Mummenschanz

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Mummenschanz is a unique Swiss pantomime troupe who perform a surreal mask and prop oriented style. Founded in 1972 by Bernie Schürch, Andres Bossard (August 9, 1944 - March 25, 1992) and the Italo-American Floriana Frassetto. The group became popular with its play with bizarre masks and forms, with light and shadow, and with their subtle choreography.

Ensemble

• Floriana Frassetto (Italy/USA)
• Bernie Schürch (Switzerland)
• Raffaella Matioli (Italy)
• Jakob Bentsen (Denmark)
• Ueli Riegg (Technical Director and lighting designer, Switzerland)

History

After studies during the 1960s (with Jacques Lecoq in Paris and Roy Bosier in Rome), and a three year phase of experimentation the Mummenschanz Mask Theater was founded in 1972.

They appeared as special guest stars on the last episode of the first season of The Muppet Show, which taped in November 1976.

Mummenshanz offered an alternative to the traditional story-telling Pierrot Lunaire, the poetic white faced clown, or to the usual Mime with virtual powers and props. Mummenschanz has performed in a variety of theaters in Switzerland and abroad, including a three year run on Broadway (1977-79).

In the 1980s and 90s, two more full-length shows or a repertory of more than 100 sketches with advanced and further developed mask and play techniques were created. With these Mummenschanz came to be one of the most popular theater attractions among audiences.

Their newest show is called 3x11 and presents the highlights of more than three decades of creative endeavours.

References

External links

• The official Mummenschanz webpage

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Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 20:42:53 PDT (GMT -0700)
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