This program is not available in 2008.
For similar programs focusing on service learning,, cross-cultural arts and exchange and adventure please check out the following:

Bridge New England Traveling Theatre
Bridge Hawaii
Bridge Caribbean
Bridge Puerto Rico
Bridge Peru
Bridge China

Or contact Angus Whyte, Student Travel Program Coordinator to discuss options that might be right for you.

Take part in the age-old tradition of Commedia dell'Arte and traveling theatre, and join a troupe of performers roving through Northern Italy and France. Create, produce and perform a traveling theatre piece that transcends language barriers and is suited for performances of all ages and cultures. The European Traveling Theatre is built on Windsor Mountain's 34–year tradition of traveling theatre programs. As a member of the troupe, gain confidence, stage presence, and theatrical skills for performing.

Visit the cultural hub of Florence, ride a vaparetto through the Grand Canal in Venice, savor the cuisine of Northern Italy, enjoy the beaches of Southern France and see the sights in Paris. The adventure through Europe will be guided by a shared interest in performance art. In a castle in Tuscany, study the tradition of Commedia dell'Arte under the tutelage of world–renowned master Giovanni Fusetti. Improvisation, mime, slapstick comedy, and mask making are all important components of this classic art form. After studying the basic character types and drawing the story line, practice up and prepare a performance to share at theatre festivals and in town squares as the troupe travels from Milan to Paris.

Program Details:

Dates:
Tuition: $
Group Size: students and 2 professional leaders
Student Grade Level: Finishing Grades
Starting/Ending Point:
Accommodations: Dormitory and Camping
Major Equipment Needs: Sleeping bag and pad, travel pack and daypack
Theatre Experience: Previous theatre experience preferred. No formal audition; but an interview is required.

Tuition for this program is due in full by April 1, 2009. Travel expenses to and from the starting and ending points are the responsibility of the participant and are not included in the tuition. Windsor Mountain's travel consultant can help you in securing the most reasonable plan for coordinating your travel itinerary. **Due to the risk of a significant decline in the value of the US dollar, there may be a surcharge of up to $150 based on the Euro/USD exchange rate on May 15th. This surcharge would be due on June 1st.

Orientation: Spend the first three days in Florence getting to know each other and adjusting to living and traveling as part of a group. Visit the heart of Italian culture and history. Explore the ancient Roman amphitheatres that have staged performances for thousands of years. Get to know your group in an exciting city that is alive with European culture.

Reside at Spannocchia for Training: The program will be residing on the grounds of the cultural and environmental education programs at the Castello di Spannocchia. Using the Castello as a base for housing and meals, students will conduct intensive artistic or instructional workshops in the Castello's studio space, explore the rich history and culture of the region through day trips to nearby Siena and Florence, or use the land and its organic products to learn about Tuscan cooking and organic farming.

Training with Giovanni Fusetti: You will study under one the great masters of Commedia dell'Arte. This amazing instructor will guide you to become a new actor, someone who possesses personal acting "know-how." Commedia dell'Arte, as presented nowadays, is an exacting discipline where practical ability and know-how are essential for those who intend to make the Theatre their career.

Head to Venice: the perfect spot to perform street theatre. Within its many plazas and vaparetto stops, you will be able to take center stage displaying your skills. In Venice, light and water combine to create a restless magic. All borderlines are eradicated somewhere between dream and reality, present and past, and the ethereal nature of this town will host the first performance.

Re–live the Troubadour Lifestyle across Northern Italy: At the beginning of the third week, you are ready to hit the road performing in village squares and at campgrounds. The troupe will be returning to many of the venues that have welcomed Windsor Mountain in the past as well as choosing new places to perform. Head through fields of sunflowers, by gothic castles, and pass by timeless villages in Italy. As you travel throughout the countryside, enjoy the simple living as performers have for centuries. Buy your food in the market places and occasionally perform for your supper.