While he was at Colorado College, Thaddeus Phillips began to understand that all things are possible. Things like creating a production of Shakespeare's "King Lear" on stage by himself with nothing but a suitcase. Or winning a Pew Fellowship. Or making a living as a working artist performing in New York, London, Prague, and South America. "It's essential for a young artist to have the freedom to create his own performances and develop self-confidence in his creative ability," Phillips said. "There is amazing support at CC for creation and experimentation." Phillips' senior thesis project while at CC is a good example of that. He decided to do a four-hour production of "Peer Gynt" and he applied for and received a Venture Grant. Venture Grants provide students with funding to pursue research or creative projects and travel. Among other things, the grant allowed him to rent a van and bring the whole cast of "Peer Gynt" to the sand dunes in Southern Colorado to rehearse the ambitious project. During his time at CC, Phillips also had the opportunity to study with Canadian theater artist Robert Lapage and legendary tap dancer Jimmy Payne. It was while working with Payne that Phillips began to hatch an idea for his one-man play, "Lost Soles." Partly autobiographical, "Lost Soles" is the story of a young tap dancer from Wyoming who works his way to Carnegie Hall. An emergency trip to Cuba turns into a 37-year residence in the country after the man loses his passport. Phillips plays no less than seven different characters, including a female tap dance teacher and a U.S. border guard. |
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Phillips' brand of art defies categorization. He is writer, dancer, actor, set designer, and puppeteer - sometimes all in the same production. His study of Eastern European theater and travels to Cuba taught him to appreciate the values of utility and resourcefulness, and his performances tend to embrace simplicity in set design but complexity in character and story energy.
"I need to play and be creative and always be moving," Phillips said. "Toys and old movies like 'Singin' in the Rain' provide inspiration for me. But it's all geared toward telling the story." And he has made a name for himself in the art world telling those stories. "Phillips could create an entire universe on a postage stamp." - Denver Post "Phillips vividly portrays both nature's physical tempest and Lear's emotional storms with astonishing dexterity and imagination. A remarkable theatrical experience that is both unique in its presentation and faithful to the intent of the original text." - Philadelphia Weekly |
