| Press Release |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2008 CONTACT: Susan Strano / Marketing Coordinator (802) 447-1571 Fax (802) 442-8305 info@benningtonmuseum.org |
| Vermont Film Series: Silents are Golden |
| The Bennington Museum’s annual Vermont Film Series wraps up its third season on Friday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Ada Paresky Education Center, with Rob Mermin: Silents are Golden. This performance sheds new light on how the acting style of the silent era was based on theater techniques of the day, and developed from theatrical gesture into sophisticated physical expression. In the live performance, Rob demonstrates pantomime techniques from 19th century to the mid 20th century mime movements of Marcel Marceau and others. He then makes the unique connection to silent film acting. He shows the gestures and tricks of the trade that the silent stars learned in circus, vaudeville, music hall and theater before they ever got to Hollywood. The program is illustrated with a dazzling array of clips from over 50 silent films featuring: Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo, Lillian Gish, Douglas Fairbanks, Marion Davies, Valentino, Chaplin, Keaton, Langdon, Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy and more!
Mermin ran off to join the circus in 1969. He clowned with various European circuses including England's Circus Hoffman, Sweden's Cirkus Scott, Denmark's Circus Benneweis in the Circus Building by the Tivoli, the Hungarian Magyar State Cirkusz, and circus palaces throughout the former Soviet Union. Formal training includes mime with masters Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux, and a degree in Drama and Literature from Lake Forest College. He is former Dean of Clown College for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and President of Blackfriar’s Summer Theater. In 1987 Rob founded the award-winning international touring company Circus Smirkus. Rob’s awards include Copenhagen’s World Star-Time Gold Clown; The Bessie Award; Russia’s Best Director Prize at The International Festival on the Black sea; It Takes A Village Award; and the Vermont Arts Council Award of Merit. Admission to the program is $5 per person. Students with valid school ID will be admitted free. Refreshments are available before, during, and after the program. |
| The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main Street (Route 9), Bennington, in The Shires of Vermont. The museum is just a short ride from Manchester, Williamstown, and eastern New York. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum is closed on Wednesdays. Visit www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571 for more information about the museum |
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