BoxtalesTheatre Company
mime/pysical
family/young audience
Social Media Links
Artist Bio
Boxtales Theatre Company is an award-winning touring company, based in Santa Barbara, CA. Since 1994, Boxtales has been entertaining and educating, creating many original works of theatre pulled from world myths and folklore. Boxtales’ work is designed for multi-generational audiences using masks, movement, live music, and storytelling, and has been primarily booked into youth and family programming. They have toured much of the western states, and regularly perform in the greater Los Angeles area in venues such as the Getty Center, Getty Villa, Geffen Playhouse, Museum of Tolerance, The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, La Mirada and the 24th Street Theatre. They also perform educational outreach shows and school assemblies.
Beyond the traditional disciplines of the theatre, BOXTALES makes use of many styles borrowed from other performance and cultural traditions such as storytelling, masks, dance, martial arts, circus arts, acro-yoga and radical sports. We try to create images in the mind of the audience without the use of too many props or a set of any kind. We often transform from one character to another on stage, using simple props, costume pieces or just physical characterization. We have found that this “Actor-driven” and “imagistic” approach engages our audience’s imagination, and makes the work open to various interesting interpretations.
Our mission is to bring myths and folktales from around the world to young audiences using masks, movement, music, and storytelling. Our shows and assemblies fire imaginations, inspire creativity, strengthen cultural pride, encourage tolerance, and engage young people in the excitement and immediacy of live performance.
Outreach programs
Boxtales school shows are in a 40-minute assembly format. We bring in stage lighting to transform your cafeteria into a dramatic, theatrical experience. All Boxtales shows are crafted with the California Department of Education content standards in mind, covering English Language Arts, Word Analysis, Vocabulary Development and Literary Response and Analysis, to name just a few.
Iron John (Brothers Grimm)
This dynamic production of Iron John, about a wild man and a prince, is based one of the best German fairy tales found in the collections of the Brothers Grimm. The story is a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood through meaningful rites of passage.
Leyendas de Duende – Magical Tales of Latin America (Bilingual)
This bilingual production explores the rich Hispanic folklore and mythology of Latin America. The stories include La Calavera from Mexico, and Paco and the Witch from Puerto Rico. The program also includes an Afro/Cuban Rhythm and Song that calls to “Alegua – the trickster of the crossroads”, from the Afro-Cuban tradition of Santeria.
Stand-Up Stories – Multicultural Tales to Live By
This show features a collection of multicultural folktales and myths that provide the listener with valuable messages and cultural wisdom they can use to live by. The stories include PHAETHON PHAETHON (Greek Mythology), THE STONECUTTER (Chinese Folktale), THE LIONS WHISKERS (Amhara Tribe of Ethiopia, Eastern Africa)
WISDOM OF EMOTIONS – Life Lessons from Around the World
This show features myths, folktales, and music from different cultures that were chosen with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in mind. The stories offer examples of the 5 SEL competencies of: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.
Last MPAC showcase
Have you performed in Montana before?
no
Notes
Contact Information
Performer Information
Matthew Tavianini
805-962-1142
Agent Information
Touring Information
Artist is based in:
Santa Barbara
CA
USA
Does anyone in the group live in MT or have origins in MT?
Number of people in artist group
3
Hotel rooms needed
3
Authorized to work in the U.S.:
yes
Fee range for public shows
negotiable
Fee range for outreach performances
negotiable