The One-Man Variety Show

Post
The One-Man Variety Show
Entertains
Engages
Enchants
“I like him because he’s insane …
completely insane.”
Matt Lauer, TODAY
“ POST merits a place on anybody’s
all-star team of the goofily gifted.”
The New York Times
“Uproariously funny.”
National Public Radio
Actor,
mime,
puppeteer,
juggler,
ventriloquist,
standup comedian &
improvising whirling dervish,
Robert Post is a one-man variety
show who shares what it means to
be wonderfully alive and human in
a hugely entertaining show.
From meticulously crafted routines
to freestyle improvisations, Post
keeps audiences riveted
on what he’s doing (and
wondering how he’s doing it).
His extraordinary physical control
lets him create different “roles”
for different body parts —
including the sounds that help
make the invisible visible.
Post has performed throughout
the U.S. and in Russia, Japan,
Canada, Mexico and the
Mediterranean, in countless
settings including Broadway’s
New Victory Theatre, The Big
Break Festival in Moscow, Festival Internacional Chihuahua in
Mexico, New York’s
Lincoln Center Institute,
Young Audiences, Artists-inSchools and many more.
Post has made three appearances
on TODAY. His PBS special Robert
Post: In Performance won the
Education Network Award
for Best Performance
Program.
“[ POST has a ] remarkable ability to
“
He’s as riveting as he is eclectic …
uproariously funny.
”
National Public Radio
“
American comic insanity hits Moscow!
Robert Post, the American comedian,
brought his famous show to Moscow,
evoking sweet, childlike emotions from
a demanding Russian audience.
Russia Today
”
Chrissie DiAngelus, Artist Manager &
Representative, Piccadilly Arts
www.piccadillyarts.com
888-761-9098
create characters... a whimsical sense
of humor and lyrical style of movement
Los Angeles Times
”
“[ POST is ] a brilliant physical
comedian, an intriguing writer
and an inventive theatrical mind
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
”
‘don’t miss’ show. It’s hard to pick
“a...afavorite
among the clever pieces
because they are all so wonderful.
”
The Arizona Republic
Post Comedy Theatre
Press
Quotes
With its dry humor, expert mime, versatile acting, skilled juggling, ventriloquism, splendid timing and keen sense of satire and
the absurd, “The POSTman Delivers,” has a sophisticated air about it. The Post man of the title is Robert Post, who merits a
place on anybody’s all-star team of the goofily gifted.
—The New York Times
world-class...a brilliant physical comedian,
an intriguing writer and an inventive theatrical mind
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The images were ingenious...
his comic timing was flawless
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
remarkable ability to create characters... a
whimsical sense of humor and lyrical style
of movement...
Los Angeles Times
The contemporary, the classic and
the timeless blend wonderfully...
makes his comic points through
time-honored physical dexterity”
The Village Voice
American comic insanity hits Moscow
Robert Post, the American comedian,
brought his famous show to Moscow,
evoking sweet, childlike emotions from a
demanding Russian audience, made up
of both children and adults.
Russia Today
The comedian, political pundit and
man of a thousand disguises...
uses body language, masks, music
and genius to create a body of work
and a host of unforgettable, totally
radical characters
The Tampa Tribune
brilliant, entertaining and believable
The Cincinnati Enquirer
He’s as riveting as he is eclectic…
uproariously funny.
Bob Mondello, National Public Radio
...a don’t miss show. Its hard to pick a
favorite among the clever pieces because
they are all so wonderful.
The Arizona Republic
Robert Post specializes in a witty, bizarre
deconstructed vaudeville of stage images
the likes of which I feel sure you won’t see
again any time soon
The Edmonton Journal, Alberta
inventive...intriguing...off-the-wall
dead-on commentary
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Post Comedy Theatre
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Repertoire
A Rather Unfortunate
Evening for Burglar Burt
Robert Post is a one-man band portraying the
hapless Burglar Burt while manufacturing the
squeaks, growls, snores and klunks that plague
the last job he’ll ever do in this tribute to the
comedic genius of Sid Ceasar.
Tango
Post invites a pair of red long johns on the
dance floor for a “steamy”tango. In the resulting tangle of arms and legs it’s difficult to tell
who’s leading who.
SPIKED!
“...as American as cell phones, fax machines
and bottom lines. Post’s harried office worker,
whose life is governed by gadgets, will never
catch up. The use of sound effects in this work
is completely ingenious.”
Ace Wingspan,
King of the Sky
Ace Wingspan is the fearless stunt pilot who
takes us on an aerial joyride, astonishing the
crowd with high-flying tumbles and heartstopping dives. Post makes us see a movie in
our minds. With his rubbery body, he recreates
the magic and excitement of film’s long-shot
and close-up techniques. His arm becomes
the plane’s propeller and his fingers portray the
pilot walking on the wings of the plane. This
zany physical cartoon is accompanied by Post’s
cacophony of mouth sounds worthy of a Loony
Toons sound track.
“Its hard to pick a favorite among the
clever pieces because they are all so wonderful.”
—The Arizona Republic
Beyond the Wall (a Mystery)
Pasquale’s Kitchen
This six-character, quick-change spoof of a
murder mystery, is performed behind and
around a narrow black wall that is transformed
into a variety of sets including an automobile, a
castle door and bathtub. With a change of a
hat, wig or impeccable dialect, Post switches
at lightning speed between Inspector Wesley
Bloom, from Scotland Yard to Tilson, a surly,
gnarled, cockney butler to Nicole, the scheming
French “beauty” to Fritz Hinkle, her pompous
German husband to Lady McNaughton, very
British, very intoxicated and remarkably casual
about her husband’s death, and, finally, to Lord
McNaughton, the Scottish stuffed corpse.
The work is packed with visual imagery, verbal
gymnastics and preposterous props, giving the
impressions that many actors, rather than one,
are working behind the screen.
A wacky TV chef whips up a culinary feast of
juggling, visual gags, dialects, jokes, magic
and rhythm. He serves up his special cooking secret, “let the cook inside you guide
you.” While demonstrating French, Australian,
Russian, and British specialties, Pasquale—like
a method actor—totally immerses himself in the
character. He battles an uncooperative seafood
dish, creates quick bread like you’ve never
seen, shakes a cow to make his own butter,
and creates a new dimension of “natural food.”
Post Child
A dad driving home with his son after a performance? A performer reassuring his “inner
child” as he struggles to stay awake? Post performs an enchanting duet with a puppet--a third
grade version of Post--created by Henson
artist Matthew Brooks.
Ballet 101
In this hilarious parody of classical
ballet training, Post depicts the character
of Marcia, an extraordinarily gifted
adolescent ballerina. With an expressionless
mask set on the top of his head Post transforms
his arms and hands into Marcia’s legs and feet,
enabling her contortionist display. The class
builds to an absurd climax as the, masked-faced
prodigy literally flies out of the dance studio.
Just Another Head
This jarring interpretation of the Seven Ages of
Man is performed within a stark black box, suggesting a puppet stage, revealing only Post’s
head covered with a skull cap. The “head”
appears to float, while his character ages, creating an oddly beautiful image. Billy is taught
from birth that certain activities are rewarded
(with an oversized lollipop) and certain are punished (with a red baseball bat). He struggles
through the joys and confusions of childhood,
high school dances, college sports (where Post
competes with a ring toss and ping pong tournament using only his mouth), and his wedding.
This simple life changes drastically when he
finds himself in boot camp. Post’s zany antics
with balloons and squirt guns quickly carries
the audience from laughter to unsettled silence,
as Billy is physically and emotionally wounded
in battle.
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Performance History
A sample list from countless performances!
Alverno College
Big Break Festival
Brigham Young University
Castleton State College
CAPA, Southern Theater
Carpenter Center
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
Concord College
Contemporary Dance Theatre
Cruise Artistes International
Culver Academies
Dance Affiliates, Annenberg Center
Diane Wortham Theatre
Eastern New Mexico University Dept. of Theatre & Dance
Festival Internacional
First Night of Providence
Gunston Arts Center
Herberger Theater
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Lancaster Festival, Lancaster Symphony
L.A. Arts
Lincoln Center Institute
Lincoln Center Institute Western New York
Mable Tainter Memorial Theatre
Movement Theatre International
New Victory Theater
Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival
Oberlin College
Ohio University
Painted Bride Arts Center
Purdue University
Quad City Arts
Reston Community Center
Sunset Community Center
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center - Off Center Theater
University of Maine
University of Massachusetts
University of Rochester
Victoria Theatre
Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Moscow, Russia
Provo, Utah
Castleton, Vermont
Columbus, Ohio
Long Beach, California
Cincinnati, Ohio
Athens, West Virginia
Cincinnati, Ohio
France, Italy, Spain, Portugal
Culver, Indiana
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Asheville, North Carolina
Portales, New Mexico
Chihuahua, Mexiso
Providence, Rhode Island
Arlington, Virginia
Phoenix, Arizona
Urbana Champaign, Illinois
West Palm Beach, Florida
Lancaster, Ohio
Lewiston, Maine
New York, NY
Buffalo, New York
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
New York, New York
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Oberlin, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lafayette, Indiana Quad City, Illinois
Reston, Virginia
Carmel, California
Tampa, Florida
Augusta, Maine
Amherst, Massachusetts
Rochester, New York
Dayton, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Family Performance - Overview
Robert Post has performed for hundreds of thousands of young
people and families in his tours and residencies across forty-five
states, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Russia. His PBS television
show also aired across the USA and Canada, winning the Central
Education Network Award for Best Performance Program.
Post was the featured artist for the National Young Audiences
Conference and since 1994 has been selected to conduct teacher workshops and performances for the Lincoln Center Institute
sites throughout New York and Ohio. He continues to participate in numerous educational programs including The Greater
Columbus Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools program, and The
Muse Machine.
Presenter Quotes
Post’s on stage performance is
masterful as his imagination works
overtime to blend comedy and
creativity throughout his theatrical
work. The sophistication and intelligence of Robert’s creative work
is unique. He is truly a special
performer who has the ability to
adapt to and deeply engage widely
diverse audiences. I highly recommend working with him.
-Scott Noppe-Brandon,
Executive Director
Lincoln Center Institute, New
York, NY
Robert’s performance is amazingly
clever and funny in intelligent ways.
His skills and talent as a physical
actor are brilliantly showcased in
the show. The audience is exposed
to many elements of theatre arts
such as Commedia del’arte, mime,
puppetry and more. There is no
dull moment!
- Mariko Y. Hancock,
Dir. of Cultural Prog.
Castleton State College,
Castleton, VT
A performance by Robert Post is
many things - it’s theatre - it’s comedy - it’s allusion - but above all, it
is pure joy, laughter and an audience pleaser. If you love watching
your audience leave the theatre
laughing, smiling and thanking
you for a great evening, then book
Robert Post.
- John Ellis, Managing Director
Diana Wortham Theatre,
Asheville, NC
Children and adults alike loved
your physical comedy, imaginative characters and slight-of-hand
tricks. From the young school
children to the seniors, physically
and mentally challenged adults and
youth, to college students and the
typical concert goers, you gave an
engaging, often times hilarious performance. You certainly contributed
to our reputation of bringing the
world’s best to our audiences.
Director,
Visiting Artists Series
Quad City Arts,
Rock Island, Illinois
Post will select from the following works to create
age appropriate shows:
• Ace Wingspan, King of the Sky
• A Rather Unfortunate Evening for Burglar Burt
• Ballet 101
• Beyond the Wall (a Mystery)
• The Daydreamer
• Just Another Head
• Odds and Ends
• Pasquale’s Kitchen
• Post Child
• Shticks
• Spiked
• Tango
• The Bag
Robert Post engages an audience
of school children in the fantastic
journeys of his imagination, creating worlds which reflect the lives
and concerns of kindergartners to
high schoolers. He examines the
issues of their existence through
their imaginations and involves
them in the process. I hope
nobody hires him so that we
can have him here all the time.
Educational
Programming Director
L.A. Arts, Lewiston, Maine
Not only were our students
entranced throughout the whole
performance, but our staff was
also. Descriptions ranged from
“magnificent” to “totally awesome.”
Our staff thought that the performance was educational as well as
entertaining, and would like to see
more of this type of program
in the future.
Principal
Salt Rock Elementary School,
West Virginia
The performance was absolutely
first rate. Post had the student’s
total attention at all times and
they moved from one concept to
another easily. He made us feel
very special - and smart!
Elem. School Teacher
Hibbing, Minnesota
Robert has that rare ability to
entrance the youngest of children
(my two year old daughter fell
madly in love at first sight) and,
at the very same time, engross
the most seasoned of adult
theater goers. His shows are
a delight for multigenerational
audiences who can enjoy
together his humor, magic
and poignant commentary
on life’s joys and trials.
Shelly Casto,
Director of Education
Wexner Center for the Arts,
The Ohio State University
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Family Performance Repertoire
Post will select from the following works to create a show appropriate for audiences of any age.
Odds and Ends
Driving Lesson
A fast-paced introduction of Post’s unique
style. His fingers take on a life of their own and
become an Olympic diver or an uncontrollable
toupee that won’t stay on his head. His nose
comes right off for a quick cleaning, two arms
form a giant mouth and a football play is rewinded from every angle at an impossible speed. This
seven minute opening is a physical free-association to challenge and expand the imagination of
the audience.
An anxious father finds that giving his son a sim- They’re just three sticks: about three feet long
ple driving lesson on a standard clutch, becomes with red tips. But in Robert Post’s hands, they’re
a death-defying nightmare.
magic, pirouetting through the air in exact and
almost mathematical patterns. Suddenly, they’re
Beyond the Wall (a Mystery)
not just pieces of wood. One snakes through
This six-character, quick-change spoof of a murthe air as a cobra. One leaves home to join the
der mystery, is performed behind and around
circus as a trapeze. Soon, they all conspire to
a narrow black wall that is transformed into a
make a movie, simultaneously starring as cowvariety of sets including an automobile, a castle
boys, Indians, horses and speeding bullets.
door and bathtub. With a change of a hat, wig
or impeccable dialect, Post switches at lightThe Daydreamer
ning speed between Inspector Wesley Bloom,
This work was inspired by Post’s love for the
from Scotland Yard to Tilson, a surly, gnarled,
Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The school bus
cockney butler to Nicole, the scheming French
is out of control. Mr. Phillips, the driver, is turning
“beauty” to Fritz Hinkle, her pompous German
purple. No problem for Bobby who turns the bus
husband to Lady McNaughton, very British, very
into a spaceship and saves the day. To conquer
intoxicated and remarkably casual about her husa bully he drinks a magic potion and grows fifty
band’s death, and, finally, to Lord McNaughton,
feet tall. But... he spills his drink in the process.
the Scottish stuffed corpse.
This means big trouble. The only way out of the
The work is packed with visual imagery, verbal
principal’s office is ...to become invisible.
gymnastics and preposterous props, giving the
impressions that many actors, rather than one,
Ace Wingspan,
are working behind the screen.
A Rather Unfortunate Evening
for Burglar Burt
Robert Post is a one-man band portraying the
hapless Burglar Burt while manufacturing the
squeaks, growls, snores and klunks that plague
the last job he’ll ever do in this tribute to the
comedic genius of Sid Ceasar.
Ballet 101
In this hilarious parody of classical ballet training,
Post depicts the character of Marcia, an extraordinarily gifted adolescent ballerina. She is created with an expressionless mask set on the top
of Post’s head. Kneeling on the floor he transforms his arms and hands into Marcia’s legs and
feet, enabling her contortionist display. The class
builds to an absurd climax as the masked-faced
prodigy literally flies out of the dance studio.
Tango
Post invites a pair of red long johns on the dance
floor for a “steamy”tango. In the resulting tangle
of arms and legs it’s difficult to tell who’s leading
who.
Pasquale’s Kitchen
A wacky TV chef whips up a culinary feast of
juggling, visual gags, dialects, jokes, magic and
rhythm. He serves up his special cooking secret,
“let the cook inside you guide you.” While
demonstrating French, Australian, Russian, and
British specialties, Pasquale—like a method
actor—totally immerses himself in the character.
He battles an uncooperative seafood dish, creates quick bread like you’ve never seen, shakes
a cow to make his own butter, and creates a
new dimension of “natural food.”
Shticks
King of the Sky
Ace Wingspan is the fearless stunt pilot who
takes us on an aerial joyride, astonishing the
crowd with high-flying tumbles and heartstopping dives. Post makes us see a movie in
our minds. With his rubbery body, he recreates
the magic and excitement of film’s long-shot
and close-up techniques. His arm becomes
the plane’s propeller and his fingers portray the
pilot walking on the wings of the plane. This
zany physical cartoon is accompanied by Post’s
cacophony of mouth sounds worthy of a Loony
Toons sound track.
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!
Post Comedy Theatre
View video, press kit, tour schedule & more at www.robertpost.org
Residency Activities for Adults
During a residency, Post offers a variety of community activities
ranging from workshops or informal performances for professional
artists, teachers, social service workers, homemakers, business
leaders, etc. Following is a sampling of activities. Additional
ideas from presenters are welcomed for consideration.
INFORMAL PERFORMANCE
Post’s forty-five minute informal performance can be adjusted for
groups ranging from a group of teachers to prison inmates to the
local Chamber of Commerce. Discussion with the audience will
WORKSHOPS
Workshops will introduce participants
to a sampling of the skills necessary to
create and perform Post’s work.
Beginner’s Workshop (1 hr)
Maximum 20-25 people. Workshop
can be adapted for all ages.
Activities will include some or all of the
following, depending on the abilities
of the participants.
- hand eye coordination exercises
- relaxation exercises
- basic pantomime techniques
- beginning juggling
- one word improvisations
(based on speed and drawing
from personal history)
- ensemble graphics
(use of body and vocal
techniques to create imagined
environments)
Many of the above activities can
be broken out into specific, intensive
workshops
continue throughout the performance and audience participation
may be invited if time permits.
Technical Requirements: Performance area must be a stage or
large unobstructed space (20’ depth X 20’ width 14’ height - minimum) with smooth (preferably sprung wood) floor. A clean floor
is essential. Space must be available to artist for rehearsal and
setup at least one hour prior to performance. Audience must be
set up proscenium style.
TECHNIQUE FOR
THEATRE STUDENTS (1.5 hr)
Maximum of 20 students
who should be warmed-up prior
to workshop
Activities will draw from the following:
- hand eye coordination exercises
- group improvisations
- working with “frozen” images
- ensemble graphics
(use of body and vocal
techniques to create imagined
environments)
- sound effects
- one word improvisations
(based on speed and drawing
from personal history)
- character studies
- pantomime technique
- hand isolation
- handling of objects
- showing variety of weights
- dealing with imaginary objects
“Coffeehouse Critique”
for Professionals
or Advanced Students
Length of evening and number of participants is quite flexible and should be
discussed with Post prior to scheduling
This is an interesting offering for communities with practicing performing artists who
are creating solo or duet works (or would
like to create works.) Post (and participants) will spend a relaxed, informal evening viewing and critiquing works by those
who wish to show their works. He will
begin the session with a general discussion about his working process, working
with a director, touring, character work,
and how to critique work in a productive
manner. He will then ask participants
to show their works, if they wish to do
so, and will discuss the work with them.
Sponsor should provide simple refreshments and a space large enough for informal performances.
Inventive... imaginative... ingenious!