| FROGS,
LIZARDS |
CAROL TRIFFLE (creator) Carol exhibited
her performing abilities from day one. In a family of ten girls and one boy, she
became the family clown turning the bedroom, dining room and kitchen into a three-ring
circus. In the mid-70's, she debuted on the legitimate stage, performing contemporary
dance, and ballet. Seeking a more theatrical medium, Carol became inspired by
mime-mask movement theatre when she discovered the teachings of Jacques Lecoq.
She later graduated from Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. It was a natural
move for her to become active in a medium which combines fine art and performance.
Carol co-founded Imago in 1979 and has been a recipient of an Oregon Arts Commission
Fellowship. Carol is conceptual and visual designer for masks, creatures and costumes.
Her choreography was staged in the Soviet Union in the mask dance "Noah's"
created for the Jefferson Dancers. Carol recently wrote, designed and staged IMAGO's
latest production, "Buffo". JERRY MOUAWAD (creator) Jerry was stage-struck performing in a seventh grade English
One- act at an American School in Beirut. Upon returning to the United States,
Jerry continued to act in traditional plays throughout high school, even to the
sacrifice of his wrestling career (13 losses, of which 10 were pins). In 1977,
he stumbled upon the Hayes-Marshal School of Theatre Arts in Portland. With the
Lecoq-based school, Jerry was drawn to theatre's physical aspects. After co-founding
IMAGO, he was recipient of an Oregon Arts Fellowship and a New York Dance Film
Award. Utilizing his background in the plastic arts, he designs conceptually and
visually for IMAGO as well as creating the special effects. November 1994, Jerry
premiered "Phoenicians in the House," an avant garde Imago performance. GRAYDON J.F. KOURI (performer) While living
and performing in New York City Graydon was intrigued by a casting notice that
called for a one minute physical audition. Just three months earlier he had graduated
from the American Stuntman's Association's Stunt Training School in all aspects
of the art. In 1989, at the close of RICHARD III in which he was performing a
dual role, he moved to Oregon to begin rehearsal for the mask troupe. In1991,
on a trip to Minneapolis, he met Nancy Cain and fell in love, and a year later
they married. Graydon has performed in plays, television and video productions.
Nancy and Graydon are founding members of the Native American Performing Arts
Center (NACPAC) in Minneapolis. In 1994-1995 NACPAC produced two successful productions
directed by Graydon, "Black Elk Speaks" and "Electric Pow-wow".
The latter was written and created by Nancy and Graydon and featured over 25 NativeAmerican
performing artists. KIMBERLY DAHLE (performer) Wild
Kingdom, Jacques Cousteau, and National Geographic were the inspirations for Kim's
beginnings in performance. She learned from animals, insects, plants, and various
world cultures how to sing, dance, and play a variety of instruments. Drumming,
singing, and movement are her naturals, but she also takes a liking to piano and
violin. In the 8th grade Kim was concert mistress and played violin in the Oregon
Junior Symphony. Kim's need for movement brought her to Portland, Oregon, where
she assisted in the filming and production of Imago's "Verdad" in1993.
A year later, she performed in "Phoenicians in the House," a 1994 Imago
World Premier, and her stage debut with the company. In 1994- 1995 an IMAGO international
tour allowed Kim to study and play in Bali, Indonesia. While in Indonesia she
created a dance entitled "The Glass Egg" which premiered in Sanur, Bali. TIM PARSONS (performer) Tim grew up somewhat
in the tiny town of Peculair, MO, which afforded him no great chances to further
his performing skills. He attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, and
followed his training in music composition and theatre arts by studying with the
National Shakespeare Conservatory in NYC. He has traveled and performed extensively
in the United States and Internationally with several different theatre companies.
This is Tim's second season with IMAGO, and he enjoys the challenge of working
with physical theatre and helping to create new and exciting work. Most recently
he appeared in "Buffo," a work created by Co-artistic Director Carol
Triffle, and in "Phoenicians in the House," a work created by Co-artistic
Director Jerry Mouawad . JEFF FORBES (Light Director/Production Manager) JEFF FORBES studied with Jerxy Grotowski exploring the roots
of contemporary theatre. Later in life Jeff applied his stage experiences to the
realm of theatre design. For over 15 years Jeff has been designing lights for
numerous Portland theatre and dance companies including IMAGO, Mary Oslund, Tygres
Shakespeare Company, Storefront Theater and Artist Repertory Theater. Jeff has
received several Portland theater awards for achievements in light design. FRED CHALENOR and COURTNEY VON DREHLE (composers) Mr.
Chalenor and Mr. Courtney have been collaborating on various musical projects
expanding the boundaries of sound and music for over ten years. They have created
the music for dance, film and performance events often using polyrhythms and hand
made instruments. DANIEL BRANDT (composer) Daniel
has composed for IMAGO since the company's inception. Keeping active in the film
and television industry, he was also the keyboardist for the pop music group Quarterflash,
and has collaborated with composer Thomas Svoboda. GEORGE SMITH (cartoonist) George Smith is a nationally acclaimed cartoonist.
He is most known for his work on the strip, "The Smith Family." |
