MIL GRUS: 1ST LOS ANGELES BOUFFON/CLOWN TROUPE PREMIERES AT FRINGE
MIL GRUS
Press Contact:
Helene Udy
323.687-0919
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MULTIPLE FRINGE FESTIVAL (AND OTHER AWARD) WINNERS ASSEMBLE TO PRODUCE BOUFFON/CLOWN SHOW FOR THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE:
LOS ANGELES CA., May 8, 2019: Previous Fringe award winners team up for this year’s Hollywood Fringe to create the First official Bouffon/Clown troupe “MIL GRUS” led by world renowned physical theater artist Dean Evans of “Honeybuns” fame. Be prepared as, motley crew of miscreants who have crawled out of the gutter to make you question reality. This timeless satire features improvised feats of physical and existential comedy that defy explanation and provoke unfettered, eery glee. Come see what’s behind the curtain, starting June 9, 2019 at The Mccadden Place Theatre.
After having toured the Los Angeles variety scene with rocking success, this will be the first full-length show the “Mil Grus” company has produced. Inspired by the exuberant style of Grotesque clownery, Dean Evans directs this unique bunch of ne’er-do-wells with his own sense of devilry and mischief.
BACKGROUND:
The stage name “Mil Grus,” a Latin based meaningless phrase that, were it to mean anything, might mean “a thousand cranes may in theory shed a little light on this band of assembled miscreants. But it’s a wide open field, and we’re not making any promises! Blame the ensemble members of “Mil Grus” if you must. Isaac Kessler, Jenson Titus Lavalee, Grayson Morris, Jeremy Sapp, and Helene Udy.
The logo based on an etching of 3 Cranes, one with a stone in it’s raised claw is based on the medieval myth in which it is said that the wise Cranes protect themselves, by having one crane stay awake so the rest may sleep. If that crane should fall asleep and therefore drop the stone, it will be retrieved immediately by one of the other cranes , and thus working in ensemble to uphold each other and protect the flock, these delicate birds are able to survive. Our founding director fascinated by the story was enchanted by the original etching, which inspired our logo, and led to the creation of our name..
BOUFFON
The Bouffon style of clownery is a modern French theater term that was re-coined in the early 1960s by Jacques Lecoq at his L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris to describe a specific style of performance work that has a main focus in the art of mockery, which explores elements of burlesque, commedia dell’arte, farce, gallows humor, parody, satire, slapstick, etc. that collectively influenced the development of modern Bouffon performance work.[wikepedia]
Mil Grus presented by “Mil Grus” is an ensemble piece it’s members, under the leadership and creative direction of Master of physical performance Dean Evans,
For more information on the company and upcoming shows, stay in touch with Mil Grus on social media: “Like” on Facebook; follow on Twitter @MilGrus; follow on Instagram @MilGrus or at www.milgrus.com .
COMPANY:
Mil Grus
WHAT:
World Premiere of “Mil Grus” at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival.
WHERE:
McCadden Theatre
1157 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA
WHEN:
FRIDAY JUNE 9 , -4:30PM
FRIDAYJUNE 14 – 10:30PM
SUNDAY JUNE 16 – 3:30PM
FRIDAY JUNE 21 – 8:30PM
SUNDAY JUNE 23 – 7:00PM
TICKETS: $15.00
https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5840?tab=tickets
PRESS CONTACT:
Helene Udy
(323) 687-0919
[email protected]
FESTIVAL: 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival at www.hollywoodfringefestival.org
MIL GRUS/BRIOGRAPHIES
Dean Evans (Director)
A Los Angeles based performer, writer, and director Dean was named one of the top 50 ‘players’ by New city magazine. He has performed with Second City, IO, Goodman, Cirque du Soleil, and as a solo artist around the world. He has written and performed over one hundred original pieces for the long running show too much light makes the baby go blind as an ensemble member of the renowned performance art collective the neo-futurists. Dean best is known for his physical performance and characters as the entity “ Honeybuns” , touring NYC, Chicago, Moscow, Austin Tx, and Los Angeles. Dean has created over a dozen full-length theatrical productions, various immersive experiences and alternate realities, 3 full length circuses, and dozens of comedic characters. He has appeared on NBC, Russia’s минута славы, The Onion Network, and various commercials and television.
Dean has been on faculty at Columbia college, the Second city training center, Aloft circus arts, and the Actor’s gymnasium. He has taught as a guest artist at the Art institute of Chicago, the Big Apple Circus Clown care unit, UIC, Oberlin college, the Ohio State University, Lake Forest college and more. Dean was the artistic director of Chicago Physical Theater from 2009 to 2016
Isaac Kessler (Ensemble member)
Isaac Kessler is a seasoned clown and performer, and multiple Canadian Comedy Award nominee, Most notably as Best Male Improviser/ 2015. Now based in Los Angeles, showcasing at The Lyric Hyperion Theatre, The Second City, The Clubhouse, and more. He tours regularly with the Improv/clown duo 2-MAN NO-SHOW with comedy soul mate Ken Hall. And appears monthly with comedy troupe DEEP SQUEEZE . He performs regularly under clown notables Phil Burgers ( Edinburough ), John Gilkey (Cirque du Soleil), world-famous Aitor Basauri ( Spy Monkey) . Isaac teaches improv and clown at The Second City and the Social Capital Theatre, and run workshops at improv festivals and camps across the country.
Jenson Titus Lavallee (Ensemble member)
Jenson is a clown, idiot (ref: Idiot Workshop in Los Angeles), and a graduate of the Pig Iron School in Philadelphia, PA. Since graduating he’s worked with Obie Award winning theatre companies Pig Iron Theatre Co (Gentlemen Volunteers) , and Lightning Rod Special (The Appointment and Underground Railroad Game). His most recent collaboration Ordinary to Extraordinary: a short film by award-winning director Josephine Decker (Madeline’s Madeline) debuts late 2019.
Grayson Morris (Ensemble member)
Grayson Morris is a comedian and puppeteer based in Los Angeles. She has appeared on Gotham Comedy Live and opened for Maria Bamford and Louis C.K. She has toured nationally with her solo show, Am I a Grownup Yet? And is currently developing a new solo show about the universe. She is also an immersive theater maker and Fringe Festival award winner for innovative theater.
Jeremy Sapp (Ensemble member)
Hailing from Kentucky, Jeremy Sapp is an honorary member of Fiasco Physical Theatre, an ensemble of graduates from the Dell’ Arte School. In Kentucky , Jeremy was an artistic associate and touring artist for Kentucky Shakespeare, as well as the KY Shakes repertory company, While in Louisville, he was involved in new play development as an actor and co-creator of numerous devised theatre projects with the likes of Theatre502, Finnigan Productions and Jan street dance theatre. With Jan street, Both as an ensemble and solo dancer . Now it is in the Idiot/Clown/physical theatre community of Los Angeles where he feels the most at home, performing regularly with Mil Grus.
Helene Udy (Ensemble member)
Won the " best musical" award at HFF 2010 for producing and directing “Rehab the Musical”, and as a performer in 2015 as a Four Clowns company member with multiple award winning “Butterbeans last Hurrah”. Recipient of Backstage award for production and direction of “Out in America” by Katie Ford, Helene appears regularly around LA at Boobie Trap, Catsby, Lyric Hyperion, UCB and more. You can also find her monthly in the clown/cabaret (set in Berlin 1924) “Was ist Das?” which she devised & performs in , with a number or other colorful guests . Best know as the series regular Myra in CBS TV series Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.
For press photos contact: Helene Udy at [email protected]
(323) 687-0919
For Press kits contact: Helene Udy at [email protected]
(323) 687-0919
to request comps/reservations contact: Helene Udy at [email protected]
(323) 687-0919
