Program - Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Co. (Sunday, December 4, 2005 - 2 p.m.)
Contents
Introduction
Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Co., with Fred Garbo and Daielma Santos
This show has been developed through the gracious support of three Choreographer Fellowship Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Special thanks to inflatist: George York of Portland, Maine, co-creator of the inflatable sculptures and props.
You can learn more about Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. at fredgarbo.com.
Management:
196 West Ashland Street, Suite 201
Doylestown PA 18901
Tel. 267/880-3750 Fax. 267/880-3757
www.baylinartists.com
Letter from Fred Garbo
Dear Audience Members:
I founded Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. almost 16 years ago. And since then, Daielma Santos and I have had the pleasure of performing for audiences all over the globe. But wherever we go, people always ask the same question: "Where did you ever come up with this idea?" The short answer is: We made it up. It's our own fault.
But it wouldn't be right if I didn't "expand" upon that so, here's the long answer:
I grew up surrounded by family and friends who watched cartoons and Marx Brothers movies. I remember the action and slapstick humor making us laugh until we cried and fell on the floor rolling around. The gags, the animation, the surprises - I loved it all! And that's what got me thinking about performing surprising illusions on stage. As I got older, I started to develop I guess what you would call a wide repertoire of skills useful to new vaudevillians or "popular entertainers." Mostly, I learned by watching and, ultimately, studying with performers who had developed their sense of physical action and comic timing.
One fateful day in 1988, I took a breather from show biz with a bit of skydiving. While packing my parachute, I was struck by its qualities: bright colors, strong material, and most important to a traveling performer (who spends a ton of time flying in airplanes to theaters) so much of it could pack into a really small space! Bingo! The parachute material inflates into a huge, big prop and then deflates down to nearly nothing. No excess luggage charges! I took this idea to my friend and hot air balloon artist, George York. Between us, we devised what would be the first in a long line of strange new props: a stage set that turns into a couch and a self-inflating body suit, sealed at the neck, wrists and ankles. Fred Zeplin, the inflatable man, was born!
Fred Zeplin is a human beach ball who can bounce back, in this case, literally. The Z-man's enormous body seems to reduce the head, hands and feet to doll size, making him cartoon-like, yet obviously real. I enjoy playing the character because he gives me license to go crazy. I never hold back when I lip-synch to the Blues Brother's song, "Do ya love me?"
Though Fred Zeplin remains an important part of the show, he was only the beginning of my pop-action, air-filled adventure. After the success with Fred, ideas were ballooning and expanding into a series of vignettes by combining various shapes and motions. We built and assembled tons of shapes, costumes, animals, furniture and others things that blew up! Many of these first inflatable inventions didn't work, but that did not stop us!
I met ballerina Daielma Santos on a flight to Brazil. Daielma is originally from Brazil and I was flying there to appear with the dance company MOMIX. When she saw the show, she insisted on trying on the inflatable suit and, since then, her athletic grace and radiant charm have been an integral part of the company's success. Actually, the "Co." in Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. refers to Daielma—she's the "company." Now, she's a U.S. citizen, with a mortgage to boot! As an aside, this brings me to another very commonly asked question. Since Daielma and I began working together, people always ask me: "Are you two a couple?" And I sometimes answer back with: "A couple of what?" But the truth is we are partners—but just onstage. And have been for almost 13 years now.
So anyway, Daielma's performance really augmented the novelty of the inflatables with exuberant dance and plenty of juggling fun. Our show began to reach a wider audience, eventually booking world tours. We have performed in Morocco, Scotland, Japan, Chile, Canada and all over the U.S. In March 1998, and again in 2002 at the New Victory Theater in New York City we performed for a sold-out, four-week run.
If you have seen our show before, you'll see some of your favorite pieces from the last time and be knocked out by our newest inventions. If you have never seen Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. before, we know that you will be amazed and delighted by our original creations and marvel as we bring them to life for you. Truly universal in its appeal, our show transcends age and language. It's a performance for the whole family, from grandchildren to grandparents. Daielma and I believe we are in the health profession: making folks laugh and feel good. It is the greatest job. We hope you enjoy our performance and come laugh at inflation! Looking forward to meeting you soon.
Inflatably Yours, Fred Garbo
About the Artists
Fred Garbo has been a professional performer since 1974 (when someone gave him real money for doing card tricks). He has been the man inside Sesame Street's Barkley the Dog; and on Broadway was the chief juggler in the hit musical Barnum. He performed in the high-flying, torch twirling, Obie Award-winning Foolsfire, (with partners Michael Moschen and Bob Berky) which toured Europe, Hong Kong and Australia after a successful off-Broadway run. He even tumbled at Lincoln Center with the New York Opera's Turandot, and worked with MOMIX Dance Company in Brazil. For the last 16 years he has been inventing inflatables with artist/builder George York. He trained and performed with the master of illusion, Tony Montanaro and snowboards every chance he gets!
Daielma Santos brings grace and fantasy with her whimsical dance and amazing rhythm, renewing your sense of wonder and exciting your imagination. Ms. Santos has been the principal dancer with the Opera Paulista Company of Saõ Paulo, and has performed with several companies including the Cisne-Negro Ballet Company. Her performances span Brazil and Uruguay, acclaimed as a talented choreographer and teacher. In her "spare time" she is a continuing guest artist with the Portland, Maine Ballet Company and juggles every day! Daielma is now a U.S. citizen as of July 2000. She recently married Tom Decker and resides with him in Scarborough, Maine.
Jamie Grant (Lighting Designer). Design credits include: resident designer for the Portland Ballet. Good Theater: California Suite, A Man of No Importance, Barrymore, Master Class, Side by Side by Sondheim, Same Time Next Year, Little Me, Shirley Valentine, The Big Picture, Baby, Loot. University of Southern Maine: Company, Shakuntala, The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds, Life in the Late 20th, We All Fall Down, Characters and Space. The Originals: Man of La Mancha, Wonder of the World, Something's Afoot, Eleemosynary, Nunsense 2, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Mad Horse Theater: Suburban Motel. He has also designed for choreographers Tere O'Connor, Kevin Wynn, Louis Gervais, Lisa Hicks and Nancy Salmon. He has worked with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Jamie tours nationally with the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Portland, Maine.
© 2003-2005
The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration
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