Tim Miller will perform “Performance! Body! Self!” during his residency at St. Cloud State.
Through his writing and performance work, Miller explores his the artistic, spiritual and political topography of his identity as a gay man. Miller is known for both his humor and his passion. He has performed throughout North America, Australia and Europe.
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Since 1999, Miller has focused on marriage equality and injustices faced by lesbian and gay couples in America.
During his residency, Miller will present “Performance! Body! Self!” at 8 p.m. Sept. 30 on the Performing Arts Center, Center Stage. The free performance is a solo performance where Miller will perform excerpts of his performances and speak about how performance can be used to embolden communities and connect people.
Miller’s residency and performance is the second event in the School of the Arts’ 2015-16 Creative Art Series. The 10 events in the second-annual series are designed to expand students’ experiences and the public’s perspectives by introducing them to new concepts and perceptions in the School of the Arts four disciplines — art, film, theater and music.
“Tim is deeply committed to helping people think critically through performance about how social norms and pressures about our bodies in terms of gender, race, sexuality and more hinder our potential to create positive contributions in our personal and professional lives,” said Tami Spry, performance studies professor.
Beyond the solo performance, Miller’s residency includes a week-long workshop for students and the community that culminates with “Body Maps,” a free public performance at 8 p.m. Oct. 2 in Headley Hall 227.
Through the workshop participants will create an original performance on an issue that is relevant and pertinent to their lives. The workshop is designed for people without any performance experience to participate. He creates a safe and welcoming environment for the students involved to create during the four-day workshop, Spry said.
Miller sees performance as a method of advocating social justice and learning, and that will be the focus of this original work. During the workshop, participants will learn about collaboration, small group work and diversity.
“Through Tim’s workshop students will learn methods of critical thinking and doing, ways of collaborating with others different from themselves, and, most importantly, they will learn to trust and express themselves and who they can be with others,” she said.
Any St. Cloud State student or interested community member is welcome to participate in the workshop by attending the group rehearsals from 7-10 p.m. Sept. 28-29 and Oct. 1. Participation in the group performance at 8 p.m. Oct. 2 is not required to participate in the workshop. The final rehearsal for the show will be 4:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 2. The workshop and student performance will be held in Headley Hall, those interested in participating can contact Tami Spry at [email protected].
“The occasion to work with Tim Miller offers students the opportunity to work with one of the most internationally acclaimed performance artists in the world,” Spry said.
The Miller residency is sponsored by the Players Performance Group, a student group in the communication studies department, along with the Department of Theatre and Film and the Department of Communication Studies.
Each visiting artist in the Creative Art Series offers a master class workshop for students and presents a free public performance to open the experience to members of the public. The series also includes highly-celebrated events by St. Cloud State’s own students and faculty.
Tim Miller residency performances
Tim Miller solo show
“Performance! Body! Self!”
8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
Performing Arts Center, Center Stage
Workshop performance
“Body Maps”
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
Headley Hall 227
Admission to both events is free and open to the public. To learn more about participating in the workshop, contact Tami Spry at [email protected].
