relEASE physical theatre
our mission
relEASE is a physical theatre company whose mission is to explore the human condition. It came from the desire to create and share stories that must be told. We aim to share and tell the stories of the human condition through various art forms in order to connect in some way with each person that we encounter.
relEASE is co-founded by performing artists, Tori Bertocci and Pasquale Guiducci. relEASE is a physical theatre company that fuses storytelling together with dance, movement, and other forms of expression. Both Tori and Pasquale are on a mission to continuously bring in new talents and skills to the foundation and repertoire of the company. We hope that our work sparks conversation and new horizons for our audiences.
about us
Pasquale Guiducci is a Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director/Choreographer for relEASE Theatre Company. He reigns from New Jersey and came to Washington DC to study musical theater at American University. He graduated in 2013 with his Bachelor’s in theatre and has been performing in numerous venues throughout the city since then. Primarily, Synetic has always been a home for him, taking him into the family and providing the discipline and environment for his creativity and skills to grow. With this passion for physical theater, he was ecstatic to begin this journey of starting a new company with Tori. He can't imagine not performing for people. He has been on stage his whole life, whether it was wooden and before a room filled with red velvet seats, or the plain ground underneath his feet; life is a show.
Aside from performing, he also enjoys working in the field of education, but does not have a schedule that allows for teaching. However, he finds ways to incorporate educational theater in his schedule. He has done workshops in schools through the DMV area and also performs with the Smithsonian's Tools of Discovery program.
He also has a deep-seated love for fitness. The body is a temple that needs to be cared for, especially when your body is also your paycheck! He has his group fitness certification and will attempt to find time for a 200 hour yoga teaching program.
With whatever time is left, Pasquale loves long walks on the beach at midnight, guacomole and frozen margaritas, and a great pair of heels. Namaste.
Tori Bertocci is a Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director/Choreographer for relEASE Theatre Company. She’s a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University where she received her BFA in Theatre Performance and studied dance and choreography. She moved to the DC area to work with Synetic Theater in 2011, where she is still a company member, resident teaching artist, Outreach Coordinator, and a choreographer.
From a young age, Tori was devising theatre in her elementary classrooms, if the teacher liked it or not. Connecting lessons and stories to theatre allowed for better understanding of the work. (This explains a lot about the person she is today.) Currently, Tori finds herself impelled to create theatrical works which inspire change and promote discussion.
Tori is also an educational artist; giving children of all ages the opportunity to grow, express themselves, and find confidence within themselves. Tori has taught across the D.C., Virginia, and Maryland for 4 years. She is currently training with the Maryland Learning Center and Young Audiences of Maryland in Inclusive Learning Professional Development. She has directed and choreographed numerous theatre summer camps as well as high school productions. She hopes all her students discover a sense of self, cooperation, and hunger for growth and learning.
Tori believes theatre is a power house. Theatre has the strength to make change. Theatre has an effective voice. relEASE is the manifestation of this belief. Along with Pasquale, Tori knows they can make a difference. relEASE came from the desire to create and share stories that must be told and they are inspired by human beings and their interactions with the world around them.
Tori also loves a good frozen margarita, but unlike Pasquale, she'd trade in high-heels for a good pair of boots any day.
Jessica Thorne is relEASE's resident music composer. She gradutated with a BFA in musical theatre from Catholic University and currently resides in New York City. Growing up, she wanted two things in life at the age of four: a cat and a piano. Thanks to her mom, she went on to study classical piano for ten years and got a cat named Rosie. Jessica has scored music for trailers, dance pieces & live theatre. She has her own website where you can hear some of her work: www.jessicathornemusic.com. Check her out. If she isn't busy creating music for relEASE, she might be able to create something for you, too!
Brittany is a Lighting Designer based in Washington, DC. As a principal lighting designer for Synetic Theater, she has designed productions including: Much Ado About Nothing, Beauty and the Beast, Three Men in a Boat, Hamlet, and Three Musketeers. Her design for Synetic Theater's The Island of Doctor Moreau received a nomination for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. In 2012, Brittany travelled to the Republic of Georgia with Synetic Theater as Associate Lighting Designer to bring Host and Guest and King Lear to the Rustavelli National Theatre. She is also the Lighting Supervisor for Richmond Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker. Additional Credits include: Polaris (Richmond Ballet); Riot Grrrls The Tempest, Riot Grrrls Titus Andronicus, Charm, Bloody Poetry, Twelfth Night, Oxygen (Taffety Punk); The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare Theatre’s Academy of Classical Acting); Lyle the Crocodile, She Kills Monsters, Interface, Ice Wolf, Seussical Jr. (Imagination Stage); Holly Down in Heaven, The Language Archive (Forum Theatre); Fall Indian Dance Festival (Dakshina Dance). Upcoming designs include: Hamlet and Women Beware Women (Shakespeare Theatre’s Academy of Classical Acting); Man in the Iron Mask (Synetic Theater). Brittany is also a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, portraits, and events. www.dilibertodesign.com -- www.plaidleaf.com
