Turn your Sketch Character into a Sitcom Hero with Janina Rook
October 2020
Advanced Game
In Advanced Game, students will dive deep into understanding Game of the Scene and ‘getting their reps in’. We will focus on hitting the ground running with a strong premise at the start of a scene, honing in on a single comedic idea in a scene and communicating funny ideas with scene partners. We’ll take the time to break down what makes something funny and train our brains to recognize these patterns in the moment so we can focus our energy on…
Find out more »Game of the Scene
In this course, we introduce students to the concept of ‘the Game of the Scene’, a funny pattern that is explored and heightened to maximum effect. A core part of the North American approach to improv, Game is a pillar of our philosophy of comedic improv. Students will learn to build solid scene platforms, identify funny ideas that can be turned into patterns, heighten and explore those patterns, and get a solid foundation in core comedic improv. We emphasize a…
Find out more »Truth of the Scene
This course focuses on grounding your improv in something realistic and emotionally tangible. We explore how characters, worlds and scenes unfold when we focus on relationships and the “who”. Together with Game, Truth of the Scene is a pillar of our philosophy of comedic improv. You’ll learn how to put yourself in the mindset of discovery by listening and staying honest and truthful. You’ll discover how playing grounded, relatable characters can provide rich, fulfilling and hilarious scenes. Get ready to…
Find out more »Intro to Improv
The perfect course for those who have never improvised before, or for folks with improv experience who would like to get a foundation in North American long form. Over 8 classes, we’ll teach you all you need to know to get solid footing in comedic improv. You’ll learn the basic skills every performer needs to get up on stage and make magic happen. We focus on making positive choices, smart scene work, group support and we explore the kernels of…
Find out more »The Harold
The Harold is one of the foundational forms in North American improv, and is performed and taught by most major improv theaters across the Atlantic. It is a 25-minute form consisting of multiple stories revisited and heightened over the course of many scenes and is a fun way to highlight both the pattern of a funny idea and emotional truth. In this course, we build upon the foundation set in Level 2 and hone student’s skill set in preparation for…
Find out more »Intro to Improv
The perfect course for those who have never improvised before, or for folks with improv experience who would like to get a foundation in North American long form. Over 8 classes, we’ll teach you all you need to know to get solid footing in comedic improv. You’ll learn the basic skills every performer needs to get up on stage and make magic happen. We focus on making positive choices, smart scene work, group support and we explore the kernels of…
Find out more »Be an Asshole with Matilde Keizer
Listening is great, support is wonderful, hell, teamwork is the dream work, but sometimes we also have to train the asshole in us who just has ideas, throws them into scenes, walks away and smiles with pride. In this workshop we will work on freeing the little asshole inside of us and making that inner critic's voice smaller so that our choice can be bold and heard! Additionally, we will look at how it feels to play with this asshole,…
Find out more »Intro to Improv
The perfect course for those who have never improvised before, or for folks with improv experience who would like to get a foundation in North American long form. Over 8 classes, we’ll teach you all you need to know to get solid footing in comedic improv. You’ll learn the basic skills every performer needs to get up on stage and make magic happen. We focus on making positive choices, smart scene work, group support and we explore the kernels of…
Find out more »Game of the Scene
In this course, we introduce students to the concept of ‘the Game of the Scene’, a funny pattern that is explored and heightened to maximum effect. A core part of the North American approach to improv, Game is a pillar of our philosophy of comedic improv. Students will learn to build solid scene platforms, identify funny ideas that can be turned into patterns, heighten and explore those patterns, and get a solid foundation in core comedic improv. We emphasize a…
Find out more »Turn your Sketch Character into a Sitcom Hero with Janina Rook
Do you have a character that is so damn funny it deserves a web series? Did you write a great sketch and now you want to turn it into a movie? Interested in developing (or even showrunning) a half-hour-sitcom? We got you! In this 3 hour workshop you will learn the basics of long-form comedy writing and how you can turn all the great comedy you've already developed into something bigger. Great long form comedy is driven by complex, flawed,…
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