM.MEDIA: A transdisciplinary festival and symposium of creativity, research, theory and technoculture. Presented a paper on Demotic, a work in progress.
University of Indiana, Bloomington; Fall 2006.
Arts Congress: “Digital Media and the Performing Arts” (invited speaker)
REDCAT and Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California, Summer 2004; organized by the Community Arts Resources (CARS), Inc.
The Other Strindbergs: “Why do Strindberg?” (invited speaker)
Manhattan Loyola Marymount, New York City, Winter 1999; organized by the
“August in January” Strindberg theater festival.