Faculty
Renato Arcuri (Greek Tragedy, Cultural History)
A native of Calabria, Italy and the founder and Director of Ombelico Mask Ensemble Italia, Renato is an actor, cinematographer, pedagogue and founder of OMBELICO MASK ENSEMBLE ITALIA. He creates site-specific spectacles with the National Archeological Museum in Florence, Italy. Renato earned an MFA in acting at the Accadamia D’Arte Drammatica in Catanzaro and an MFA in cinematography at NUCT at Cinecitta’ Studios. He describes his work as ‘post-post modern, ecclectic but perplexed’.
Brendon Gawel (Improvisation, Mask Interpretation)
Brendon is a performer, director, mask maker and teacher based in Philadelphia. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Ombelico Mask Ensemble. He studied at Antonio Fava's American International School for Commedia dell'Arte, and collaborated with Giovanni Fusetti and Sarah Foster to create Commedia with Windsor Mountain Traveling Theatre. Brendon earned a BFA in Acting from the University of the Arts. For six years he puppeteered "Chica" and others on the Sprout Television Network.
John Bellomo (Stage Combat, Physical Characterization)
John is a Philadelphia based director/actor/movement specialist and is currently teaching theatre at West Chester University. John studied Commedia dell’Arte at Maestro Antonio Fava's International School for the Comic Actor. As a Fight Director, John is a six-time Barrymore Award nominee and one time recipient. He has taught Stage Combat at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Teatro-in-Polvere in Milan, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Temple University, and Officina Teatrale in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. He received an MFA in Directing from Temple University and a BFA in Acting from the University of the Arts.