Internationally-Renowned MASQUE Theatre Company Arrives at TheatreWorks New Milford for a Limited Engagement – August 7 to 9, 2009

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (July 28, 2009)  – TheatreWorks New Milford is honored to welcome the MASQUE Theatre Company to its stage for three special event performances on August 7, 8, and 9.

The internationally-renowned mask/movement troupe from Bethlehem, Connecticut performs original theatre pieces with special emphasis on the mask and puppet. The company has performed on four continents for over a million people since 1980. Considering the universal phenomenon of masks, original vignette style theatre is created which reflects the timeless capacity of this ancient art form. Mask, mime, movement, music, speaking characters, and the “never-knowing- what-to-expect-next” anticipation make these performances a visceral, three-dimensional experience.

“Masks are as old as humanity and probably more expressive,” said Larry Hunt, Director of the MASQUE Theatre Company. “The mask gives an audience something they have never seen before and allows them to decide the who and why of the expressions. The human personality does not get in the way but underscores everything done by the mask.”

“Every audience member will have their own favorite aspect of the show,” said Adelka Polak, choreographer, puppeteer, and performer in the MASQUE Company. “It becomes a series of personal choices due to the relationship of each audience member to each mask and situation. This in itself is enjoyable.”

Mr. Hunt and Ms. Polak will perform two pieces entitled THIS WORLD, THE NEXT, AND THEN THE PEACH ORCHARD and their newest installment entitled, BLUES, BLUES.

Ms. Polak is an artist residing in Sherman, Conn. and has performed at Stanford University, The Pittsburgh Glass Center, NY Puppet Library, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Melon University, and the Garden Theatre of the Slaughterhouse Gallery. She was choreographer, stage manager, and performer for the Pittsburgh-based, avant-garde theatre group, Squonk Opera, and toured across the U.S. while also venturing internationally as a participant in the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the 2004 Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival in South Korea. She began working with MASQUE Theater in 2008 on BLUES, BLUES.

Mr. Hunt is an actor, director, mask-maker, and educator who has produced and performed original theater works after creating the MASQUE Theatre Company in 1980. Since then, he has performed throughout most of the United States, Canada, and many other countries including China, Japan, Australia, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia, and England. In addition to solo performances incorporating original masks and puppets, he has collaborated extensively with other performing artists in several countries. His productions are vignette style as well as full length plays.

Performances are at 8:00pm on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, August 9.

Reservations can be made by visiting the website at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or calling (860) 350-6863. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating. No subscriptions or passes are accepted for this special presentation.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, professional non-Equity theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, CT.