Workshops

I have taught and directed improvised theatre for almost fifteen years. Below are some of my favorite workshops I have taught. If you are interested in one of these workshops, please contact me!

Improviser Versus Everything

Person versus Self! Versus Society! Versus Technology, God, and Nature. The stage is one of the most perfect formats to explore conflict between two characters. But so much literature explores more internal types of conflict and so many of our movie and television narratives explore more external types of conflict: Let’s bring those conflicts to the stage!

This workshop explores ways to represent those sorts of conflict on stage. Once mastered, these other types of conflicts offer ways to raise stakes, negotiate common narrative traps, and expand the sorts of genres and styles that can be tackled through improvisation.

This class is normally geared toward Intermediate and/or Advanced improvisers.

Navigating Story Through Better Narration

Very few storytellers start at the beginning of the story. In many plays, the majority of the plot has already happened before the curtain even opens. Most short stories, one-act-plays and sketch begin at a point just before the end. Very few improvised shows, short form or long, have time to navigate the entire plot.

This workshop explores the different ways we can navigate the plot through narration, and the different types of story that allows us to tell.

This class is normally geared toward Intermediate and/or Advanced improvisers, but can be adjusted for newer improvisers.

Improvising with the Heart, Body and Mind

Being truly present means a lot more than listening with the mind. Most improvisers learn intellectual presence, but often neglect physical and emotional presence.

This workshop will explore authentic presence that allows us to receive and make offers at all three levels, not just the one. We will explore the mindfulness required to combine these three levels of presence through exercises, scene work and exploration. By the end of the workshop, performers should have an increased awareness of how being fully present feels on stage, of the possibilities performing at this level allows, and of the tools and opportunities available to continue growing at this level of performance.

This class was developed in collaboration with Elizabeth Brammer and we co-teach it when possible. This class can be geared toward beginning, intermediate, or advanced improvisers, although we recommend separate sessions if there is a wide range in experience.

Genre and Styles Workshops

I specialize in adapting genre and style to improv. As such, I am available to workshop, consult, or direct improvisers in many styles. I have previously taught, directed or developed material for the following styles:

• Authors and Playwrights
  • Edward Albee
  • Jane Austen
  • Ray Bradbury
  • Kurt Vonnegut
• Cinema and Television Styles
  • Deadwood
  • Film Noir
  • David Lynch
  • Space Western
  • Sports Underdogs
  • Western
    • Classic
    • Revisionist
    • Spaghetti
• Other Styles
  • Fairy Tales

Contact Tony About Workshops