Lectures + Workshops + Residencies
Contact Thomas Riccio for lectures, talks, workshops, collective creation performance projects and consultations. Participant Responses
thomasriccio@gmail.com 469.569.0970 mobile
Workshop Sampler
Institutional Responses
Using his understanding of the Yup'ik performance traditions as a basis, Thomas evolved the workshop into a model of the collective creative process. This process illustrated, in a very practical way, how the Yup'ik have lived with their land, climate, and animals. This understanding empowered the participants with their own culture as it promoted a deeper understanding, and put a truer meaning behind the significance of traditional performance.
Cynthia Simpson-Sugar
Kuskokwim College, Bethel, Alaska
Makanda Mahlanu (The Snake with Five Heads) played to about 16,000 people in all sorts of outdoor venues. The production toured throughout the region and was favorably received. The most important part of these programmes was the research done into the methodology of creating the work. Without Mr. Riccio's tireless input this would not have been possible. He has an uncanny ability of walking into a foreign culture and developing a theatre language that transcends all barriers. We look forward to a long association.
Themi Venturas
Kwasa Group, South Africa
I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude. For a week you were able to share with performers from throughout West Africa your knowledge and experience combining popular and traditional performance. Your workshops will no doubt have a profound impact and will be felt in the next generations of the companies from which these young performers belong. Your ability to bridge between your methods and the objectives of festival made for a very successful exchange. My sincere thanks.
Jean Pierre Guingane
Directeur FITMO, Burkina Faso
Coming at a time of Sakha cultural re-evaluation and exploration, Mr. Riccio's work here has contributed greatly to our awareness, lending a needed new perspective to our theatrical self-definition. In concurrence with the producer of both the Yakut Russian Theatre and the Sakha National Theatre, I have extended an invitation for Mr. Riccio to return to our Republic to continue is association with us.
A. S. Borisov
Minister of Culture, Republic of Sakha
II would like to thank you very much for coming and spending time with us. The students in Art and Society, Art Management and Administration, African Theatre and Art Communication and Social Mobilization where you taught were quite inspired by your lectures. The participants will never forget your Director’s Workshop and I hope that you will return someday to see their work. Your stay was short and we would really love to have you come for a longer period. You have such valuable experience that we would like you to share it with us and hopefully you can also add to that experience with your work here.
Amandina Lihainba
Dean, Arts and Perfformance, University of Dar es Salaam
The Chair of The Department of English and myself, are grateful for the experiences you shared with our students. We particularly note the numerous workshop sessions you held with the Play Writing class; your public lecture on the reawakening of traditional performance cultures in Africa and China; the rehearsals you attended; and the thoughtful critiques you gave. Similarly, Alphine Jefferson, Chair of the Department of Black Studies, wishes me to convey his thanks for serving as a guest lecturer in his Introduction to Black Studies class. Both students and faculty at Wooster have benefited from your visit and have been inspired by the your passion, creativity and independence of thought. The insights you shared with us will undoubtedly spur us on to future explorations. We look forward to having you visit with us again.
Dale E. Seeds
The College of Wooster
Thank you for the workshops you have conducted at the National Theatre of Kenya. Your workshops on creating puppets and objects, and presenting the story of AIDS, have been enriching as well as inspiring to Kenyan youth in general and artistes in particular. Thank you for your invaluable time and we look forward to having you once more for a longer period.
S.L. Anami
Minister of Culture, Nairobi, Kenya
Riccio employs the workshop system as his style of directing, giving actors a scope within which to develop an idea, to grow, and to independently carry on the method, empowering them to be the creators.
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