Mummenschanz
Encyclopedia
Mummenschanz is a Swiss
pantomime
troupe who perform in a surreal mask- and prop-oriented style. Founded in 1972 by Bernie Schürch, Andres Bossard (August 9, 1944 - March 25, 1992), and the Italian-American
Floriana Frassetto, the group became popular for its play with bizarre masks and forms, light and shadow, and their subtle choreography
.
The name Mummenschanz is German for "mummery," or a play involving mummers
. Mummer is an Old English term for a mime artist
. (See Mummers Play: Etymology and early precedents.)
in Paris
and Roy Bosier in Rome
) and a three-year period of experimentation, the Mummenschanz Mask Theater was founded in 1972. In 1973, Mummenschanz toured the USA, Canada, and South America, and later enjoyed a 1326-performance, three-year run on Broadway
(1977-80). (They still hold the Broadway record for "Longest Running Special.") In 1986, they performed their The New Show at the Helen Hayes Theatre
in New York.
They are known for having appeared as special guest stars on the last episode of the first season of The Muppet Show
, which taped in November 1976. The troupe won the prestigious Rose d'Or
for their TV production La Pomme in 1980. They also appeared on 3-2-1 Contact
in the 1980s and Northern Exposure
in the 1990s. In 1987, Mummenschanz performed in the award-winning music video for "Devil's Ball," by Double
(featuring Herb Alpert
on trumpet).
In 1992, Andres Bossard, a founding member of the troupe, died of AIDS
at age 47.
Mummenschanz toured with American actor John Charles Murphy for the duration of Parade, their world tour beginning in 1995.
Their newest show is called 3x11, and presents the highlights of more than three decades of creative endeavors.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
pantomime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
troupe who perform in a surreal mask- and prop-oriented style. Founded in 1972 by Bernie Schürch, Andres Bossard (August 9, 1944 - March 25, 1992), and the Italian-American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
Floriana Frassetto, the group became popular for its play with bizarre masks and forms, light and shadow, and their subtle choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
.
The name Mummenschanz is German for "mummery," or a play involving mummers
Mummers Play
Mummers Plays are seasonal folk plays performed by troupes of actors known as mummers or guisers , originally from England , but later in other parts of the world...
. Mummer is an Old English term for a mime artist
Mime artist
A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer...
. (See Mummers Play: Etymology and early precedents.)
Ensemble
- Floriana Frassetto (* December 9 1950) (ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
/USA) - Bernie Schürch (* August 3 1944) (Switzerland)
- Raffaella Mattioli (* October 17 1951) (Italy)
- Pietro Montandon (* September 17 1954)
- Jakob Bentsen (Denmark) (???)
- Jan Maria Lukas (* June 18 1975) (Technical leader)
History
After studies (with Jacques LecoqJacques Lecoq
Jacques Pierre Lecoq born in Paris, was a French actor, mime and acting instructor.He is most famous for his methods on physical theatre, movement and mime that he taught at the school he founded in Paris, L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq from 1956 until his death in...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Roy Bosier in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) and a three-year period of experimentation, the Mummenschanz Mask Theater was founded in 1972. In 1973, Mummenschanz toured the USA, Canada, and South America, and later enjoyed a 1326-performance, three-year run on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
(1977-80). (They still hold the Broadway record for "Longest Running Special.") In 1986, they performed their The New Show at the Helen Hayes Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre with 597 seats is the smallest Broadway theatre and is located at 240 West 44th Street in midtown-Manhattan....
in New York.
They are known for having appeared as special guest stars on the last episode of the first season of The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
, which taped in November 1976. The troupe won the prestigious Rose d'Or
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
for their TV production La Pomme in 1980. They also appeared on 3-2-1 Contact
3-2-1 Contact
3-2-1 Contact is an American science educational television show that aired on PBS from 1980 to 1988, and an adjoining children's magazine. The show, a production of the Children's Television Workshop, teaches scientific principles and their applications. Dr. Edward G...
in the 1980s and Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
in the 1990s. In 1987, Mummenschanz performed in the award-winning music video for "Devil's Ball," by Double
Double (band)
Double was a Swiss music duo best remembered for their hit single "The Captain of Her Heart".-Biography:Double formed in 1983 in Zürich, Switzerland by Felix Haug and Kurt Maloo out of the trio Ping Pong of which both Maloo and Haug were members...
(featuring Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
on trumpet).
In 1992, Andres Bossard, a founding member of the troupe, died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
at age 47.
Mummenschanz toured with American actor John Charles Murphy for the duration of Parade, their world tour beginning in 1995.
Their newest show is called 3x11, and presents the highlights of more than three decades of creative endeavors.