Artsource
THEATRE MUSIC ®
The Music Center’s Study Guide to the Performing Arts ENDURING VALUES
TRANSFORMATION
ARTISTIC PROCESSES
TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL
1. CREATING (Cr)
CONTEMPORARY
2. PERFORMING, PRESENTING, PRODUCING (Pr)
EXPERIMENTAL
3. RESPONDING (Re)
MULTI-MEDIA
4. CONNECTING (Cn)
FREEDOM & OPPRESSION
THE HUMAN FAMILY
THE POWER OF NATURE
Title of Work:
Climb of Itsy-Bitsy Spider. All of David’s stories are original
CLASSIC JOURNEYS or Tableaux of Contents
or original adaptations. He incorporates clowning, juggling, mime, puppetry, the transformation of simple
Creator: Storyteller: David Novak b. 1955
props, and audience participation to make his stories come to life. His work is characterized by a strong
Background Information:
expressive physicality and a voice that is agile and clear,
David Novak is a trained theatre professional with a
creating characters whose fears, joys, frustrations and
BFA in Directing from the Southern Methodist
dreams are universal.
University and an MFA in Acting from the University of
Creative Process of the Artist or Culture:
California, San Diego. Using San Diego as his home
David Novak’s creative process begins with time spent
base, he pursued a successful career as an actor, working
daydreaming or envisioning a picture of a story. He
in New York City and in major repertory theatres
plays with the story’s form, looking at it from the
nationwide. Two things, an event and a self-realization,
inside-out or the outside-in. The Heroic Climb of Itsy-
transformed David's life and directed him to explore the
Bitsy Spider takes the story inside the simple rhyme and
path of storytelling. The birth of his son, Jack, made it
expands it out into a burlesque of a mythical journey.
more difficult for him to feel joy in packing his bags for
Theseus and the Minotaur takes the classic text and goes
a play’s out-of-town run.
Coupled with that, the
inside, exploring and discovering the story within.
realization that acting did not allow him to use all of his
Metaphorical images and allegories are identified and
skills as an artist, led him to do some storytelling work-
heightened as David finds messages radiating from
shops in local schools. With storytelling, David
the symbols and images in the stories. Serving as his
discovered that he could integrate all of his areas of
own director, David experiments with his actor’s
interest and expertise: mime, circus skills, movement,
instrument to find a character’s vocal and physical life. He
character, voice, classical text, acting, directing and
improvises
teaching. He was challenged by the creativity of the art
costume pieces to find the precise
and felt pleasure in its pursuit. As a storyteller, David
and often minimalistic way to use
has engaged and inspired audiences of all ages. His
simple objects. Finally, he begins
appearances include the Lincoln Center Institute in
telling the story using the
New York City and the Los Angeles Open Festival, and
feedback and energy from his
he continues to perform throughout the U.S.
About the Artwork: David Novak draws his stories from classic myths, fables, legends and well-known nursery rhymes. A sample repertoire in the classic style includes an Aesop Fable, Theseus and the Minotaur, Atalanta and The Heroic
Photo Courtesy of David Novak
“Storytelling is a form of animation - the teller brings a tale to life, which after its telling, has new life in the hearts and imaginations of its listeners.” David Novak
with
props
and
audiences to arrive at a polished version.
California