Testimonials

It's been four days since the workshop with Ben and I still feel the positive effects of his work. 'The Desert' workshop was a challenging and stimulating seven hour session that effortlessly bridges the gaps between movement, voice and narrative. One of my challenges as a performance artist is to find a healthy balance between these three worlds and Ben showed me different ways to go about them. By using movement techniques that reminded me of my training in Butoh and a variety of chants that could've come out of a shamanic ritual; I felt like my voice was opening up, regaining confidence to be heard, while my body found different ways to fight the urgency and pressure of time. I am looking forward to doing another workshop with Ben. He's got an incredible sense of dedication to his work and to each participant.

- Rico Noguchi

Anyone participating in an Urban Research Theater workshop with artistic director Ben Spatz is wholly rewarded. You gain exposure to the technical disciplines Ben employs to bring together the creative components of his carefully crafted theater works, which so consistently reveal themselves to be beautiful to hear, to see, and to sense. Also, one gains immeasurably as a creative recipient participating in a workshop because of Ben's abilities as a skilled teacher and artist. His teaching is defined by a clarity which shows "this way not that way" at the highest calibre of expression and discernment. His compassionate acceptance of eager students' budding but underdeveloped skills creates a nonjudgmental studio environment where newborn ideas are welcomed and creative alliances are easily found.

- Sujin Sonny Ock

There is some very strong evocation of something deep inside my spirit ... I can't put it into the words now, but following your voice I could feel something very archaical, old, essential in myself ... This kind of 'work' is very intimately and it was good for me to experience it in a small group. Michele was such a great 'wave' and invocation to move with freedom and joy. Opening inside - creating inner spaces and sharing its vibrations - that is the image which I have after your workshop...

- Tatyana Sehic

I want to thank you again, and this time in a more aware way, for the wonderful workshop that you guys led. It's been such an important time for me as actress and as human being . . . As I mentioned right after the end of the workshop, something happened to me that hardly happens: I felt that I could totally trust you and let you direct my work . . . And again I have to thank you for this. For the working environment that you've been able to create.

- Giorgia Zago

Thank you so much for the truly beautiful 'otherness' you sculpted with such grace. It was a tremendous gift. I felt like I was in another city, or even another country. I felt like a foreigner in this city where I have lived for six years . . . I am used to doing street theater that is very political and in-your-face. It's different when you're behind the mask of a message or image, or if you have costumes of any kind. Here we were just ourselves, doing this. I felt vulnerable in the city. Vulnerable in a radical way.

- Monica Hunken

It was very liberating for me, truly inspiring and I still feel a surge of energy. Thank you for creating that welcoming and encouraging space that allowed us to explore our voices and bodies and explore some of our boundaries. I amazed myself how quickly I felt comfortable expressing myself in public - both in the studio and in the streets. The use of song really succeeded in creating imaginary spaces and perceptions within the city.

- Eddy Shoeffman

From what I experienced, it seemed that what was at the heart of this method was that the actor gets to a place where they are feeling something, experiencing something within themselves that is also not shut off. There is an awareness generated that is apparent from the outside, and this visible internal awareness is what an audience or viewer would be drawn to and be able to connect with, as if they were experiencing the movement, the scene and the mental state of the performer through the performers eyes.

- Christina Spangler