Jef Lambdin
InterACTive Theater of Jef
Jef was a member of TOUCH, North Carolina’s touring mime theater ensemble. With TOUCH, he created, collaborated on, directed, and performed over fifty mime theater works, presenting thousands of performances to audiences throughout the southeastern United States.
TOUCH performed in hospitals and prisons, day care centers and college fine arts centers, in concert halls, and on television. They appeared at Lincoln Center’s Out-of-Doors Festival in New York and the Alternate ROOTS Festival in Atlanta. The North Carolina Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony both commissioned TOUCH to create and perform original works in concert with them. In 1990, TOUCH received the North Carolina Theater Conference Award for Excellence in Theater for Youth.
One of his most noticed, but anonymous performances was energizing the crowd as the mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team, Wool E. Bull, which Jef created. His current shows include:
Roving: My InterACTive Theater is designed specifically for celebrations, festivals, street fairs and first nights. Whether outdoors or in, I weave through the crowd sharing my wacky brand of roving artistry which includes mime, juggling, mask work and variety arts. Festival goers become willing participants, interacting with me by creating faces for my masks, juggling with me, posing for photos with my masterpiece camera and even playing a game of human-sized ring toss with one another.
My brand street performing is relaxed and approachable. It appeals to the imagination and playfulness inherent in all of us. It creates camaraderie amongst audience members, invites the comfortable participation of the onlookers, and adds a bit of old school street theater spice to any event.
Family Stages: As well as roving a festival site, he enjoys appearing onstage in the family or children’s area of a festival. All of his roving work translates wonderfully to short (30 minute) stage sets which require minimal set up and fit perfectly into a festival format.
Opening Act: Because of his appeal to audience members of all ages, he routinely performs as an opening act or entr’acte either onstage as a curtain raiser, or in front of the stage while a changeover occurs on the stage itself.
Arts Education
When he shares his performances in schools and libraries, he usually includes a short performance followed by a lecture-demonstration or workshop on topics such as mime, non-verbal communication or jugglingCertifications:
- Included in the NC Arts Council’s Touring Artist Directory
- Designated a Teaching Artist by the North Carolina Arts Council
- Included on the roster of the South Carolina Arts Commission
- Fellow with the A+ Schools Program in North Carolina
He has appeared in two UNC-TV special productions with the North Carolina Symphony: TOUCH Brings Music to Life, and Carnival of the Animals. When his movement/mime skills have been needed, he has also appeared in productions by other theater companies, including: as a mime with Omimeo in Charlotte, NC; as the plant, Audrey II in Atlanta and Raleigh productions of Little Shop of Horrors; as The Mute in Flat Rock Playhouse and Temple Theater productions of The Fantasticks; with his juggling partner, Ken Kaye, and as a street performer/juggler in the opera Pagliacci.
- As a mime, he apprenticed with C.W. Metcalf and Tony Montanaro, with brief instruction from Jacques Lecoq.
- His other studies include:
- Acting with William Hickey at the H.B. Studio
- Clowning with Ezekiel Peterhof
- Period Dance and Style with William Burdick
- Commedia dell’arte with Joan Schirle and Donald Forrest at the Dell’Arte School
- Ballet with Beverly Shalomith
- Modern dance with Carol Richards
- Tai Chi Chuan with Frank Won
- Other skills gained along the way include:
- Juggling and variety arts
- unicycling
- stiltwalking
- maskmaking
- gourd crafting.
Professional author, storyteller and multicultural folklorist, Donna Washington has been featured at hundreds of festivals and thousands of schools, libraries, theaters and other venues around the world, including Canada, Peru, Argentina and Hong Kong. A multiple-award winning artist with nine CD's, she presents stories for audiences as young as four and for families and adults of all ages.
For his Willie Nelson Tribute, Roy Hammock (appropriately nicknamed "Roy Willie" by his fans) received Country’s Hottest Hitter Award from The Reel Awards in Las Vegas--the Academy Awards for tribute artists. He also was the winner of the Willie Nelson Lookalike Contest.
Recognized by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. as the Worldwide Favorite Elvis Tribute Artist of fans via online fan polling, Stephen has been a Finalist and Semi-finalist in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. in each of the last 3 years.
The Johnny Cash Experience is a Broadway-quality show that takes the audience through the late country legend’s career, covering Early Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash & June Carter, and the Folsom Prison Concert Era. Those who see his performance will know what it must have been like to see the real Johnny Cash in concert -- his voice, mannerisms, and his band are wholly true to the legend.
Consisting of trumpet, trombone, clarinet, tuba, banjo and percussion, RAZZaMaJAZZ has been entertaining North Carolina audiences for more than 20 years, playing a variety of musical styles, including Jazz, Dixieland and Swing.
This Young, Classic Rock/Pop band from Richmond, Virginia boasts a rapidly growing fan base along the East Coast. They perform tunes ranging from Stevie Wonder to Van Halen and Bruno Mars. Their 2019 release, Yellow Dress, reached #1 on the charts in Virginia and #59 in the United States.
Different Drum is a versatile Afro/Latin ensemble that plays World Music, specializing in South African Township, Andean Melodies, Brazilian Sambas, Salsa, Calypso and Cumbia. The band plays, Congas, Alto Recorder, Coronet, Flugelhorn and can be expanded to include Bass, Tenor Saxophone, Drums, Alto Saxophone and other instruments.
Award-winning Musical Ambassadors from Russia, Moscow Nights is an exciting, versatile trio of world-recognized, prize-winning musicians who have established themselves as one of the fastest rising folk groups in the U.S. Presenting authentic Russian folk traditions and culture, their lilting Balalaikas, dynamic Bayan Accordion, humorous dances and superb vocals create an exhilarating, educational performance for all ages.
Invite your audiences to enjoy an evening of tributes to legends with more than 60 legendary vocalists in one talent-packed show, starring extraordinary singing impressionist, Eric Kearns. You can customize the show for your audience by choosing from more than 60 vocalists to "perform" during your show.
Lady & The Tramps plays a popular blend of Rock & Roll, Top 40, Classic Rock, Jazz, Contemporary, Pop, Latin, R&B, Swing, Country, Bluegrass, Classical, Ballroom Dance, and Ethnic music, embellished with your favorite requests.
PushPlay keeps events exciting and guests entertained with a variety of music from the 70's to current Rock, Pop, Soul, R&B, Country and Top 40 hits.
Recording Artist, writer and composer Mickey Mills is an exciting, energetic, multi-talented entertainer par excellence. He is a vocalist, songwriter and steel drum player, who has been called “the fastest steel drum soloist on Earth”. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Mickey has performed on steel drums nationally and internationally, including Madison Square Garden.
Jef weaves through the crowd at festivals, fairs and first nights, sharing his wacky brand of roving artistry which includes mime, juggling, mask work and variety arts. Festival goers become willing participants, interacting with him by creating faces for his masks, juggling with him, posing for photos with his masterpiece camera and even playing a game of human-sized ring toss with one another.
Using the latest in live sound technology, transit is able to harness vocals and transform them into a high impact show that some will scarcely believe is created with only 5 voices. Showcasing popular songs of today and their original music, transit will connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Overcoming crippling nerve damage, Gladius defines courage as an individual, innovation as a composer and mastery as an instrumentalist, pushing the boundaries of his Baroque-Ethnic-Metal fusion. In an era when expertise and originality are often overlooked in lieu of fleeting flash and flare, Gladius defines innovation as a composer and mastery as an instrumentalist.
The Legacy entertains audiences with the classic Motown sound from Detroit, exciting, high-energy choreography and impressive showmanship. The Legacy will take the audience back to the days of The Drifters, The Coasters, The Jacksons, Earth Wind& Fire, The Four Tops, The Okays, Isley Brothers, Kool and the Gang, Jackson Five, Chairmen of the Board, Pharrel Williams and the Temptations.
