Playback Workshops

Participants in playback workshops develop skills in deep listening, spontaneity, intuition, non-verbal communication, stagecraft, and much more. Workshops incorporate a wide variety of theatre games as well as specific playback forms. Prior theatre skills are not required. Mountaine is based in the area of Asheville, NC, and is available for travel.

Introduction to Playback Theatre 2-7 hours. This workshop can be customized for various levels of interest and for any age group.

Playback for Actors 2 hours. Applying playback theatre techniques to help actors preparing a show to find the connections between their personal lives and the lives of the characters they will portray.

Playback Theatre Intensive 12 hours. For students who want a full exposure to playback, this class can be offered over 2 or 3 days, with an optional performance for family and friends as a final exercise.

Playback Theatre and Breathwork 12 hours. Playback can be used to focus on any kind of story. This workshop incorporates a 1-hour intensive breathing session, and journaling, to discover stories which may have been buried or forgotten, and the resulting playback work is informed by the depth of those stories.

Sustaina-playback-ility 12 hours. This is a variation on the Playback Theatre Intensive, for those with a specific interest in exploring their stories related to sustainability issues.

Radically Queer Playback 12 hours. This is a variation on the Playback Theatre Intensive, based on Mountaine's extensive experience teaching playback theatre at radical faerie gatherings around the world.

PLAYBACK THEATRE TESTIMONIALS

Mountaine is a first-rate teacher of playback theater technique. His presentation is clear and comprehensive, and his hands-on work with "students" puts a great emphasis on cultivating enthusiasm while still attending to details. Everyone has a great time while making rapid progress. - Stephen Mo Hanan, New York, NY, actor/writer/director, Tony nominee for his role in the original cast of CATS

Thank you for the most delightful/profound/hilarious theater event of my life!!!! - Rudy Ballentine, M.D., author of Radical Healing

His guidance and direction was superb. He gave just enough information to allow a unified focus, but left the creative space open. I felt clear on the form and totally open on the content. - John Tidd, Bridgewater Corners, VT

I love the Asheville Playback Theatre performances - especially when Mountaine is there! He's the only company member who takes all three performing roles (conductor/emcee, actor and supporting musician) and sometimes does more than one in the same performance - beautifully! I always find myself intrigued and delighted by whatever he does, and so grateful for the depth and breadth of skill he brings. - Gayatri Erlandson. PhD

I enjoyed watching him direct -- unobtrusively and very effectively giving the storytellers and players just enough direction to have a strong container for the work. – Anthony Barreiro, San Francisco, CA

He certainly knows how to give feedback in a positive way, that gives people permission to learn. - Phil Woodward, Dowelltown, TN

"Prepare to be delighted and touched by Mountaine's heart, spirit and irrepressible sense of fun. He takes care of business and has a great time doing it. He has been a key factor in our company's longevity and success, through his prodigious right and left brain output and willingness to take playback where few of us dare to go..." - Deborah Scott, Artistic Director, Asheville Playback Theatre

Mountaine's clarity and focused approach to what he does is balanced with his playful, creative and daring side. This makes for a bold actor and a caring, articulate teacher. It's been a joy to work with him these past 14 years! - Raphael Peter, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Asheville Playback Theatre