Course Descriptions

Acting Choices in Improv

Monday, May 28 Noon - 2:30PM at Theatre 99

As human beings we are all capable of a diverse range of emotions, yet often our improv scenes are underacted and driven by ironic detachment.  We may be compelled to fill the scene with words and become uncomfortable with vulnerability and silence, but sometimes what we don't say is more important than what we say. Making strong acting choices that are informed by subtext and intention can create richer scenes. In this workshop we will focus on making honest, real choices that ground the improviser to the emotional reality of the scene.

Character Not Caricature

Saturday, June 9, 10:00 AM - Noon at Theatre 99

Learn to develop real, whole characters with depth and point of view in a matter of minutes. This workshop will focus on discovering the "genre" of a character in relationship to the location in a scene, creating instant complimentary characters that further your scene and support your scene partner's choices. Everyone is a character including you! (imagine Two Man Movie's Anthony Atamanuik pointing his finger at you and making a cute, pinched face.)

COMEDY WITH COMMITMENT

Saturday, June 9, 1:00 - 3:00PM at Theatre 99

We all want to be funny, but the audience should never see us trying for laughs. This workshop will focus on starting shows and scenes with commitment to emotional truth and realistic play that we maintain even when the laughs start coming. We can be funny without being phony.

Drop In Improv Class (adults only)

Just $10

This class is open to all levels of experience, adults only (19 years old or older). It will be taught by Andy Livengood and will focus of doing a bunch of improv scenes. Pre-pay or just drop in. Cost is $10

Improv Diagnosis

Monday, May 28 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Theatre 99

Discover what type of improviser you are using a simplified structure that will enable you to approach scene work in a whole new way. In this comprehensive workshop, we will categorize your strengths and weaknesses in a method that I have been developing for over ten years. You will leave this workshop able to identify yourself as either a proactive or reactive improviser, and why, and then be able to take away the positive and negative implications of both. After this workshop, participants will be able to pinpoint their strengths as an improviser, but also determine their weaknesses so that all who take it will become fully-rounded, unstoppable, improvising juggernauts.

Lecture/Master Class with Matt Besser

Sunday, May 13 @ Noon at Theatre 99

A combination lecture/master class in which Matt Besser (founding member of UCB and host of the improvisational podcast Improv4Humans) leads improvisers of any experience and skill-range through scenes in order demonstrate misunderstood strategies in performing long-form improv. The class will cover every facet of a successful scene. From openings and initiation to patterns and game, the lecture examines how each of these can work or fail. Not everyone will get on stage, but many audience members will be asked to demonstrate different skills and techniques.

Level 1: Intro to Improv

7 Class meetings, 1 class recital, Maximum Class Size 16 Students, Cost $165.00

This 7-week class introduces the Theatre 99 method to create improvised scenes based on audience suggestion. Students in level 1 will participate in group games and exercises that help everyone remember how to play. The focus will be on having fun and learning how to start an improv scene. You will learn some of the improv games that we perform here at Theatre 99 and get to do them for your friends and family during the recital. As a bonus, every student receives free tickets to any Wednesday and Friday show while they are a student. MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

Level 2: Introduction to Character Building in Improv

7 class meetings, 1 class recital, Maximum Class Size: 16 Students, Cost: $165

This 7-week class introduces the Theatre 99 method to create dynamic, honest and comic characters in improv scenes. Students will build on what they learned in Level 1 and learn a character creation method called "The How." Who you are in a scene is defined by HOW you do what you do. Level 2 focuses on the HOW. You will also fine-tune your skills with the improv games you learned in Level 1. The class ends with a recital for family and friends. Every student receives free tickets to any Wednesday and Friday show for the duration of the class. MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

Level 3: 5 Scenic Elements, relationship and Longform

7 Class Meetings, 1 recital, Max. class size 14

This 7-week class introduces the Theatre 99 method of relationship based scene work and the concept of long form improvisation. You hear it during every class: "Improv scenes are about the relationship." But what is a relationship? This class breaks the relationship between characters into 4 components (point of view, physicality, history & status). Exercises taught during the class help students make offers based on relationship components. This class will also introduce the idea of scenes inspired by other scenes or long form improv. The recital for level 3 will be 100% scenes, no improv games. Every student receives free tickets to any Wednesday and Friday show for the duration of the class. MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO TAKE THIS CLASS

Level 3: Relationship and Intro to Long Form

7 class meetings, 1 class recital, Maximum Class Size: 14 Students, Cost: $175

This 7-week class introduces the Theatre 99 method of relationship based scene work and the concept of long form improvisation. You hear it during every class: "Improv scenes are about the relationship." But what is a relationship? This class breaks the relationship between characters into 4 components (point of view, physicality, history & status). Exercises taught during the class help students make offers based on relationship components. This class will also introduce the idea of scenes inspired by other scenes or long form improv. The recital for level 3 will be 100% scenes, no improv games. Every student receives free tickets to any Wednesday and Friday show for the duration of the class. MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

Teen Intro to Improv Class

This class is for teens (ages 13 - 17) 5 Class Meets for 90 min. once a week on Thursdays. Cost $99.00

This 5 week class is for both continuing students and first timers. Ever want to learn how to create improv scenes off the top of your head? This class will teach you how to do just that. Theatre 99 offers a fun, supportive class environment to learn the basics of improv scene work. Note: this class does not have a recital.