Antaea Brava -- The Antaeus Commedia Troupe

ANTAEA BRAVA
The Antaeus Commedia Troupe

Emily Johnson as Pedrolino, John Apicella as Pantalone

The Company has used Commedia as a training and
ensemble-building tool since our beginnings in the
early 1990s. Below are photos of our major
Commedia projects.

(click on thumbnails to see full-size photos)

THE THREE SUITORS
or, Where the Hella is Isabella?

The First Antaeus Commedia Cycle, which resulted in a three-act improvised scenario, The Three Suitors. Pictured are Pantalone (Lawrence Pressman), Arlecchino (Janellen Steininger) and Pulcinella (John Apicella).

Penny Fuller as Isabella, Trapped in the Magic Box Larry Pressman as Pantalone, John Achorn
Andy Robinson as Dottore, Eric Allen Kramer as Florio Larry Pressman as Pantalone, Janellen Steininger
as Arlecchino John Apicella as Pulcinella Montage

THE TRAGIC EVENTS

In the Second Antaeus Commedia Cycle, the Ensemble Project, a larger cast shared characters in a three-act improvisation called The Tragic Events. Pictured, Marcelo Tubert and Lawrence Pressmen, our two Pantalones.

Martin Ferrero, Dakin Matthews as Dottore, Mary-Joan Negro, Melinda Peterson
Marcelo Tubert & Larry Pressman share the mask of Pantalone Francia DiMase, Hawthorne James
and Janellen Steininger

THE ENCHANTED ARCADIA

The Third Antaeus Commedia Cycle, providing the training to members who missed the first two projects, created a three-act improvisation called The Enchanted Arcadia. Pictured, from left: Capitano (Joe Spano), Dottore (John Apicella) and Pulcinella (Jonathan Nichols).

Ensemble attemps gymnastics Doesn't quite work out John Achorn
leads an exercise Marsha Dietlein Joe Spano as Capitano, John Apicella as Dottore,
Jonathan Nichols as Pulcinella John Achorn directs Marsha Dietlien and Joe Spano.

THE PAGLIACCI PROJECT

Utilizing the Commedia training, Lillian Garrett-Groag works with other Company members on a long-range project based on Pagliacci. From Left, Lillian Garrett-Groag, Marcelo Tubert, Janellen Steininger, John Michael Morgan, JD Cullum.

Lillian Groag directs Marcelo Tubert, Janellen Steininger, JD Cullum and John Michael Morgan
Same quartet Janellen Steininger and Peter Van Norden, c., in rehearsal

THE MUSIC TEACHER

The L.A. Master Chorale asks us to do a brief Commedia piece -- The Music Teacher -- at the gala fundraising banquet. Pictured: Pulcinella (John Apicella), Columbina (Cheryl Tyre-Smith), Isabella (Janellen Steininger), Florio (JD Cullum), and Pantalone (Marcelo Tubert).

PEDROLINO and the HANKIE of DOOM
or, He thought it was Pesto, but it'SNOT.

After years of using Commedia as a behind-the-scenes workshop tool, we finally perform for the general public. Pictured, Isabella (Karen Stone) and a close adviser.

Click right here to see the subsite devoted to
Pedrolino and the Handkerchief of Doom!