American Mime Theatre

Founder

Paul J. Curtis was born in Boston, MA on August 29, 1927. He studied at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research in NYC, as well as Columbia University. Following his graduation, he moved to Europe, where he learned from German theatre director Erwin Piscator from 1947-1949.

Throughout his career, Curtis also served as a senior lecturer at Cornell University, the Chairman of the Mime Department at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and as a mime instructor with Bennington College. He was also associated with national and international institutions including International Mimes & Pantomimists, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School, Gene Frankel Theater Workshop, the Guggenheim Museum, Johns Hopkins University, the American Conservatory Theatre, and the Leonardls.

History

In 1952, 24-year-old Paul J. Curtis graduated as a theater director from the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research (NYC). He went to Europe to explore different theater forms and was disturbed by the arbitrary separation of acting and dance. Returning to the United States, he thought it would be interesting to present to American actors a project of mime to demonstrate its potential and to correct the limitations of the medium practiced by the French School of Mime.

Back in New York, Curtis formed a company of five actors and five dancers and began to create a series of new plays for a concert at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. With these performers, Curtis combined his extensive background in acting, dance, and movement arts to craft a new art form that went beyond traditional pantomime. On the suggestion of French theatre director, film and stage actor, Jean-Louis Barrault, Curtis decided to call his new style of performance “American Mime.”

For the next 70 years, the American Mime Theatre continued to evolve, with performances at legacy institutions including Lincoln Center, MoMA, and various international festivals.

Following Paul J. Curtis’s passing in 2012, AMT continued under the direction of lifelong AMT artist, Jean Barbour, who even held classes via Zoom during the COVID-19 quarantine period. Later, under the leadership of previous company member Arthur Yorinks, AMT expanded further, opening a new studio space in downtown NYC and producing repertoire and original productions.

As of 2024, Janet Carafa has taken over as AMT Artistic Director. Today, the company hosts an eight-member professional performance group, as well as a number of mime and physical theatre classes.