upcoming

Yass Hakoshima and James Donlon

What:

Renowned Movement Artists to Perform
HSU Theatre Benefit

Two internationally renowned mime/movement/physical theatre artists will appear on the same program to help launch the Richard Rothrock Memorial Endowment fund at Humboldt State University’s Theatre Department.
Yass Hakoshima and James Donlon will appear Saturday, July 11, at 7:30 pm in the Van Duzer Theatre on the Humboldt State campus. The New York Times has called Mr. Hakoshima’s mime “…elegant and stylized…an impressive physical facility…with eerie, almost surreal tangibility.” The New York Times describes Mr. Donlon’s clown and physical theatre as “an extraordinary blend of skill and lunacy.”
This special performance is open to the public, and is part of “A Tribute to Richard Rothrock,” a Theatre Department class reunion to be held July 10-12 at Humboldt State University. The performances by Mr. Hakoshima and Mr. Donlon will be open to the public. Admission is $20 at the door, and all proceeds go to the Rothrock Endowment.
Yass Hakoshima brings a rich background in dance, mime and literature to his art. His background is a combination of a solid Japanese theatrical training and Hojoryu-Noh Theatre, Japanese classic dance, interpretive dance and Western classic mime technique.
Mr. Hakoshima  began his career in mime in 1958, and his initial success led him to come to the United States where he studied modern dance with Erick Hawkins and mime with Étienne Decroux from 1959 to 1962.
In 1967, he performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and later that year made his New York debut to great critical acclaim. Thereafter, Mr. Hakoshima began the first of his many performing tours throughout the United States.
In 1968, at the invitation of Prof. Rothrock, he came to Humboldt State University for the first time, as guest teacher and lecturer in the Theatre Arts department. In the intervening years, Mr. Hakoshima has performed at more than 400 universities and colleges in forty-nine states, as well as in scores of cities throughout the world.
Mr. Hakoshima’s initial visit to Humboldt sparked a strong interest in the art of mime among many students, and he returned for several more summer residencies.
An everlasting friendship with Prof. Rothrock and his family evolved out of these summer  workshops, recalls Mr. Hakoshima, adding: “On the third visit to Humboldt State, as I was leaving for New York, Dick Rothrock with more than two dozen students formed a motorcade of motorcycles and escorted me from the hotel to the airport along the beautiful Northern California beach road to express their appreciation and friendship and to say a last goodbye. It was the most touching gesture of thanks I have ever received and was like a dream that I will never forget.”
James Donlon has been a celebrated international performer and master teacher of physical theatre for 40 years. Combining movement, neo-classic mime/clown, mask, voice, and acting, Mr. Donlon plays with athletic vigor, passionate themes, and zany attacks on the surreal. He blends razor-sharp observations and virtuoso skill to create a hilarious, powerful evening of solo visual theatre.
Mr. Donlon attended Humboldt State University where he studied theatre under Prof. Rothrock and mime in Mr. Hakoshima’s 1969 summer workshop – as well as playing three seasons of basketball for the Lumberjacks. After graduating in 1970, Mr. Donlon launched his career by forming the Menagerie Mime Theatre with fellow HSU graduate Robert Francesconi, and toured the United States. In 1974 Mr. Donlon began performing his original works throughout North America, Europe, and Latin America to critical acclaim. Mr. Donlon is the only physical theater artist ever invited to perform with legendary San Francisco street mime Robert Shields of the CBS Television program The Shields and Yarnell Show. He is the first American artist to perform in the famed Teatro Dimitri of Switzerland.
Mr. Donlon’s method of physical theatre training is recognized worldwide, and he has  taught at many leading institutions including The American Conservatory Theatre and the Yale School of Drama. Mr. Donlon recently founded Flying Actor Studio, an international center for instruction and creation of physical theatre in San Francisco. He has also been a film movement coach for Oscar-winners Javier Bardem, Kathy Bates, and Frances McDormand, as well as Benjamin Bratt and David Strathairn.
 “Richard Rothrock was one of the strongest influences in my artistic life,” says Mr. Donlon. “Under his mentorship, I was able to find the magic in making visual, resonating theatre. Richard helped me discover the tools and discipline to develop an art which has allowed me to perform and teach across the world. His eyes were on fire with the hunger of creativity. I will never forget him.”
Prof. Rothrock, who died in 1992, served on the faculty of the Theatre Arts department for more than 30 years, including several years as its Chairman. During his career he directed numerous plays, all marked by his combination of dramatic innovation and passionate energy that inspired many of his students to continue successfully in the challenging fields of professional theatre and feature filmmaking.
Contributions to the Richard Rothrock Memorial Endowment can be also made directly. Checks should be made payable to Humboldt State University and mailed to Humboldt State University, Gift Processing Center, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA  95521 with a note on the memo line of the check: To the Richard Rothrock Memorial Endowment.

Contact Kate Kane at kikalanikane@yahoo.com (707) 259-1786.

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