Lattawork

Entertain    Educate    Enlighten

Lattawork

Entertain    Educate    Enlighten

Tim Latta Returns as The Mask Messenger!

After a long hiatus to work on other projects, Tim returns to one of his favorite roles, or more precisely, many of his favorite roles! Formerly booked through Faustwork Mask Theater, Lattawork is proud to re-present Tim Latta as

The Mask Messenger!

(also booked as Mask Man)

Mask Messenger is monologue, physical comedy, and theatre–a tour de force solo performance that The New York Times says “tickles some sort of primal funny bone”. The show features vignettes ranging from comic to poignant to bizarre that explore the psychology of the masks we wear daily. The show is designed for all ages: K-12/Univ./Adult/Families.

Original masks by Rob Faust with new choreography by Tim Latta.

“Inventive, magical, never less than completely absorbing.”

                         -The Toronto Star

Mask Messenger- Mask by Rob Faust

What is Lattawork?

If we can make something beautiful out of the ordinary, our lives will never be mundane.

Lattawork produces creatively inspirational movement theatre for any size venue and for audiences of all ages. Informed by many years of working with such companies as Pilobolus, Momix, Theatre de la Jeune Lune and Faustwork Mask Theatre among others, Lattawork has developed a unique style of performance that combines elements of them all. Time spent clowning in the circus influences the movement. Years of dance influence the mask work. High tech meets low tech. Original musical scores and world music from cultures around the globe influence the entire creative process. The spirit of fun infuses it all!

Director Tim Latta brings to life on stage his years of teaching creativity, enabling audiences to look at their world in new ways and use their own creativity to develop a better understanding  (and enjoyment) of their surroundings and the people within.

From solo shows to large group pieces and site specific performances, Lattawork has the entertainment you need. Whether it’s a performing arts center, a university, a corporate conference, a camp, a school or an open-air festival, we’ve got you covered.

What is Lattawork for Youth?

Tim Latta and Felicity Jones Latta have been entertaining audiences in theatres around the world for many years. (see bios). They now bring their expertise into the schools to perform and conduct workshops for all ages (K-12; University and beyond). It’s the same work with a decidedly low tech approach, solo performances with no technical staff, allowing the work to be more flexible, able to fit a variety of venues. Big theatre in a small package!

Cultural Arts, School Assemblies, School Shows, Arts Education, Educational Entertainment- call it what you will, that’s what we do. We work with PTOs,  public schools, private schools, camps, parks, charter schools, after school; you name it, we perform there. 

Why do we bring theatre into the schools?  Because that’s where the kids are! We feel it’s important to perform in the schools, within the learning environment, to encourage creativity in all aspects of our lives. We feel very strongly that exposure to the arts as both a discipline and a medium of expression is crucial to the education of our young people. We also feel that artistic presentation is a highly effective teaching tool that can easily incorporate any subject matter.

We now offer three different shows for all ages, K-12 and up- ME PLURIBUS UNUM and MOTION 360 and MASK MESSENGER

Workshops are available in conjunction with performances and include: Creative Movement; Movement with Masks; Acting Big.

Residencies are available as arranged with the sponsoring organization.

Lattawork (Masks and Motion)

Lattawork and Lattawork for Youth

Samples of choreography and shows available through LATTAWORK. Featuring G.E. Stinson, Jonathon Butch Norton, Erin Elliot, Brian Sostek, John Wilson, Joel Hirsch. Masks by Rob Faust and Tim Latta. Choreography by Tim Latta.

Video music by Caravan Palace (go see them!)

Our Shows

Motion 360

Motion 360

Is it theater? Dance? Circus? It’s all of these and more! In Motion 360, creativity professor Tim Latta (former Pilobolus, Momix, Faustwork Mask Theater) demonstrates how we can, literally, stumble over everyday objects to unlock our creativity. He creates dance/theatre pieces using objects that range from the ordinary- rollerblades and chairs, to the extraordinary- stilts, masks and rolling milk cans! While thoroughly entertaining, the show presents a new way of looking at creative thinking and how we can use it in our daily lives- in the classroom, in the boardroom, interactions with peers, building self-esteem, confidence and tolerance. It can be used to overcome fears and anxiety allowing us to see obstacles as interesting challenges and problems as solvable tasks. 

Everything and everyone around us has a story to tell and the potential to teach us something. In Motion 360, Mr. Latta shows us how to look at the world with new eyes to help us discover what those stories can be leading us to the greatest discovery- we have more in common than we ever imagined!

“Tim is a consummate artist with a range of physical abilities that simultaneously impress and connect with his audience.  Whether it’s the use of stilts, rollerblades or a folding chair, Tim leads students to identify new potential in the world around them.”

Margaret Pastel, Saxe Middle School

The Mask Messenger

The Mask Messenger

Mask Messenger is a powerful solo show, both with and about masks, that utilizes physical comedy, quick-change artistry, and masked transformations in a series of vignettes that range from comic to tender to bizarre. Half-masked characters speak; full masked characters remain silent while speaking volumes with convincing body language and a dancer’s grace. Masks are worn on other parts of the body, creating illusions that The New York Times says, “tickle some sort of primal funny bone.” Masks from various cultures are used to explore the universal emotions and concerns that confront humans the world over. The actor performs the essence of each character, and then transforms time and again, often affecting audiences viscerally in ways that go straight to the heart and sneak up on the brain. We begin to see people that we know or recognize elements of our own personalities that give us pause and encourage us to examine behavior in ways that are safe, satisfying and fun!

“Great entertainment, but also thought-provoking…It should not be missed.”

-Honolulu Star-Bulletin

 

Me Pluribus Unum

Me Pluribus Unum

In ME PLURIBUS UNUM, we get a hilarious lecture-demonstration cum stump speech by the wanna-be Queen of the United States of America.  Throughout her campaign she, unwittingly, makes the case for democracy as we know it, and shows us how lucky we are! As she argues that an absolute monarchy is so much easier than democracy (no questioning necessary, no thinking involved!) she points up the value of civic participation and involvement in our government. Her ironic observations of the American system cover the separation of powers, how laws are passed, taxes, and freedom of speech.  At the end of her harangue, she demands a vote to end democracy in America so she can achieve her American Dream:  to become queen of the greatest nation on earth.

She may be vain, harsh, manipulative and delusional, but she’s not stupid.  In the end, she sees the paradox behind her dream.  You can’t be queen of the greatest nation on earth if you take away everything that makes it great.  It’s not Me pluribus unum, but E pluribus unum: out of many, one.

“There is nothing out there that even comes close to this type of show.”

  -ES Cultural Arts Chair

Our Shows

Motion 360

Motion 360

Is it theater? Dance? Circus? It’s all of these and more! In Motion 360, creativity professor Tim Latta (former Pilobolus, Momix, Faustwork Mask Theater) demonstrates how we can, literally, stumble over everyday objects to unlock our creativity. He creates dance/theatre pieces using objects that range from the ordinary- rollerblades and chairs, to the extraordinary- stilts, masks and rolling milk cans! While thoroughly entertaining, the show presents a new way of looking at creative thinking and how we can use it in our daily lives- in the classroom, in the boardroom, interactions with peers, building self-esteem, confidence and tolerance. It can be used to overcome fears and anxiety allowing us to see obstacles as interesting challenges and problems as solvable tasks. 

Everything and everyone around us has a story to tell and the potential to teach us something. In Motion 360, Mr. Latta shows us how to look at the world with new eyes to help us discover what those stories can be leading us to the greatest discovery- we have more in common than we ever imagined!

“Tim is a consummate artist with a range of physical abilities that simultaneously impress and connect with his audience.  Whether it’s the use of stilts, rollerblades or a folding chair, Tim leads students to identify new potential in the world around them.”

Margaret Pastel, Saxe Middle School

The Mask Messenger

The Mask Messenger

Mask Messenger is a powerful solo show, both with and about masks, that utilizes physical comedy, quick-change artistry, and masked transformations in a series of vignettes that range from comic to tender to bizarre. Half-masked characters speak; full masked characters remain silent while speaking volumes with convincing body language and a dancer’s grace. Masks are worn on other parts of the body, creating illusions that The New York Times says, “tickle some sort of primal funny bone.” Masks from various cultures are used to explore the universal emotions and concerns that confront humans the world over. The actor performs the essence of each character, and then transforms time and again, often affecting audiences viscerally in ways that go straight to the heart and sneak up on the brain. We begin to see people that we know or recognize elements of our own personalities that give us pause and encourage us to examine behavior in ways that are safe, satisfying and fun!

“Great entertainment, but also thought-provoking…It should not be missed.”

-Honolulu Star-Bulletin

 

Me Pluribus Unum

Me Pluribus Unum

In ME PLURIBUS UNUM, we get a hilarious lecture-demonstration cum stump speech by the wanna-be Queen of the United States of America.  Throughout her campaign she, unwittingly, makes the case for democracy as we know it, and shows us how lucky we are! As she argues that an absolute monarchy is so much easier than democracy (no questioning necessary, no thinking involved!) she points up the value of civic participation and involvement in our government. Her ironic observations of the American system cover the separation of powers, how laws are passed, taxes, and freedom of speech.  At the end of her harangue, she demands a vote to end democracy in America so she can achieve her American Dream:  to become queen of the greatest nation on earth.

She may be vain, harsh, manipulative and delusional, but she’s not stupid.  In the end, she sees the paradox behind her dream.  You can’t be queen of the greatest nation on earth if you take away everything that makes it great.  It’s not Me pluribus unum, but E pluribus unum: out of many, one.

“There is nothing out there that even comes close to this type of show.”

  -ES Cultural Arts Chair

  •   “Our teachers loved how it focused on imagination and our principal thanked me for taking the time to find such a fantastic program. So, thank you for making my job easy."

    Ann Solomine, Mary T. Murphy ES
  • “Tim’s commitment to teaching and nurturing creativity in young people is obvious and infectious.

    Rob Faust
    Faustwork Mask Theatre
  • “Not quite theatre and not quite dance, but definitely theatre and most definitely dance. You’ve just got to see it.”

    Mike Steele
    Minneapolis Star-Tribune
  • “There is nothing out there that even comes close to this type of show.”

    -ES Cultural Arts Chair
  • "...tickles some sort of primal funny bone.”

    The New York Times
  • "Parents, students and teachers all found it wonderfully informative, funny and very well done."

    -Cindy Satton, Middlefield, CT
  • “Stunning... indefinable... somewhere between the sculptural fantasies of Mummenschanz and the precision mime of Marcel Marceau.”
 

    The Montreal Gazette

Who We Are

Kiskatom

Tim Latta

Tim Latta is an actor, dancer, choreographer, designer and director. He has traveled the globe with companies such as Pilobolus, Momix, and Faustwork Mask TheatreHe was co-founder of the rhythm duo Testi di Bosca with tap dancer Joe Orrach and did a stint with The Royal Lichtenstein Circus. He has been a guest artist with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Iso, The Deutsche Opera and Shawn McConneloug and her Orchestra among others. Highlights include being a featured performer in “Nachtmond”, with David Shiner, at the Wintergarten Variete’ in Berlin, working with Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, choreographing the award winning “ALICE” for the Lindsay Kemp Company in Barcelona, Spain and playing “Bob” in Kevin Kling’s “Lloyd’s Prayer” at ACT in Seattle. Mr. Latta teaches Creativity and looks for any opportunity to get up on stilts.  In his spare time he restores vintage British vehicles.  He is the founding director of Lattawork.

Felicity Jones Latta

Felicity Jones is an actress, writer, and educator who lives in Connecticut. She has appeared on stages throughout the United States; from Broadway to San Francisco and New Haven to Seattle.  Her work runs the gamut from Shakespeare to Ibsen to Pinter to collaboratively created ensemble pieces with the likes of Mary Zimmerman and Theatre de la Jeune Lune.  She was Artistic Associate with Theatre de la Jeune Lune for ten years, acting in some 38 productions, as well as writing, directing and designing.  She has appeared on television (Law & Order, Ed, Deadline, Wonderland) and film (Julie & Julia, Signs).

Her current show ME PLURIBUS UNUM is a response to a concern that dissatisfaction with our government starts from not understanding it.  Her goal is to introduce young people to the basics of US government while encouraging them to think of it as something in which they can and should participate.

Constitution

Me Pluribus Unum- Lattawork

Motion 360- Lattawork

Me Pluribus Unum- Lattawork

Contact

info@lattawork.com
203-313-1275
66 Cherniske Rd. New Milford, CT 06776

Mission Statement

At Lattawork we believe in the power of live theatre to entertain, educate and enlighten. We combine our expertise in dance, theatre and circus to inspire audiences to think creatively and independently, to explore their own potential and to see the potential in others. If we can make something beautiful out of the ordinary, our lives will never be mundane.