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Singing mimes to perform on campus
By Sally Puleo
Kansan correspondent
Seattle has sent the world alternative music, alternative coffees and now alternative mimes — singing and dancing mimes, without white faces.
"We didn't want to be a normal mime theater company," said Bruce Wylie, Seattle
Mime Theatre founding member and co-artistic director. "We remained very physical, which is the primary way of expressing our art, but we were using music and speaking to their advantages."
The company arrived at the University of Kansas Monday. The troupe's visit will end Sept. 22 with two performances at the Lied Center.
The University is not
The theater company started performing in 1977. Two of the founding members are still with the three-person group, but the company is changing its focus.
ously. It worked. We got great reviews."
the farthest the theater company has traveled to perform. The group has performed in 42 states and four foreign countries, including China, Great Britain, Japan and Taiwan.
"We didn't want to be a normal mime theater company."
"One of our goals is to try and expand the company," Wylie said. "We want to make it an institution that younger people can come and join. We want it to be around when we're
Bruce Wylie member of Seattle Mime Theatre
"In 1981, we went to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland out of our own pockets," Wylie said. "We wanted to get reviewed so people at home would take us more seri-
not around. We want to spend time creating, teaching and performing for children."
Karen Christilles, public relations director at the Lied Center, said the theater company will conduct teacher workshops and master classes, teach at the University dance and theater departments and perform
for local elementary, junior high and high schools while it is in Lawrence.
The theatre will present An Evening in America, a performance of stories by Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carter and James Thurber at 8 p.m. Sept 19 at the Lied Center. The group will perform the Animotion, at 8 p.m. Sept.22 at the center.
Contributed photo
Bruce Wylie, a talking mime in the Seattle Mime Theatre, is performing at the Lied Center this month. The Seattle Mime Theatre shows are a combination of theatre and satire.
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The City Scene
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The Hill September 12,1996