Michael Futcher, multiple award-winning director and Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre’s very own Artistic Director, will be leading 4 Masterclasses in March. These two and a half hour acting classes will take place in the gorgeous Old Museum in Brisbane on Tuesday nights. Michael Futcher will take 14 emerging and experienced actors on an exploration of their acting process from first contact with the script through to performance. Through improvisation, actors' exercises and text-work, participants will be challenged to develop their spontaneity, imagination, vocal/physical expressiveness, sense of truth and emotional power. 

The Acting Masterclasses will become a permanent part of the exciting training programs offered by Zen Zen Zo’s TRAINING CENTRE.  Throughout the year Michael will be joined by other Industry leaders to share their knowledge and experience on theatre, acting and directing. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to steal the secrets from the Masters!

Congratulations to 2012 Interns Shiv Palekar, Emma Smith, and Arika McElroy-Lakosta for getting in to NIDA, WAAPA and VCA. Congratulations also to Alex Mikic, who has appeared in several Zen Zen Zo Youth Productions in Hong Kong and as Ferdinand in Zen Zen Zo's 2009 THE TEMPEST in Brisbane, who also got into WAAPA.

We are all very proud of their phenomenal achievements in terms of getting into these extremely competitive schools on their first try, and will be excitedly watching their careers unfold! Thanks also to all the trainers and mentors who worked with them during the Internship to prepare them for the auditions.

Introducing the Zen Zen Zo Training Centre staff for 2012:

Bottom, L to R:  Jena Prince, Lynne Bradley (Training Centre Director), Melissa Budd; 

Top, L to R:  Merlynn Tong (Education Manager), Katherine Wilkinson, Lisa Worthington, Earl Kim, Drew der Kinderen (Associate Director), Oliver Skrzypczynski, Mary-Ann Vale (General Manager, Performance Company).   

Zen Zen Zo remains committed to enriching the arts by offering an extensive education program through its Training Centre. The Training Centre caters to actors, dancers, directors, teachers and students, and includes the Actor's Dojo (weekly classes for adults and youth), Stomp Intensives (holiday training programs), the 6-month Internship, and extensive InSchools Program (workshops, teaching residencies, and Youth Productions).  

We look forward to meeting and working with you in 2012!

In 2012 the Zen Zen Zo family has proudly added a few new youthful faces to the company in the form of our YOUTH AMBASSADORS.  Sparked by a desire to access Zen Zen Zo’s youth followers more directly, this program were initiated to facilitate a more direct and more relevant dialogue with young people.

The Youth Ambassadors consist of 6 Zen-loving, tech-savvy individuals from various schools and universities around Brisbane. 

Youth Ambassadors:
Helen Lind, Jarren Howard, Mollie Yang, Indigo Keane, James Halloran and Hannah Farrelly.

Keep an eye out for them in your Facebook, Twitter, schools, weekend markets, festivals, coffee shops. (They’re the cool ones in the corner with the white body paint on…)

Wins Groundling Award and nominated for 3 Matilda Awards!

Zen Zen Zo's production of Cabaret, directed by Lynne Bradley and staged at QPAC last year, has just won the 2011 Groundling Award for Best Musical Theatre Production. Congratulations also to Zen ZEn Zo Associate Artists Steven Mitchell Wright and Ben Hughes for their wins (Outstanding Contribution as a Director and Lighting Designer).

Cabaret has also been nominated for 3 Matilda Awards:

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role: SANDRO COLARELLI

Best Female Actor in a Lead Role: EMMA DEAN

Best Emerging Artist: MATTHEW HADGRAFT

It is also very exciting that our new Artistic Director - Michael Futcher, has been nominated for Best Director for the Shake & Stir production of Animal Farm. And  for more good news-the production of Piano Lessons by Anna Goldsworthy, also directed my Michael, has also been nominated for Best New Play!

Congratulations to Sandro, Emma and Matthew and everyone who was involved in Cabaret. Thanks also to PowerArts and QPAC for their generous support of the show.

Zen Zen Zo & the Queensland Arts Council present

HELLO SPACEBOY!

Dates: Term 2

Location: North Queensland Schools

Director/ Designer: Drew der Kinderen

Costume Designer: Nathalie Ryner

Choreographers: Melissa Budd & Jamie Kendall

Performers: Harriet Devlin, Sam Plummer, Dale Thorburn

Hello Spaceboy! is a new devised work for Zen Zen Zo, and the first production created for the 5-11 year age group (Primary). Directed by Zen Zen Zo Associate Director Drew der Kinderen, Hello Spaceboy! follows the magical journey of young Max, as he travels into space and back in search of his imagination (stolen by an overload of TV, DVDs, and Computer Games). The narrative structure is loosely based on the legend of King Arthur’s early life and childhood, and influenced by T.H. White’s The Once and Future King.

Max sits at home with nothing to do, and like many other children, he feels bored. Suddenly, there is a knock at his door. Standing there is an Astronaut, or rather an “Imaginaut”, who invites Max on an adventure into outer space and the depths of his imagination. Does Max have the courage to face his fears and can he use his powers of creativity to make the world safe for people to dream again?

For further information or to make a booking for your school - please ph: 07 38467500 or visit the QAC website - www.qac.org.au

Zen Zen Zo & the Queensland Arts Council present

ROMEO & JULIET

Location: North Queensland Schools

Director/Designer: Steven Mitchell Wright

Composer: Chris Perren

Performers: Harriet Devlin, Sam Plummer, Dale Thorburn

Zen Zen Zo's Romeo & Juliet was first created in 2005 for the Queensland Arts Council.  The performance was a hit with students and teachers throughout Queensland and continued to tour for 3 years around regional Queensland, metropolitan Brisbane, and eventually Hong Kong. Re-directed by Zen Zen Zo Associate Artist Katrina Cornwell, featuring Zen Zen Zo senior company members Harriet Devlin and Dale Thorburn and outstanding new Internship graduate Sam Plummer, this radical adaptation of the Shakespearean classic will once again engage young people through the dynamic physicality, contemporary music and choreography, and combination of classic and modern text.

For further information or to make a booking for your school - please ph: 07 38467500 or visit the QAC website - www.qac.org.au

Year you started training with Zen Zen Zo: 2010

Next ZZZ show/activity (& role): Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Max the Astronaut in Hello Spaceboy! As part of a regional tour with the Queensland Arts Council in 2012 and OUT OF THE BOX! Festival in June.

Favourite Zen Zen Zo show (ever): Hello Spaceboy! It's so much fun to do, expecially when children get excited and charge up onto the stage to dance with us.

Best piece of advice you were ever given: 'just be present'.

Favourite Pastime (outside of theatre!): Three words: All day breakfast.

Favourite physical training/sport to get fit (outside of ZZZ).  I smash myself four times a week at the gym with Dale Thorburn!

Current obsession: The Getaway Plan's new album, Requiem.

Current obstacle: I have two.One is a classic - indecision. Secondly, eating every three hours. It's hard.

Nickname (other ZZZ members call you): Samwise Gamgee

Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre is proud to announce our new sponsor Get Wines Direct. We are very excited that they are the exclusive provider of wines for the upcoming Carnivale Masked Ball and also for our 2012 Season and Special Events. We thank them for their generosity and support and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship. Get Wines Direct is a family-owned Melbourne based retailer.

Over 35 years experience in the Australian Wine industry has given them the opportunity to develop contacts in every major wine region in Australia, while also allowing us to showcase some fantastic locally produced big brand boutique wines. They pride themselves not only on their extensive wine knowldge, they specialize also in super premium wines such as Penfolds Grange, Henschke and Peter Lehmann - to name but a few - right down to end of run products, bin end wines, quaffers and the humble cleanskin.

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Wine & Dine'm

We would also like to thank our Sponsor Wine & Dine’m who are providing the Charcuterie Food for the Carnival Masked Ball.

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