Directorial Credits, 1995 - 2005

Additional Directorial Credits

Other Theatres 1985 - 1988

Magic Theatre, San Francisco
One Act Theatre Company, San Francisco
Intersection for the Arts
Blake Street Hawkeyes
‘lesser mortals’ - mixed-media theatre ensemble

CLOWNZILLA

Artistic director, 2006 - present

Original silent white-faced clown troupe premiering work in the states and touring to international festivals.  Please see What the Critics Say for reviews. 
www.clownzilla.net

California Commedia Troupe, Pan Pacific Players

Artistic Director, 1999 - present
This company is dedicated to the creation of original masked commedia productions and international performances. Countries visited: England, Spain, and South Korea.

 

Drama Department, University of California, Irvine

Professor of Acting
Head of Graduate and Undergraduate Acting Programs, 1995 - 2006

Supervision and coordination of graduate and undergraduate curriculum.
Advisor to M.F.A. actors and undergraduate majors.
Selection of incoming graduate actors: NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Irvine.
Director/producer UCI Showcase – presented with Harvard/ART – in LA, NYC.
Selection and supervision of undergraduate Honors in Acting

Courses

Advanced Scene Study; Acting in Styles; Auditioning Technique; Half-face, Full-face, and Bag Masking, Clowning; Transformation in Acting; Commedia, Farce, and Absurd; Acting Pedagogy; Improvisation; Character Building; Clowning; Directing.

University Service

Member, Council on Educational Policy, 2005.
Committee member, School of the Arts Research Awards, 2001 – 2003.
Chair, School of the Arts Executive Committee, 1995.
School of the Arts Representative to the Academic Senate, 1995, 1999.
UCI Representative to Intercampus Arts Council, 1990 - 1993.
Chair, Committee on Teaching Quality, 1990 - 1992.
Founder of UCI Teaching Colloquy, 1991.
Faculty liaison to publicity, 1992 - 1995.
Director: In the Company of Strangers, Ethnic Diversity Video for IDS, 1991.

Publications

Book - Power Speech, 2006

Book - Masking Unmasked, Four Approaches to Basic Acting, Palgrave MacMillan, 2003.

Article - "Beating the Odds: Bassanio triples as Morocco, Arragon and himself in the Merchant of Venice at the Utah Shakespearean Festival." On Stage Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder Press, 1993

Visiting Artist

Accadmia dell’Arte, Arrezo, Italy, 2006 and 2007

Workshop - Clowning

Western Michigan University, 2006

Workshop – Auditioning Skills
Workshop – Clowning and Half Masks

University of Kansas, 2005

Lecture – Graduate Acting Programs in America
Workshop – Half-masks and Commedia
Workshop – Clown Essence
Workshop – Full-face mask integration in production project
Evaluator – Choreography for university production of Candide

Korean National University of Arts, 2004

Workshop – Clowning Technique (3 days)
Workshop – Half-masks and Commedia Improvisation (3 days)
Lecture – Graduate Actor Training in America

California State University, Pomona;
Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, 1995-2004

Workshops – Masks, Commedia, and Clowning

Professional Consultant

Power Speech Presentation Skills, 1993 – present

Clients include:
Pacific Life; UCLA Librarians; Allergan International; Body Wise International; Hunter Industries Incorporated; Orenda International; Pacific Communications; Microsemi; Abercrombie and Kent; The Jennings Company; CU Mortgage Company; Toshiba Incorporated; Future Link; Southern Living at Home; UCI School of Management Executive MBA and Health Executive MBA programs.

For more information: www.elisimon.com

University of California Davis, 1986 - 1988

Visiting Lecturer in Acting, Movement, and Voice.
Served on Graduate Acting and Directing Committees.
Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Drama.
Directed several premiere productions.

Berkshire Theatre Festival, 1983 - 1986

Resident Director and Acting Instructor.
Director of Education.
Managing Director of Children’s Theatre.
Producer/Director of Original Scripts Festival.
Directed over twenty student and professional productions.

Boston, 1982 – 1984

Artist-in-Residence at Brandeis University.
Directed original adaptation of Tommy, The Rock Opera.
Directed new script readings at the New Ehrlich Theatre, Boston.
Visiting Instructor of Acting at Boston University.

Awards

Outstanding Teacher, School of the Arts, UC Irvine, 2001.
Outstanding Teacher, School of the Arts, UC Irvine, 1994.
Inspirational Professor, Greek Society, 1994.

Education

M.F.A. in Acting, Brandeis University, 1982.
B.A. in Dramatic Arts, University of California at Davis, 1980.

Find out more about Eli:

:: Biography
:: Curriculum Vitae
:: What the Critics Say
:: Pan Pacific Players, 2005
:: Pan Pacific Players, 2006
:: Masking Unmasked available at Palgrave MacMillan
:: CLOWNZILLA: www.clownzilla.net
:: Power Speech: www.elisimon.com