World Renowned Mime Artist Marcel Marceau to Perform at UT Tyler
September 26, 2001
Individual show tickets are available to see mime artist Marcel Marceau at The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center director, has announced.
Marceau will take the stage at 7:30 pm Friday, Oct. 12 in the Cowan Center's Vaughn Auditorium. Also performing with him will be Pierre-Yves Massip and Sara Mangano.
Tickets, which are $25, $35 and $45, can be purchased at the Cowan Center box office. Box office hours are 10 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday and 6:30 - 7:30 pm the night of the performance.
The Cowan Center also will be the host of Marcel Marceau Speaks at 7:30 pm on Oct. 11. The French native, who speaks English, will present a brief video and discuss his art form. This event is open to ticketholders of the Oct. 12 performance.
"I urge parents not to miss this opportunity to bring their children to this performance. This is an experience that will impact their entire lives. No child, and no adult for that matter, should miss seeing Marcel Marceau in their lifetime," Thomae-Morphew said.
Universally acclaimed as "the world's greatest mime," Marceau's illustrious career spans 50 years. Still performing in top form at 78, he became familiar to millions of Americans through his many television appearances.
He also appeared on the BBC as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in 1973 and in 13 films including Bip and the Style Pantomimes and First Class in which he portrayed 17 different roles.
Marceau's interest in the art of mime began at an
early age when he would imitate with gestures anything
that sparked his imagination. After discovering the
talents of such silent screen artists as Charlie Chaplin,
Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Stan Laurel and Oliver
Hardy, his admiration for these great actors
inspired him to pursue the art of silence as a profession.
In 1947, he created Bip, the clown who in his striped pullover and battered, deflowered opera hat, has become his alter-ego, much like Chaplin's Little Tramp became that star's personality.
A style pantomime, Marceau is in a class by himself. His silent exercises, which include such classic works as the cage, walking against the wind, the mask maker, and in the park, and satires on everything from sculptors to matadors, have been described as works of genius.
He was a favorite guest of Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore, and he also had his own one-man show entitled Meet Marcel Marceau.
To reserve tickets, call 566-7424.
