Cahoot?! Open Studio:
The Elements of Physical Theatre
May 27-30 from 6:30 - 7:30pm at Soma Studios
Free! Registration required. Ages 16+
Character
Mask
Clown
Stage Combat
Character Mask Clown Stage Combat
Open the doors! Sweep the floors! Cahoot?! Physical Theatre invites you to the Cahoot?! Open Studio workshop series! In The Elements of Physical Theatre, a series of four classes, workshoppers can expect a survey of the techniques and tools of physical theatre. Topics include Character Creation, Embodying the Mask, Clown, and Hand to Hand Stage Combat, taught by instructors with national and international experience. Adult students of all skill levels are welcome! These FREE! Workshops take place from 6:30-7:30pm, May 27, 28, 29 & 30th. Soma Studio, 79 13th Ave NE, #212 Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Registration required. Click the button below to sign up for any combination of these workshops.
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Cahoot?! believes that high quality theatre should be available to everyone. In order to remove a major barrier to theatre, Cahoot?! has decided to move past paid admission and instead provide free access to all programming.
Those who have the ability and desire to join us in this mission can find out more about donating here.
Tuesday, May 27th
Character Creation & Discovery
with Graham Casper Haught
Learn and experiment with new, fun, innovative and explorative ways to create completely new and original characters. You will be led through various exercises, games and methods to find the mind, body and voice of the character through imagination, play, movement and discovery!
About the Instructor:
Graham Haught has been teaching with Cahoot Physical Theatre since its founding in 2018. He completed the Advanced Ensemble Program at Dell’Arte International and has been leading classes in character, clowning, improvisation, movement and dance for over fifteen years to a wide age-range of youth and adults.
He leads all lessons with intentionality and an awareness of the needs of the specific students he works with, adapting their lessons to pair with the students’ experiences and understanding of theatre, performance, their body, and the world around them. Graham believes in a “structured chaos” approach—they create safe and clear boundaries for the creation and exploration of the mind, body and heart of the character through imaginative play, challenge and support.
Wednesday, May 28th
Embodying the Mask
with Katie Kaufmann
Explore masks and mask performance techniques. Shape shift physicality to support the character suggestion each mask gives. A fun opportunity to try on types you might never be cast for as a maskless actor.
About the Instructor:
Katie Kaufmann is an actor/creator trained in mask making, mask performance, commedia, clown, and devised theatre. She has been performing and creating in the Twin Cities for 24 years. She has studied at Dell’Arte, NYU, Boston Conservatory, Denver Center, Pierre Byland, BADA, and the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski.
Katie has created masks for Theatre de la Jeune Lune, University of Minnesota, Lyric Arts, Wayward Theatre, Bedlam Theatre, and private commissions. She creates theatre that explores our humanity, vulnerability, and resilience in the face of adversity.
In October 2025 she is producing a full-length mask performance about the side effects of chronic loneliness, and how a group of people living solitary individual lives finally discover that connection and community has healing properties.
Thursday, May 29th
Clown Workshop — Finding the Golden Thread
with Kathryn Cesarz
In this workshop, clown and physical comedy teacher Kathryn Cesarz will work with students to explore the relationship between clown performer and audience. Other topics include "the golden thread" of improvisation; finding what's funny, and playing and responding with a clown partner. Beginning to advanced clowns are encouraged to attend!
About the Instructor:
Kathryn Cesarz is a multidisciplinary theatre artist and clown. She has had a blast collaborating in multiple ensembles including Quasimondo Milwaukee Physical Theatre, Cooperative Performance Milwaukee, Sleeper Theatre, and others. Fringe track record includes the Edinburgh Fringe, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, and FringeNYC. Some of Kathryn's creator/director projects include Heck (2024), The Unstrung Harp (2022), Le Lady Accordioniste (ongoing), Emily (2016), and Cloud of Gnats (2016). Teaching since 2009, Kathryn holds a BA from the University of Evansville and an MFA from Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre, where she really learned to clown around. Check out more at kathryncesarz.com, instagram: @Kathryn Cesarz
Friday, May 30th
Hand-to-Hand Stage Combat
with Jesse March
This workshop will focus on providing the tools to engage and create basic hand to hand stage combat scenes. We will cover the performative exercises of attacking, showcasing pain, and the dramatic arc of a fight.
About the Instructor:
Jesse March is an international devising theater artist, street performer, mime, stilt walker, and educator who has received his Master of Fine Arts from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from The California Institute of the Arts (Calarts). He is passionate about performance in all forms, but especially loves Commedia Dell’Arte, Clown, and any work utilizing his skill with the body and comedy. He is a fight choreographer, martial artist, and fencer. His experience lends itself to choreographing hand to hand combat, as well as rapier and broadsword. Jesse, a native of Los Angeles, has been a theater artist for twenty plus years, often performing internationally (Mexico, Scotland, England, Indonesia, France, and more). His work includes original devised theater, adaptations of existing work, extensive voiceover, 15 years of street performance and stilt walking, and commercial corporate work with companies such as Universal Studios Hollywood and Disney.