Ombelico Mask Ensemble

WHAT IS OMBELICO MASK ENSEMBLE?

OMBELICO Mask Ensemble produces original ensemble-driven theatre that reveals the absurdity of human behavior, through the physically raucous style of Commedia dell’Arte. Building on tradition, we reinvent Commedia for a modern audience. OME collaborates with international and local artists to bring laughter and joy to diverse audiences across borders, languages, and customs.

BRENDON GAWEL
FOUNDER/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Brendon Gawel is the founder and co-artistic director of OMBELICO Mask Ensemble. He began his love of Commedia and mask at the University of the Arts where he received a BFA in Acting. Brendon performed with the short-lived Zanni Commedia Troupe, and had the privilege to co-direct three Commedia shows with Nomadic Theatre's Sarah Liane Foster and world-renowned Master Teacher Giovanni Fusetti, and toured these shows through southern Europe. He also studied Commedia with Master Teacher Antonio Fava at the American International School for Commedia dell'Arte, and was Commedia Coach and performer for Drexel University's Son of Arlecchino. He has also performed with Mum Puppettheatre, Enchantment Theatre, Theatre Ariel, Myra Bazell, Lantern Theater, McCarter Theater, Clowns Without Borders, Tempo Dello Spuntino, and is currently a puppeteer with PBS KIDS Sprout. Brendon has directed for OMBELICO Mask Ensemble, Mum Puppettheatre, Philadelphia Children's Theatre, Walking Fish Theatre, Windsor Mountain Traveling Theatre and assistant-directed for Drexel University and Arden Theatre.

JOHN BELLOMO
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

John Bellomo is co-artistic director of OMBELICO Mask Ensemble and is a Philadelphia based director/actor/fight director. He is also the current artistic director of the Maryland Shakespeare Festival. In 2008, John directed The Capitano Duped as part of OMBELICO’s Two Face Commedia. John began studying Commedia dell’Arte with Maestro Antonio Fava in 2003 and is a graduate of Fava’s International School for the Comic Actor. He is also a founding member of Teatro Ronda, an international Commedia dell’Arte company and has performed Commedia in Delaware, Philadelphia, Krakow Poland, and Monte Verita Switzerland. As a Fight Director, John has choreographed violence for many of Philadelphia’s theatre companies and is a two-time Barrymore nominee. He has taught Stage Combat at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Teatro-in-Polvere in Milan, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Temple University and is the Maestro d’Armi for Officina Teatrale in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. For the last three years he has directed William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Twelfth Night and As You like It for Teatro Delle Due in Reggio Emilia, Italy and will return next year to direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He received an M.F.A. in Directing from Temple University and a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of the Arts.


HOME ABOUT WORKS PRESS CONTACT	WHAT IS OMBELICO MASK ENSEMBLE? OMBELICO Mask Ensemble produces original ensemble-driven theatre that reveals the absurdity of human behavior, through the physically raucous style of Commedia dell’Arte. Building on tradition, we reinvent Commedia for a modern audience. OME collaborates with international and local artists to bring laughter and joy to diverse audiences across borders, languages, and customs. BRENDON GAWEL FOUNDER/CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Brendon Gawel is the founder and co-artistic director of OMBELICO Mask Ensemble. He began his love of Commedia and mask at the University of the Arts where he received a BFA in Acting. Brendon performed with the short-lived Zanni Commedia Troupe, and had the privilege to co-direct three Commedia shows with Nomadic Theatre's Sarah Liane Foster and world-renowned Master Teacher Giovanni Fusetti, and toured these shows through southern Europe. He also studied Commedia with Master Teacher Antonio Fava at the American International School for Commedia dell'Arte, and was Commedia Coach and performer for Drexel University's Son of Arlecchino. He has also performed with Mum Puppettheatre, Enchantment Theatre, Theatre Ariel, Myra Bazell, Lantern Theater, McCarter Theater, Clowns Without Borders, Tempo Dello Spuntino, and is currently a puppeteer with PBS KIDS Sprout. Brendon has directed for OMBELICO Mask Ensemble, Mum Puppettheatre, Philadelphia Children's Theatre, Walking Fish Theatre, Windsor Mountain Traveling Theatre and assistant-directed for Drexel University and Arden Theatre. JOHN BELLOMO CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR John Bellomo is co-artistic director of OMBELICO Mask Ensemble and is a Philadelphia based director/actor/fight director. He is also the current artistic director of the Maryland Shakespeare Festival. In 2008, John directed The Capitano Duped as part of OMBELICO’s Two Face Commedia. John began studying Commedia dell’Arte with Maestro Antonio Fava in 2003 and is a graduate of Fava’s International School for the Comic Actor. He is also a founding member of Teatro Ronda, an international Commedia dell’Arte company and has performed Commedia in Delaware, Philadelphia, Krakow Poland, and Monte Verita Switzerland. As a Fight Director, John has choreographed violence for many of Philadelphia’s theatre companies and is a two-time Barrymore nominee. He has taught Stage Combat at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Teatro-in-Polvere in Milan, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Temple University and is the Maestro d’Armi for Officina Teatrale in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. For the last three years he has directed William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Twelfth Night and As You like It for Teatro Delle Due in Reggio Emilia, Italy and will return next year to direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He received an M.F.A. in Directing from Temple University and a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of the Arts.	JOIN DONATE