DeSales University
September 2, 2005

Dear Hovey & Stanley,

Thank you. You have enriched our department, brought masterful training to our program, and supplied our actors with a golden experience as they embark upon a play (Triumph of Love by Marivaux) containing beautiful Commedia elements. I would strongly encourage educators, directors, and actors to work with you... now.

Commedia U. has opened my eyes to the importance of actor training in the "mother of all comedy" Commedia. I believe that the roots of your work in structured improvisations have informed even today's professional actor training modes, such as the Meisner Approach. Grazie! La Saluto!

With Admiration, Debt, and Gratitude,
Steven

Steven Dennis, MFA
Asst. Professor of Theater
Director, The Summer Theatre Institute
DeSales University

I just got back from a flurry of workshops I've been giving around these parts. Just want to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and how much I received from your class.

I have adopted the "Doctore" character and although this mask I made since I got home is a little more on the cartoon side than the comedia side (its' blue!) It is still very much a Doctore character and very French! I've used him to introduce a number of key note talks I've been asked to do at health conferences. He (and the character is definitely a he - wearing a doctor's coat) He is a lot of fun and warms the audience up to "what is next"

Thanks for your patience with us. And thank you for the pictures!

Hugs

Shobi Dobi, the Clown
AKA Shobhana Schwekbe
Editor/Publisher
The Hospital Clown Newsletter
PO Box 8957
Emeryville, CA 94662
www.hospitalclown.com

Hovey Burgess
Teaching History

Greetings from Mt. Airy, NC.

You folks will never know how much I use my Commedia training. As a clown, director, and as an actor I love finding new ways to use this great form to communicate. …You are all quoted . . . a lot! …

Sincerely,
Mark Donnell

September 7, 2002

Thanks ever so much for your Commedia dell'Arte workshop at the Celebration Barn Theater. Although I've taken a number of Commedia Dell'Arte and physical theater workshops previously, your Roving Classical Commedia University has all of my past experiences beat by far. I can assure you, as a result of my participation in your workshop, what I do personally with Commedia and what our Commedia Dell'Arte troupe does from now on will be completely transformed. You gave everyone an amazing depth in all the aspects of this art: from music and dance to circus skills and the history of the Commedia characters, from mask making and mask performing to working with scenarios and improvisation, the workshop was indeed amazing. I would encourage anybody interested in working in this style specifically or expanding their abilities in theater generally to take a workshop with the three of you.

All the best of luck,
Glenn Russell

Founder and leader of Pasta Shock, a Philadelphia based Commedia Dell'Arte Troupe