Brian Foley, MFA, has been a professional theatre and circus educator since 2001. He has created courses in Clown Performance for New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and for Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. He has taught master classes in clown for Washington D.C.’s Synetic Theatre, Calgary’s Velocity Motionwerks Circus School, The Shanghai Theatre Academy, and for the 2013 International Commedia dell’Arte conference in Windsor, Canada.
Brian currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, where he teaches courses in Physical Character Creation, Clown, and ActorBatics. He also travels the country teaching workshops in Physical Acting, Circus Skills, Clown Performance, and Devising Methods for the Theatre.
As a scholar, Brian has been published by Routledge and is an active member of the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. He has presented papers and research on Circus, Directing Variety Arts, Devising Pedagogy, and Clown Pedagogy. He is a researcher for the Fédération Mondial du Cirque, and an adjunct professor at Arizona State University.
Brian currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, where he teaches courses in Physical Character Creation, Clown, and ActorBatics. He also travels the country teaching workshops in Physical Acting, Circus Skills, Clown Performance, and Devising Methods for the Theatre.
As a scholar, Brian has been published by Routledge and is an active member of the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. He has presented papers and research on Circus, Directing Variety Arts, Devising Pedagogy, and Clown Pedagogy. He is a researcher for the Fédération Mondial du Cirque, and an adjunct professor at Arizona State University.
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Physical Acting
The Actor’s Body is perhaps her greatest tool for dynamic expression. Brian’s workshops in physical theatre draw on methods from Neutral and Larval mask, clown, corporeal mime, ActorBatics, and circus skills. This combination of physical exploration, collaborative partner work, and audience engagement solidly prepares actors to make more imaginative and daring physical choices. You will leave this workshop stronger, braver, and more physically expressive.
“His dedication to the core of human existence, to the power of the human triumvirate of body, mind and soul informs every element of his work and demands that every student work at their highest level. It is rare that we can find artists that are exquisite in the practice of their craft and are equally outstanding as educators. Brian Foley is both."
-Carrie Nath
Executive Director
Governor’s School for the Arts
Louisville, KY
The Actor’s Body is perhaps her greatest tool for dynamic expression. Brian’s workshops in physical theatre draw on methods from Neutral and Larval mask, clown, corporeal mime, ActorBatics, and circus skills. This combination of physical exploration, collaborative partner work, and audience engagement solidly prepares actors to make more imaginative and daring physical choices. You will leave this workshop stronger, braver, and more physically expressive.
“His dedication to the core of human existence, to the power of the human triumvirate of body, mind and soul informs every element of his work and demands that every student work at their highest level. It is rare that we can find artists that are exquisite in the practice of their craft and are equally outstanding as educators. Brian Foley is both."
-Carrie Nath
Executive Director
Governor’s School for the Arts
Louisville, KY
Clown
Kick the fourth wall to the curb, connect to your inner stupidity, and find the games that engage the audience directly via non-verbal communication. Beginning with Lecoq’s Simple Clown, Brian can also explore Eastern European Tragic Clown, European One-Ring Circus Clown, and American Big Top Circus Clown. Learn classic clown entrées and clown techniques from different genres, but also be provoked to create new and original work that is unique to you.
"Your clown workshop with Synetic Theatre was life-changing.
I literally spent the next two days thinking about it.
It was truly great."
--Ben Cunis,Artistic Associate
Synetic Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Kick the fourth wall to the curb, connect to your inner stupidity, and find the games that engage the audience directly via non-verbal communication. Beginning with Lecoq’s Simple Clown, Brian can also explore Eastern European Tragic Clown, European One-Ring Circus Clown, and American Big Top Circus Clown. Learn classic clown entrées and clown techniques from different genres, but also be provoked to create new and original work that is unique to you.
"Your clown workshop with Synetic Theatre was life-changing.
I literally spent the next two days thinking about it.
It was truly great."
--Ben Cunis,Artistic Associate
Synetic Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Circus Skills
Brian has taught circus skills for theatre companies, universities, cruise ships, and circus schools around the world. A list of skills that can be explored in a workshop with Brian include: Solo Juggling; Partner Juggling; Plate Spinning; Devilsticks; Diabolo; Stilt-Walking; Rolling Globe; Rola Bola; Roman Ladder; Partner Acrobatics; Tightwire; Object Balancing; and Act Creation. Brian is often called upon to coach circus skills for theatre productions such as Barnum or Pippin.
“Brian’s teaching evaluation student survey scores are among the highest in the School--as high or higher than a number of professors who get nominated annually for Professor of the Year awards. More importantly, he truly cares about and respects his students on a deep, fundamental level.”
Jacob Pinholster, Director ASU School of Film, Dance, & Theatre
Brian has taught circus skills for theatre companies, universities, cruise ships, and circus schools around the world. A list of skills that can be explored in a workshop with Brian include: Solo Juggling; Partner Juggling; Plate Spinning; Devilsticks; Diabolo; Stilt-Walking; Rolling Globe; Rola Bola; Roman Ladder; Partner Acrobatics; Tightwire; Object Balancing; and Act Creation. Brian is often called upon to coach circus skills for theatre productions such as Barnum or Pippin.
“Brian’s teaching evaluation student survey scores are among the highest in the School--as high or higher than a number of professors who get nominated annually for Professor of the Year awards. More importantly, he truly cares about and respects his students on a deep, fundamental level.”
Jacob Pinholster, Director ASU School of Film, Dance, & Theatre
Devising Methods for Theatre
Brian has observed and codified the devising methods of award-winning theatre companies such as Bond Street Theater and Synetic Theatre, as well as contemporary clown and circus companies like Cirque du Soleil and Parallel Exit. He has also received awards for collaborative playwriting and original physical theatre material. Drawing on these and other methodologies, he can offer a series of approaches for physical work, immersive and non-narrative work, as well as more traditional collaborative playwriting processes.
“In your class I discovered how to be more comfortable with myself, how to make bolder choices, and why I love theater.”
Student M. Mooney
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