Michael Cooper, The Masked Marvel, at RAG
In a show that will delight both children and adults, The Roxbury Arts Group is presenting Michael Cooper, “The Masked Marvel” on Saturday, May 17th at 3 pm. Cooper is an eye-popping visual artist and virtuoso mime whose exquisite performances have dazzled audiences for years. His one-man extravaganza combines breathtaking masks, stories, outlandish stilt dancing and a repertoire that ranges from madcap to sublime. His performance at RAG 3 years ago was a triumph. Adults $7, 1st child under 12 free. 2nd child $5. Free popcorn and juices. (607) 326-7908.
Taking up to three hundred hours to produce a single paper or cloth mask, Michael has elevated this most ancient of theater crafts to the level of a fine art. His ability as a wordsmith enables him to reel in the most discerning of crowds with the nuance of a poet, the joy and timing of a first rate comedian and the twists and intrigue of a master storyteller. And whether he’s high kicking on giant legs, animating one of his magical creations or quite literally “leaning on air,” the unending enthusiasm of this masked marvel captivates both young and old.
Michael graduated from Goddard College with a degree in Peace Studies, a unique major that continues to fuel his dedication to creating wholesome, uplifting entertainment that appeals to his audience’s sense of humanity. He then went on to complete six years of theater training with the two greatest mime teachers of the twentieth century, Etienne Decroux of Paris, France and Tony Montanaro of Paris, Maine. Since then he has crisscrossed the world, presenting his art in such varied places as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Hong Kong International Children’s Festival, The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, the Dublin Theater Festival, Great Woods, the Eugene O’Neill Theater, Bass Performance Hall and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.