Patrick Stayer, a senior theatre major in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film from Bellevue, Neb., has received a scholarship from ArtUniverse to attend the International Physical Theatre Conference and Laboratory in Tuscany, Italy, this December.
“Patrick has taken his love of parkour and stage combat and turned that into a love for all forms of physical theatre,” Assistant Professor of Theatre Ian Borden said. “He is training himself in dance, flying and building his strength and flexibility with a focus I’ve rarely seen. Patrick beat out elite competition just to be accepted into the workshop, let alone win a scholarship. He’s worked very hard to make this happen—he’s earned it, and he should be very proud.”
The conference and laboratory are open to performers inspired by physical theatre, designed for experienced dancers, actors of physical theatre, contemporary circus performers, choreographers and directors. It includes intensive practical training, lectures and discussions with Russian theatre director and teacher Sergei Ostrenko. The program is Dec. 15-22.
“I would like to be in some circus arts or physical movement troupe somewhere on one of the coasts or overseas,” Stayer said. “So having the opportunity to network with people already doing that and finding out what’s happening and where will be a really great opportunity.”
Borden alerted him to the existence of this conference.
“He said it probably wasn’t something I was qualified for since it’s a conference for professional performers, but he thought it would be a good thing for me to know about,” Stayer said. “I looked into it, and on the application requirements, it didn’t say that I couldn’t apply, so I did.”
Stayer’s interest in physical theatre began in high school.
“I guess you could say things started percolating when I saw Cirque du Soleil on DVD in a class,” he said. “It was the first time I had seen any kind of stage production. Obviously it was mind blowing. My mind couldn’t stop thinking about it for days and days.”
He continued to act in high school before coming to the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at UNL. He got cast in “The Three Musketeers” his freshman year, where he was able to do some sword fighting.
“I picked it up really quickly,” he said. “And it was something I really enjoyed doing. I was intent on being in the next production that used swords.”
He was in “Agravio” his sophomore year and took classes in movement and stage combat his junior year. He has also served as a fight captain and choreographer for both university and Haymarket Theatre productions and was a junior intern at the Lincoln Assassination Stage Combat workshops the last two years.
“I love it because it’s exhilarating,” he said. “I’m kind of an adrenalin junkie. I like to do dangerous things. I’m always moving.”
He has also attended dance performances and masterclasses from Lied Center for Performing Arts artists, such as Streb and Cirque Dreams.
“I take advantage of every opportunity I can while I’m here,” Stayer said. “That’s why my resume was good enough to get me into the conference.”
He also plans to be trained on all eight weapons offered by the Society of American Fight Directors by the end of next year.
“It’s very hard to do that,” Stayer said. “Not a lot of schools have teachers for it, but we have three.”
Stayer says he looks forward to the training he will receive in Tuscany.
“Sergei Ostrenko is working with some of the biggest groups in Russia, so he’s an important connection to have,” Stayer said. “The kind of knowledge he can impart on the Russian theatre tradition, which is what our school of acting is based off of means I will come back all the more prepared for my last semester here. It’s taking exactly what we’re being taught and taking it to a more advanced level.”
Following graduation, he is considering moving to Chicago and auditioning with troupes such as Cirque du Soleil, Diavolo and Project in Motion.
“My avenues are endless,” Stayer said.