Remi Barclay Messenger, nee Bosseau, CV Curriculum Vitae-Resume

REMI BARCLAY MESSENGER

Docklands, 3008, Victoria,Australia,

PROFILE (came to Australia to live and be married in 2003) Talented professional who is skilled at a variety of disciplines related to the creative process and the empowerment of people. Extensive experience in the design and implementation of training programs that respond to specific needs of individuals in various settings including corporations, schools, institutions and community groups.

SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS in the U.S.A.

As one of five on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, guided and was involved with start-up and development of a professional theatre. Over a 20-year period. annual budget reached $1.5 million.

Co-founder of five professional theatre companies since 1967.

Negotiated groundbreaking union contract with Actor's Equity Association to represent a theatre company that was both management and talent. Served on Management Team which hired and supervised staff, ranging annually from 30 to 50 people. Raised funds, identified and helped revitalize an old bank building, converting it into a well equipped professional theatre; involvement in trustee and public relations, budgeting and marketing.

Created and implemented programs designed to address specific life issues for more than 100 companies, schools, universities and institutions. Co-conceived and implemented educational programs of artist-teachers throughout New Jersey, generating $150,000 in annual grants and contracts. Also generated several thousand new audience members, students and new board members. . Developed "Thunder in the Light" program, which had two successful seasons, budgeted at $75,000 in the first season and $105,000 for the second season. Program reached 1500 individuals each season. Wrote all performance materials. Facilitated extensive audience discussion and interaction . Co-developed "Voices of Earth", a theater ensemble with Olympia Dukakis.

This company designed and implemented programming for women at venues around America including OMEGA Institute in New York and Yale University in Connecticut. Provided stress management workshops for patients and staff of various departments at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Conducted therapy groups with men, women and adolescents, from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds including recovering addicts and alcoholics.

Presented inspirational/motivational speeches about children at risk and the impact of arts education to Washington, DC audiences, including members of the United States Congress and White House staff. Established a college theatre company which trained students in group dynamic process to manage and transform issues including family violence, racism and self-destructive behaviors, building resilience, empathy and life skills.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF CELEBRANCY Melbourne, Australia – Company Director, Trainer and Assessor (2003 – Present)

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Graduate Course Instructor (Spring 2002)

SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER, Center for Psychiatry, Livingston, NJ (l995-2003) Creative Arts Therapist with patients and staff trainer in Handle with Care and stress management

VOICES OF EARTH, with Olympia Dukakis (1989- 2000) Director/Actor

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE, San Francisco, California (1995) Understudy to the lead, Olympia Dukakis in HECUBA by Euripides – performed the role four times before an audience of 1000

LIVING STAGE of ARENA STAGE, Washington, DC (1993-1994) Assistant Director

BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE, Bloomfield, NJ (1990-1993) Artistic Director, Student Company entitled Controversy

STRAIGHT AND NARROW, Paterson, NJ (1990-1993) Community Outreach to secondary schools

NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (1990 - 1993) Project Leader, Arts Magnet School; Master Teacher, Artist-Teacher Institute

WHOLE THEATRE, Montclair, NJ (1970-1990) Co-Director of Education, Co-Founder and Executive Committee Member/Actor and Director Early experience includes working with the comedy writers for The Tonight Show, NBC, OBIE award-winning Performance Group, New York City. Co-founder Actors Equity member performing a variety of professional roles.

EDUCATION Diplomas in Marriage Celebrancy (2002), General Celebrancy (2005) and Funeral Celebrancy (2006) – International College of Celebrancy Statement of Attainment, Plan, Conduct and Review a Marriage Ceremony (2004) and Statement of Attainment, Perform General Funeral Celebrancy (2006) - Victorian Advanced Training in association with International College of Celebrancy Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (2004) – Victorian Advanced Training BA, Philosophy and Theatre,

TULANE University, New Orleans, La. (1967) PAIS Certification, Teachers College, COLUMBIA University, New York City (Performing Artists in Schools) (1986 – 87) Certification, Training and Supervision in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,

RUTGERS University, New Jersey (1996- 1998) (see addendum for extensive theatre and Drama Therapy experience and training)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: (RDT) Professional Registry, National Association for Drama Therapy Actors Equity Association Leadership New Jersey, Class of 1990 Alliance for Arts Education 1990-1993 Advisory Board New Jersey State Department of Education, 1992-1993 Theatre Panel, Core Course Proficiencies For Love of Children, Advisor and Facilitator of Future Search process, Washington, D.C. 1993-1994

WNET, 1988 documentary of Remi's work in Newark, NJ, "Hold Fast to Dreams", winner of gold at Chicago Film Festival Celebrant USA Foundation

The Temple of Understanding – international ecumenical organization in residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City – member of the Board of Trustees and NGO representative to the United Nations (81-83) - conferences to promote dialogue between major religious traditions. Hecuba with Olympia Dukakis and Remi Bosseau

Chronology of Teaching, Consulting, Drama Therapy and Arts in Education
This list will briefly highlight work during the years l966 – 1990 in the area of New York City and throughout the State of New Jersey.
1988- 1990 Director, Writer and Producer of THUNDER IN THE LIGHT, professional social action multi-racial improvisational theatre company, modeled on LIVING STAGE of Washington, D.C.

1989-90 BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE - Human Relations Consultant and site of numerous THUNDER IN THE LIGHT performances on issues of multi-culturalism

1970- l990 WHOLE THEATRE - Director of Education/Outreach with Gerry Fierst, and Trustee of this Equity (professional) regional theatre, Olympia Dukakis, Producing Artistic Director, founding member, theatre school faculty and arts in education consultant since 1970

1988-89 WNET, Channel 13, documentary on Whole Theatre Outreach, " entitled :'Hold Fast to Dreams" winner of gold at Chicago Film Festival

1986-89 PROJECT LINK, Newark - NJSCA Artist in Residence at this alternative middle school - language, poetry, improvisation and imagination as survival tools

1987-88 LIVING STAGE THEATER COMPANY, Washington, D.C. - one week per month work/study with Robert Alexander and company in D.C. to learn techniques and develop model for New Jersey

1986-87 TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIV. – wrote and performed show "The Courage to Fly Through the Winds of Your Dreams, Stories of the Poet-Aviators" for certificaton in the Performing Artists in Schools program

1984-89 H.A.P. High Aptitude Program, West Orange - curriculum oriented workshops for gifted 3rd-6th graders in patterns, values and creativity Summer' 87 NATIONAL ACOA CAMP - drama therapist, playwright and director for "Thunderosa" - parody western musical with Dr. Janet Woititz, Director of the Camp and national ACOA authority/author

1984-86 ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER - on-going staff training workshops for arts and activities therapists in this acute care psychiatric hospital

1983-84 GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL OF NEW JERSEY - summer programs for 115 of top high school students in the state, workshops entitled "Theatre, Life and Survival, a Workshop in Tools to Continue Human History" exploration of values

1985 CHANCELLOR SCHOOL - workshop with delinquent adolescents MONTCLAIR STATE COLLEGE - faculty workshop "Teacher as Actor"

1984 MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL - created and directed original piece with children as performers entitled "Summer Days, Bombardo Nights" based on the children's own stories mingled with Dylan Thomas' REMlNISCENCES OF CHILDHOOD and Ray Bradbury's DANDELION WINE; camp coordinator and storyteller for three years of the all-school camping trip. WILSON SCHOOL, Caldwell - conceived and coordinated arts curriculum for special education summer program entitled "Story Adventure Summer" with children who were physically and/or mentally disabled K-6
NATlONAL ASSOCIATlON FOR DRAMA THERAPY - presenter at the national conference at YALE University MANHATTAN LABORATORY MUSEUM, NYC - storytelling project for children in collaboration with artist/weaver Mikki Blackman who created an intricately woven environment for my telling of "Moonstory"- professionally recorded for the event.

1981-83 TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING, Reverence for Life Project, NYC coordinator of a two-year peace education project with international conferences and workshops including participation by members of the United Nations community. The project encouraged dialogue and shared experiences between spiritual and political leaders, activists from the peace movement and artists from many disciplines. Member of the Board of Trustees of The Temple of Understanding, an international ecumenical organization in residence at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. NGO representative for one year to the United Nations from the Temple.

1974~I990 WHOLE THEATRE SCHOOL - workshops open to the public with personal development objectives. Through a wide range of theatre processes, the work allows individuals new awareness and heightened ability to create, think, feel, envision, communicate and act as healthier, more fulfilled human beings. Classes included ADULT ACTlNG WORKSHOP and an advanced workshop on LANGUAGE AND IMPROVISATION where students can explore professional goals.

1980-81 ARTS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM, WHOLE THEATRE, Montclair - work in 3 schools, two elementary and one middle school, using theatre techniques with teachers and students for variety of goals including curriculum expansion, self-image and esteem improvement, behavior alternatives and better self-expression through original projects. SOUTH MOUNTAIN SCHOOL, South Orange-Maplewood - intensive series of workshops with teachers and students resulting in a 20 page manual of techniques for teachers.

1980 URBAN COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENCE AND WELLNESS, Newark - guest director for teen roleplaying ensemble, involved intensive rehearsal culminating in large participation workshop for parents, doctors and friends. NEW JERSEY PUBLIC TELEVISION - director of several sequences with children for "The Great American Eating Machine - You!" which aired January 1981 and was distributed to state school systems ST. BENEDICT'S PREP, Newark - project director of touring ensemble with 13 teenage boys with originally scripted, directed, choreographed (on roller skates) contemporary version of "The Emperor's New Clothes" - toured to nine Newark schools and institutions.

1977-80 MEMORIAL JR. HIGH, Whippany - workshop introduction to theatre games and improvisation for teenagers with accompanying parents and teachers. 1979 ARTS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM, Whole Theatre- month of daily work in five schools in Montclair and Cedar Grove ~with children of all ages using theatre techniques to effect behavior and learning readiness, including conferences with teachers, Directed "You Can't Take it With You" ~students at WASHINGTON SCHOOL, Verona - teacher training and subsequent classroom work with teachers and students

1977- 78 RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Graduate School of Education, Creative Arts Program, New Brunswick, New Jersey - Instructor teaching two semesters for graduate teachers of "Creative Dramatics in the Classroom" including intensive technique participation and discussion leading to final projects WHOLE THEATRE SCHOOL - workshop leader for Teenage Ensemble for teens with prior theatrical training to create their own pieces through improvisation; two were performed entitled "The Prison" (dramatic) and 'The Graduation" (comic), HILLSIDE SCHOOL, Montclair gifted and talented magnet program as adjunct teacher, taught two courses using theatre techniques - 1) Creacive Writing and 2) Leadership - a group dynamic and behavior modification experiment. Also involved numerous teachers in discussion of curriculum expansion through arts techniques, with final projects on Native Americans and in a math class, "Why Money was Invented!"

1975-76 ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL - workshops for neurologically impaired and learning disabled students CALDWELL. ADULT SCHOOL and M0NTCLAIR ADULT SCHOOL - adult acting URBAN COALITION OF GREATER MONTCLAIR - after-school program called A.C.E, where a group of students created and performed their own play

1974 RAND SCHOOL, MONTCLAIR BD OF EDUCATION - theatre arts summer school, workshop leader for young teenagers, intensive daily six-week session BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE - workshop leader for college series 1972 MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE, New York - with husband, Jason Bosseau, led large audience participation workshops of early Whole Theatre (Fusion) as part of Improvisational Arts Institute at the College UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT, CT. - taught workshops for students during Whole Theatre summer residency ~here I was also instrumental in the creation of a process of approach to WTC's experimental piece, "Edith Stein."

1971 WHOLE THEATRE COMPANY, New York City and Europe - taught workshops with husband, Jason Bosseau, to other members of this professional company in its formative years, based on the techniques of Polish director Jerzy Grotowski. FUSION SPACE, NYC - theatre games workshops for couples 1967-70 THE PERFORMANCE GROUP, The Performing Garage, NYC - founding member of this acclaimed Off-Broadway theatre and part of the OBlE award- winning ensemble originating DIONYSUS in 69. Toured the United States and Eastern Europe. During this time, I taught workshops in psycho-physical exercises and improvisation to actors. THE

TONIGHT SHOW, NBC, NEW YORK CITY, Rockefeller Center – assistant to the Comedy Writers 1968 YOUTH COMMUNITY CENTER, CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HARLEM, NYC - assistant to Rev. Linette C. Williamson 1965-1967 – TULANE UNIVERSITY, New Orleans – Assistant Director to Dr. Richard Schechner during the creation and staging of several complex environmental shows; Junior Year Abroad in Paris, France including extensive travel and theatre work.

FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONAL THEATRES
1989 - 2000 VOICES OF EARTH with Leslie Ayvazian, Joan MacIntosh and Olympia Dukakis
1990 – 1993 CONTROVERSY, Bloomfield College/ Artistic Director
1990 – 1993 IMPROV COMPANY, Straight n Narrow/ Drama Therapist
1970 – 1990 WHOLE THEATRE, Montclair, New Jersey/ Actor, Producer, Teacher, Director of Education including Artistic Director of THUNDER IN THE LIGHT
1968 – 1970 THE PERFORMANCE GROUP, New York City Actor and Assistant Director Chronology of Theatre Experience/ Training, Performing and Directing until close of Whole Theatre in 1990 Developmental year and two successful seasons for a professional multi-racial theatre company of actors and musicians which I directed under the auspices of The Whole Theatre. The company and its mission was modeled on the powerful work of THE LIVING STAGE THEATER COMPANY of Washington, D. C. One week of every month in 1987, I traveled to D. C. to work and study with Robert Alexander, founder of Living Stage, participating in their workshop/performances with a variety of populations including the disabled, the incarcerated, the disadvantaged of all ages.
1986-87 I wrote and performed a one-woman show entitled THE COURAGE TO FLY THROUGH THE WINDS OF YOUR DREAMS: Stories of the Poet-Aviators for certification in the Performing Artists in the Schools program at Teachers College, Columbia.
1984 In January, I was in residence at Goddard College, Vermont, with Peter Schumann and THE

BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER, developing an original piece based on JOSEPHINE THE SINGER by Kafka. I was lead singer and co-narrator of this provocative and stunningly visual piece. We also performed the first Bread and Puppet winter Pageant outside on the Goddard campus. We then brought JOSEPHlNE to New York City at the Judson Church. In Summer,
1984, with my husband, Jason and my daughter, Gabrielle, I spent a month with Bread and Puppet in their home, Glover, Vermont, rehearsing and performing tbeir remarkable summer circus and pageant with the theme of justice in Central America. I created a bi-lingual performance piece entitled HANDS about torture and courage in Nicaragua.
1982 I developed and performed a storytelling piece called MODNSTORY, based on an ancient Chinese folktale. I performed inside an intricate environment woven by textile artist Mikki Blackman at the Manhattan Laboratory Museum in New York City. After a live performance, the piece was installed in the Museum where children could activate a tape of my voice when they climbed inside the woven environment.
1982-86 Through The Whole Theatre School, I directed the following workshop productions: Manhattan Project's ALICE based on Lewis Carroll Sam Shepard and Joe Chaikin's TONGUES Jean-Louis Barrault' s RABELAlS: A DRAMATIC GAME FOR THOSE WHO LONG TO TOUCH THE MYSTERY an event based on Theodore Roethke' s poem DOLOR series of original performance pieces entitled AMERICA AT FULL MOON based on folk, jazz and pop songs of the 1960s and 70s event based on Peter Handke's SELF-ACCUSATION and OFFENDING THE AUDIENCE
1986 I did extensive developmental work on new versions of THE ORESTEIA, MEDEA and ELECTRA with Olympia Dukakis and Elise Lynch (movement and mask teacher at New York University School of the Arts)
1973-88 I performed in the following roles on Whole Theatre main stage: A CHRlSTMAS CAROL Ghost of Christmas Present IMAGINARY INVALID Angelique MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN Yvette Pottier BERLlN TO BROADWAY WITH KURT WEILL part of six member ensemble, my songs included "Surabaya Johnny" THE MAIDS Madame THE ROSE TATTOO Rosa ORPHEUS DESCENDING Nurse Porter YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU Alice Kirby HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA Amelia SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR Leading Lady OUR TOWN Emily Webb EDITH STEIN Sister Ruth
1968-80 During this decade, 1 studied and worked with numerous theatre professionals in projects, classes and workshops including Joe Chaikin and members of The Open Theatre, Meredith Monk, Elizabeth Howell, Rod Derefinko, Robert Modica, Peter Flood, Peter Cass and Wynn Handman, Artistic Director of American Place Theatre Translated and adapted the American Premiere of a Feydeau farce entitled BEFORE HER TIME
1970- 73 My husband, Jason Bosseau and 1 became participants in an on-going encounter group run by Fusion in New York City. This group evolved from a focus on individual psychological issues to the challenges of couples, and then to couples in the theatre, led by Olympia Dukakis and Lonis Zorich. From this group developed the core of THE WHOLE THEATRE COMPANY. The first three years were highly experimental including my creation of a method of approach to rehearsal that developed from the psycho-physical work of Grotowski and my own techniques of "worlds of imagination." We developed an original piece based on EDITH STEIN, the true story of a Jewish philosopher turned Carmelite in Nazi Germany. The group travelled to Europe together, then New York and Connecticut before choosing Montclair, New Jersey as the place to build a resident theatre. We maintained our cooperative structure until 1979 when we expanded to a full regional theatre contract.

1967-70 In New York City, I was a founding member of THE PERFORMANCE GROUP, directed by Richard Schechner. TPG renovated The Performing Garage which is still an active experimental theatre on Wooster St. SOHO. We developed the OBIE-award winning DIONYSUS IN 69 based on improvisations with Euripides' THE BACCHAE. During this time, we studied with Jerzy Grotowski and spent months learning his psycho-physical techniques for the actor. We travelled to Europe where we won 1st Prize at Belgrade International Theatre Festival, and also toured the USA. We then developed an experimental production of MAKBETH (sic). Brian DePalma made a film of our DIONYSUS. This was a powerful period of innovation and creativity in the performing arts in New York City where the theatrical community was highly responsive to political and social developments, nationally and internationally.

1970 During this transitional year between The Performance Group and the newly gathering Whole Theatre, I was assistant to the comedy writers of The Tonight Show, NBC, while we were all still living in New York City.

1963-67 Tulane Universityy, New Orleans, granted me a scholarship as a theatre major, but soon I was compelled by the quality of teaching in the Philosophy department to shift my major. All through college, I was pulled between Philosophy and Political Science while staying involved with the experimental aspects of Tulane's theatre community. In

1965-66, I went Junior Year Abroad to Paris, France where I became active with the "happenings" of Jean-Jacques LeBel and acting classes at the Comedie Francaise. I returned to Tulane for my senior year, and became assistant director to Dr. Richard Schechner, editor of the Tulane Drama Review (TDR). I assisted Schechner in the creation and staging of several complex and exciting environmental productions, including Ionesco's VICTIMS OF DUTY. I was accepted as a graduate student in Directing at Dallas Theatre Center with Paul Baker for fall, 1967.
1967 In August, I decided instead to come to New York City, to do "guerilla" theatre against the war in Vietnam.
Raised in Houston, Texas.
Born in Springfield, Missouri, USA. March 13, 1946