My Digital Theatre
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Hello and Welcome!
Welcome! I’ve been a creative developer in Calgary since 1980, involved in various projects spanning cultural, commercial, and digital sectors. This is my digital theater, showcasing current pursuits and past creations. Explore services, products, and cultural ventures. Dive into archives for insights into my career. Thanks for visiting—enjoy the journey!
Exit Strategy – Part 01
Over the next several months, I’ll be sharing a new writing project titled “Exit Strategy – A Berlin Story” on my Substack page, with new chapters posted weekly. This project is a journey through all the stories—good and bad, tragic and funny—and will also feature video, music, and songs. It’s truly a representation of my life’s work, and I’d love for you to join me on this adventure.
)CLICK HERE TO READ AND SUBSCRIBE
Gustav – Musical Clown
As the clown “Gustav”, David Cassel weaves together a vibrant performance tapestry using physical theater, music, comedy and abstract concepts to take his audiences on a fantastic voyage into the inner depths of his mind. Physical theater, comedy, music and absurdity are the tools that this clown uses to lead his audience down the rivers of adventure. Gustav is the tour guide to new ideas!
Gustav
Spaced Out Tourists – Available NOW!
I am now accepting booking for my outdoor family show “Spaced Out Tourists”, episode 2 of my hit kids show “The Cosmic Garbage Bin” designed specifically for outdoor festivals. It comes with fully functioning space ship, two loveable aliens, a garbage monster born of the climate disaster and a young girls named Alice who gets eaten in one bite! Read more and watch the video trailer by clicking here: https://www.davidcassel.ca/spaced-out-tourists
The Yin and Yang of All Things – Double Album on Bandcamp
My most recent album is a 20 song adventure through the light and dark that life presents us with. You can listen to the album and buy it right here:
My Pioneering Project:
In 2000, I was commissioned by the Museums Board of Victoria in Australia to create the multimedia sensation “Timeshifter” for their “Hollywood Special Effects” exhibition at Scienceworks Museum. This 45-minute marvel commenced as a cinematic spectacle set in the futuristic year of 2029 before seamlessly transitioning live onto the stage, captivating audiences in the present day of 2000.
Guiding the Audience:
As Space Commander, I orchestrated the movement of each performance’s 200 attendees from the cinema, traversing 500 meters through the Museum to a separate venue for the gripping finale with live actors and captivating screen-based imagery. Following the show, viewers were invited to explore alternate perspectives online at www.spacecommander.tv/vortex. Though internet speeds were sluggish in 2000, hindering full access, the concept foreshadowed future technological advancements.
Innovative Inspiration:
The inception of “Timeshifter” stemmed from a lifelong fascination ignited in 1986 when I delved into the game “Space Ace” on my first Apple computer. This multipathway adventure concept materialized into the dynamic “Timeshifter” live performance and its digital companion, “Vortex.” On May 1st, 2016, I unveiled the complete series of 24 integrated films titled “Space Commander’s Adventures in The Vortex.”
Engaging Interactivity:
The footage, captured with a groundbreaking Sony mini DV TRV900E in 1998, has been remastered for modern audiences. Each episode concludes with pivotal choices, offering viewers an interactive narrative experience. For those seeking a linear journey, auto-play provides a seamless progression, while Episode 2 presents a branching path to alternate universes. Embark on your adventure now, commencing in the year 2029.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can be among the first to witness this epic come to life on the internet, 20 years after I began working on the initial film concept in 1994. So, in a nutshell, that’s what we do here: Dream BIG and never let anyone tell you that something is not possible!
**Please note: In 2015, YouTube decided to deprecate the buttons that allowed me to present this idea in its originally conceived form. Unfortunately, you can no longer view it as intended.
I spent 10 years learning interactive filmmaking, so this development obviously disappointed me greatly. If you still use a DVD player, I can deliver it to you via download. You’ll need a “DVD player.” Send me an email to order a copy of the “DVD.”
Digital Education
My flagship project, “The Agency,” integrates online digital education with a physical theater training program. It serves as an example of the digital and physical convergence that 21st-century technology has enabled.
However, the software I used, Flash, to realize this idea has been deprecated. It took a decade to engineer it. If you want to see it, you’ll have to install the Flash player. It’s a source of sadness after two decades of development.
You’ll find a link here in the Performance Archive. Each year, I have the opportunity to share my approach with professionals and enthusiasts, including actors, dancers, clowns, students, and members of the general public seeking to enhance their skills. It’s something I hope to continue long into my twilight years because education is at the root of understanding and the key to personal success.
About
David Cassel has been working professionally as a writer, director, designer, teacher, and performing artist since 1978. He has spent his career traveling the world, creating and presenting original interdisciplinary productions that prioritize convergence and hybridization. Each of David’s performances brings together a multitude of elements, including comedy, clowning, character, narrative, acting technique, circus skills, juggling, acrobatics, choreography, dance, and improvisation, all centered around human interactivity.
In addition to his performance career, David has continuously developed educational curricula for classes and workshops in physical theater, sports-oriented performance, and related disciplines. These have been presented through primary, secondary, and tertiary school systems across several countries. While maintaining a connection with outdoor performance and spectacle, David has extensive experience in indoor theater design, filmmaking, digital programming, education, production, and artistic leadership.
David’s work exemplifies the digital and physical convergence facilitated by 21st-century technology. Winner of the European Outdoor Performer of the Year (Rotterdam 1995) for his solo production of “Hotch’s 3D TeeVee,” David has been featured on the front page of seven international newspapers and has received numerous Australian University Comedy and Short Film awards.
He has performed and taught in over 30 countries. David performed the lead role of “Man” in Neil LaBute’s “This is How It Goes” at the English Theatre Berlin, Germany in 2012. His most recent educational role was as Story and Physical Theatre Coach at Die Etage School for the Performing Arts, the second-largest performing arts school in Germany. In 2012/13, he served as a Creative Developer on the Cirque du Soleil production of “Michael Jackson ONE,” and he regularly performs live as The Ukulele Bandito, creating custom songs and videos for clients worldwide. In 2016, he appeared as Detective Weeks in Season 8, Episode 10 of “Untold Stories of the ER” on the TLC Network. His latest musical project is “TUB Puppets”.