Keni Cohen

Keni Cohen

Actor, Director Teacher

Testimonials

DON FLEMING

Summer Season Director, Seattle Children’s Theater

“Keni combines a total artistic vision with a precise and uncompromising attention to detail. He loves seeing, teaching and creating live theater and his love animates his shows in every moment of rehearsal and performance. Keni is a natural-born teacher, an unquenchable font of energy, and a true theater artist. Keni believes that creating great theater brings positive energy into the world and that his role in life is to do just that. I have known him to create and record music and sound effects second to none; to hunt down costumes and props that brilliantly, almost magically, fulfill his vision, and to do whatever it takes to make his shows great.”

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KAREN SHARP

Education Director, Seattle Children’s Theater

“Keni is a truly unique and gifted teacher. He is one of those rare teachers who is comfortable with and connects with students from ages 3-1/2 to 19 years old. Keni is extremely skilled at creating a rich, multi-layered experience for our students. He has an incredible ability to bring out the individual best in each and every student he has taught at Seattle Children’s Theater.”

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KEVIN MALGESINI

Managing Director, Seattle Children’s Theater

“Keni has impacted thousands of young lives teaching Creative Drama, Acting 1-3, Physical Comedy, Performance Labs and countless other residencies and workshops as well as 11 Summer Seasons.”

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Jeanne Fhaliff

Middle School Drama Teacher

“Keni is a master at this type of arts integration. Through his decades of work as a theatre teaching artist, performer and social justice advocate, he has developed skills to not only produce important pieces of theatre, but to equip others to find their voice and speak for the greater good. Keni is a generous collaborator who listens and assesses each new environment and set of students, and skillfully leads them from where they are to places that they did not realize they could go. He is a powerful charismatic force that inspires students to do their best. He is a devil’s advocate that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions that challenge the status quo. His belief in the ability of the arts to change the world for the better inspires young people to find their voices for social change. Those who have been lucky enough to work with Keni have been changed for the better.”

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ELLEN FELDMAN

Co-Director, Santa Fe Children’s Museum:

“Each year Keni and Esther would not only write, direct, and perform but also design and build their own sets, costumes, and props. The shows were wonderfully imaginative and featured content that was sensitive to the audiences and conveyed positive values. Utilizing the popular theater forms of mime, clowning, juggling, magic, masks, puppets and music they captured the hearts of many children and adults.. As performers, their lively and spontaneous interaction with the audience was a special treat. These holidays quickly became a Santa Fe tradition.”

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ANNA GALLEGOS Y REINHARDT

Executive Director, Warehouse 21 (Santa Fe)

“His hard work and innovative work was recognized by the public. His original theater pieces with the youth and earned them local recognition three years in a row as being one of ten best theater shows according to Pasatiempo, the entertainment, arts and culture magazine of our local New Mexican newspaper. Keni’s inspiration was transferred to the teen actors as he was able to help them realize their potential in the performing arts. His dramatic and street theater experiences brought on new youth perspectives which stimulated their curiosity and helped them become true committed emerging artists in theater. He also was capable of increasing awareness on social impact issues which made his audiences feel overwhelmed with the energy on stage. This type of audience development was impressive as they were amazed at the talent that was cultivated through intense dialogue, movement, dance, mime, story telling, poetry and acting.”

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RICK LEMBERG

4-5th Grade Teacher for 11 years, Decatur Elementary

“Keni has ideas, energy, and a fun-loving attitude. I have seldom worked with an artist that has such respect from the students and for the students. He is someone any organization would benefit from”

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IAN

Student and Actor

“Keni is one of the best directors I’ve ever worked with throughout my years as an actor. His charisma, enthusiasm and directorial insights make all of his shows amazing and a joy to be part of. He is also a fantastic teacher who taught me the ways of acting and how much fun it can be. Without him, I never would have gotten as far in acting as I have today.”

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Resume: Keni Cohen

206-225-8134 [email protected]

I have over forty-five years of experience as a director, actor, mime and educator. I have created theater ensembles in France, Portugal and Brazil and New Mexico. As artist in residence for eight years in New Mexico, I taught over seventy residencies for all grade levels. At the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, I wrote, acted and directed eleven original family shows. In Seattle I have worked with Youth Theater Northwest, Foundry10, Two Roads, Disney in the School, Project Interact, Northwest Actors’ Studio, West Seattle Kids and Studio East, and many other projects. Most recently, I worked with Seattle Children’s Theater (SCT) for nineteen years, where I directed eleven summer season shows. I have taught hundreds of workshops in public and private schools as part of the SCT Outreach Program.

I studied theater with Robert Alexander “Living Stage”, Cecile Leneman “Theater of Man”, Cultural Training Center of San Francisco, San Francisco Mime Troupe, and the Actors’ Theater of Santa Fe. I studied Mime with Ann Jankovic, Leonard Pitt and Masters Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau. I studied the Grotowski Technique with Yeve Lebraton, Modern Dance with Caroline Carson, Cynthia Briggs, Jay Parker Copley and Bill Evans, Jazz Dance with Cathy Roe, ballet with Suzanne Ousov and Nancy Waterman and circus skills with the Pickle Family Circus.

Seattle Children’s Theater

2000 – 2019

Acting

Improvisation

Physical Comedy

Creative Drama

Outreach, Pre-School through High School, Community centers, Libraries, Art Galleries

Summer Season Director, 11 Seasons

Seattle Theater Group

2016 – 2019

Disney in the Schools

Foundry 10

2016 – 2019

Social Justice Workshops and Performances

Art in Education Camps

Various Projects

2000 – 2019

Youth Theater Northwest

Project Interact

Two Roads

Studio East

Project Lift Off

Northwest Actors Studio

Tribes Project

Seattle Children’s Theater

Summer Season Productions directed by Keni Cohen

2019 – Wrinkle in Time

by Madeleine L’Engle adapted by Morgan Gould

2018 – Alice Through the Looking Glass

by Lewis Carrol adapted by Don Fleming revised by Ramon Esquivel

2017 – The Tempest=

by William Shakespeare adapted by Don Fleming

2016 – Macbeth

by William Shakespeare adapted by Don Fleming

2015 – Humor Games

by Dean O’Carrol

2014 – There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom

by Louis Sachar

2013 – Gulliver’s Travels

by Johnathan Swift adapted by Don Fleming

2011 – Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare

2010 – Jungal

by Ed Mass

2009 – Wayside Stories

by Lous Sachar

2008 – Medieval Farces

by Don Fleming

Warehouse 21 Teen Project (Santa Fe)

Theater of Urgency directed by Keni Cohen

1998 – Choking on Reality

A research into the multitude of ways violence is woven into contemporary culture

1997 – A Traveler’s Tale with The Clan Tynker

A Celtic blending of theater and circus – a Fantastical Family

(Original collective creation)

1996 – Temporary Insanity

(Original collective creation)

A ritualistic voyage through the history of technology and how it has altered our social relationships from tribal to digital times

1995 – Conference of the Birds

By Peter Brook and Jean Claude Carrie

Based on a classical Sufi poem about the search for a meaningful god

1994 – Men, Women and Dreams

(Original Collective Creation)

A poetic and insightful look at young men and women in today’s complex world.

1993 – Rhinoceros

By Eugene Ionesco

A masterful absurdist look at the dynamics of rising fascism

1992 – Kathmandu

Original one man show by “Josh Shrei”

A keenly personal, philosophical and idealistic odyssey through Tibet

1993 – 1997: Community-focused Street Theater

Santa Fe Children’s Museum Holiday Shows

Keni and Esther Cohen

2000 – Unsung Heroes - Extended Family Ensemble

1998 – Milk and Honey - A World-Beat Circus

1997 – A Travelers’s Tale - The Clan Tynker

1996 – The Wizard and the Clown

1995 – Rei Gula Gula

1994 – TV 2000

1993 – Get Over It

1992 – I Wanna Be

1991 – I’ve Been There

1990 – The Secret Hidden Myth of a Clown

1989 – What is the Difference Between the Brain of a Clown and the Brain of a Normal Human Being

Santa Fe New Mexico

Director

1998 - Choking on Reality (Original Creation) – Theater of Urgency

1997 - A Traveller’s Tale (Original Creation) – The Clan Tynker

1996 - False Witness Robert Krakow – Trial of Adolf Hitler

1996 - Temporary Insanity (Original Creation) – Theater of Urgency

1995 - Conference of the Birds Peter Brook – Theater of Urgency

1994 - Roots and Revolution (Original Creation) – Esther Marion

1994 - Men, Women and Dreams (Original Creation) – Theater of Urgency

1993 - I Once Knew a Man (Original Creation) – Nancy Wright Cooper

1993 - Rhinoceros Eugene Ionesco – Theater of Urgency

1992 - Kathmandu (Original Creation) – Josh Shrei

1989-1998 - Holiday Show (Original Creation) – Santa Fe Children’s Museum

Performance

1989-1998 - Santa Fe Children’s Museum 10 Original Shows

1997 - Theater of Urgency Kenick Mcowen, “A Traveller’s Tale”

1991 - Santa Fe Performing Arts Lucien, “Boys Next Door” Tom Griffen

1991 - Shakespeare in Santa Fe Sir Andrew Aguecheek, “Twelfth Night”

1991 - Santa Fe Performing Arts Tommy, “Dreamer Examines his Pillow” John Patrick Shanley

1990 - Actors’ Theater Carl, “Getting Out” Marsha Norman

1989 - Shakespeare in Santa Fe Demetrius, “Midsummer Night’s Dream”

1989 - Zona de Teatro El Bosso, “El Somberon” collective creation

1989 - All Species Day Ringmaster

1989 - Something in the Air Jazz Dance and Mime

1989 - Santa Fe Performing Arts Jazz dancer and Mime, “Olympic Gloriosus”

1988 - Shakespeare in Santa Fe Touchstone, “As You Like It”

1988 - Santa Fe Performing Arts Dracular, “Ratz”

1988 - Santa Fe Playhouse Sylvio, “Private Wars” James McClure

1988 - Armory for the Arts Hansel, “Hansel and Gretel”

Brazil

1985-1987 - Grupo Flor de la Terra “Come, Mas Nao Come Nos”, “Forest Encantada,” “Maraginho a Limozinho.” “Folias de Verao”

1984-1985 – “Pe na Estrada,” “Beiju na Boca de Mundo,” “King Kong,” “Classical Punk”

1983 – “Hanky Panky” (One man show)

United States

1983 – “Town Clowns” Various improvisational shows, Washington, DC

1982- 1983 - Nemo “Yellow Yellow”, One man show, Washington DC

1982 - Roundhouse Theater “Tristan and Isolde”, Maryland

1974 - Theater of Man “Rainbow Caper”, San Francisco

1973-1975 - Mime Project Collective Ensemble, San Francisco

1972-1973 - Moving Works (Original works,) Washington, DC

Portugal

1981 - Marmalade Mime Teatro “Wild Strawberries”

1980-1981 - Teatro Laboratorio “Alice no Pais das Maravilhas”

1980-1981 - “Peixe Perdido, Peixe Cozido”, “Concerto”

France

1979-1980 - Chameleon Mime Compnany “Kepler’s Dream”

1979 - Starmania Rock Musical, Directed by Tom O’Horgan (Hair)

1979 - Troupe Marcel Marceau “Le Cri des Oiseaux”

First of all its creative. I like the dynamic of sharing knowledge and seeing my students grow and enjoy an art form that I love so dearly.