Karen Beaumont

Professor Karen Beaumont.

Faculty in Memoriam

Theater

Areas of Specialization

Movement for actors, somatic movement
Shakespeare
Clown
Mask
Devised theater
Acting
Directing

Interests

Research Interests: Applying somatic movement principles to character and text as a director and as an actor, spatial dramaturgy, physical theater, Shakespeare, Becket

Teaching Interests: Devised theater, movement for actors, clown, mask, voice and Shakespeare, acting, activism in the arts

Other Interests: Working as an professional actor involved with local professional theaters, involved with ensemble of actors formed from "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles" cast, workshopping performances based on object theater, puppet theater and media, teaching movement for actors in independent workshops and as a company member of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA, performing as an actor, directing

Favorite/Regular Courses Offered

Devising Theatre
Clown and Comic Acting
Movement: Analysis of Expression
Voice: Resonating with Words
Mask and Movement
Global Activism in the Arts
Mask and Movement
Production
Performance Practicum
Advanced Acting

Biography

St. Claire College, Montreal, Canada
Canadian Mime School, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
École Jacques Lecoq, Paris, France
Trish Arnold designated teacher

Karen Beaumont studied at the Canadian Mime School, the Lecoq School of Paris with Philippe Gaulier, and at the Guild Hall in London with Trish Arnold. After working as an actress in Canada, Professor Beaumont came to the US in 1981, becoming a core member of Shakespeare and Company in 1983. There she performed many roles, notably Mistress Paige in Merry Wives of Windsor and Emilia in Othello. She joined the Simon’s Rock faculty in 1989 and directed over 75 plays at the school. As Associate Director of the multi-media performance of Haruki Murakami's "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles" she was involved with the International tour to Edinburgh and Singapore as well as the Under the Radar Festival in NYC. She had also continued an active professional life in theater outside the school, performing and directing both locally in the Berkshires and in New York City. She was a member of American Actor's Equity Association. She taught at Simon's Rock from 1989-2018.

Highlights

January 2017: “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov; Charlotte, staged reading directed by Normi Noel at Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA.
Taught movement at the month-long Training Intensive at Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA, in June 2016, January 2015, and June 2014. Taught clown and mask at the month-long Summer Training Institute at Shakespeare & Company in July 2013.
June 2016: “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud” by Carson McCullers; Estelle, short film directed by Karen Allen. Produced in conjunction with The Berkshire Film and Media Commission, Great Barrington, MA.
March 2015: Attended DunaParte3, a conference/festival of Eastern European artists in Budapest, Hungary.
October 2014: directed in “Made in the Berkshires,” local festival produced by The Berkshire Theatre Group.
August 2013: “Leap Year” acted and helped produce this co-production with Shakespeare & Company at Simon’s Rock. Played Dottie. Worked with student and professional actors.
March 2013: “Hurricane Hotel” staged reading with students, directed by Aimee Michel.
August 2012: “August: Osage County” staged reading directed by Kevin Coleman at Shakespeare & Company.
October 2012: “Milk” staged reading directed by Daniella Varon at Berkshire Theatre Festival’s Unicorn Theatre for the “Made in the Berkshires Festival.”
October 2010: Directed fellow Simon’s Rock faculty Wesley Brown’s play “Dead Meat” based on Richard Pryor’s life at Berkshire Theatre Festival’s Unicorn Theatre for the “Made in the Berkshires Festival.”
August 2009: “Loveplay” staged reading directed by Toddy Randolph at Shakespeare & Company.
Spring 2005 through June 2012: Worked on script development, movement development, casting, and directing with Stephen Earnhart on the multi media adaptation of Murakami’s “The Wind Up Bird Chronicles”:
- Singapore, May 2012, Singapore Arts Festival, 2,000 seat Esplanade Theatre
- Edinburgh, August 2011, Edinburgh International Festival, 1,200 seat King’s Theatre
- New York, January 2011, Ohio Theatre, “Under the Radar Festival” Produced by New York Public Theatre
Spring 2005 through 2008: Carol Gilligan’s stage adaptation of Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.” Played Mistress Hibbins. Multiple readings, with multiple directors at multiple venues:
- Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA directed by Normi Noel
- NYC Cultural Center with Carol Gilligan and Eve Ensler advising, directed by Lee Silverman (with Marisa Tomei as Hester Prynne)
- The Judson Church, NYC directed by Normi Noel (with Marisa Tomei as Hester Prynne)