I started training as a performer and in theatre stage craft at the age of six. While in college, in addition to my theatre studies, I gained experience as a radio producer and graphic artist. Upon graduation I have worked professionally as a video jockey, film maker, and video artist.

In addition, I have worked professionally as a theatrical designer and technician in a distinguished range of venues throughout the state of Colorado including: The Denver Center Reparatory Theatre, Shadow Theatre, Curious Theatre, The LIDA Project, Arvada Center, Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, Avenue Theatre, Durango Community Concert Hall and the Fort Lewis College Theatre.

In 2002, I began collaborating with Stacey Sotosky and LeAnn Brubaker, fellow Fort Lewis alumni on the development of a series of interdisciplinary multimedia performances. In 2005 and 2006, we produced three original shows: Penumbra, Oblivion, and The Sand Queen Ceremony in which integrated media played a key role. My work on these productions was both as a director for the performers and live staging of the show as well as, the development of innovative video, audio, and lighting designs. As a director my goal was to integrate our media resources into all conceptual aspects of the show, including the generation of the scripts.

Penumbra and Oblivion, produced under the name of The Penumbra Theatre Company, were noted in the Durango Herald as one of the “Arts and Entertainment: Top stories for 2005” for Durango, Colorado. In reviews of Oblivion, the Herald reports that "The visual and musical vocabulary is seriously multicultural and multi-period, ranging from '70s disco to ancient Siamese dance, with nods to updated circus technique and Bollywood. Penumbra's work shows they've been paying attention to Cirque du Soleil . . .”.

My directing methodology is primarily inspired by Robert Lapage's use of resources in the creation process, as well as application of Ann Bogart's Viewpoints system. I feel as though the resource based methods of Lepage, and the importance on the awareness of body and space that Bogart stresses are powerful lenses with which to explore performance creation and are methodologies I am committed to further developing. The focus I have taken on self generated work has allowed me to acquainted myself with the power of these methods. I want to develop these methods further, however I also want to broaden my tool set as a director and feel a need to continuously experiment and develop my abilities on as many fronts as possible. It is my hope to take full advantage of new methods and sensibilities to directing which are being developed and taught within your program.

I may be contacted at: Alex.Oliszewski (at) gmail.com
You may also visit my research blog at: oliszewski.blogspot.com