Schechner to lecture on experimental performance

Liza Darwin Assistant Arts Editor

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU) Professor of Performance Studies Richard Schechner will give a lecture on “American Experimental Performance: Histories, Functions, Prospects.” Schechner is a drama theorist and the editor of The Drama Review: The Journal of Performance Studies, which attempts to engender performance art in a variety of theoretical, social and political contexts. He has authored 11 books, including Performance Studies: an Introduction, a textbook used by undergraduates and graduate students nationwide. He is also the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards.

Schechner first became interested in experimental theater during the anti-Vietnam War movement. As a young actor, he noticed that the anti-war demonstrators made a difference by taking to the streets. Like the demonstrators, Schechner said, “I wanted to make theater that made a difference.”

Schechner became friends with performance artists Michael Kirby and Allan Kaprow, who influenced him to combine everything he was learning into a new form of theater. “I wanted to go beyond what was ‘right’ to do, artistically. I wanted to challenge accepted values and practices,” he said.

Going beyond the boundaries of what is typically acceptable is one of Schechner’s continuous goals. As a teacher, he is drawn to the theories of forward-thinking artists such as surrealist French playwright Antonin Artaud and socialist German dramatist Bertolt Brecht. Studying innovative artists has inspired Schechner to seek out other experimental performers.

Schechner’s is coming to Vassar College becuase of Assistant Professor of English Zoltan Markus; the two met at NYU when Markus was a graduate student and Schechner was a professor. “It is well-known that Professor Schechner is a world-famous scholar and an outstanding director, but less people know that he is a brilliant teacher as well,” Markus said. According to Markus, Schechner’s classes at NYU are extremely popular and he is known as a generous mentor to students. So others would have an opportunity to hear Schechner, Markus invited him to speak at Vassar.

Schechner is also acquainted with Vassar drama Professor Gabrielle Cody. Cody invited Schechner to Vassar several years ago, where he found students “intelligent and eager for discussion.” Schechner said that Schechner looks forward to a similar experience at his upcoming lecture.

Markus encouraged students to attend Schechner’s lecture because experimental theater features some of the most exciting contemporary performance trends, and Schechner is a particularly engaging speaker on the to.

“Whereas today’s profit-oriented commercial theaters—even the relatively good ones—are locked up in the stylistic straitjacket of musty forms of naturalism, experimental theater offers the opportunity of cutting-edge laboratory work,” said Markus.

Schechner suggested that students interested in learning more about experimental theater should read his books, Performance Studies: An Introduction and Performance Theory. While Markus thinks that obtaining background information on this type of performance art is certainly helpful, he asked that students come to the lecture with “an open mind, that’s all.”

“American Experimental Performance: Histories, Functions, Prospects” will take place on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in Taylor Hall, Room 203.