Whether you are new to the art of improv and want to learn the basics or are a veteran player who is looking for a deeper understanding of long-form, we have a workshop for you.
We will be holding two rounds of workshops February 4, 2012 at the following times:
- Round 1: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Round 2: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Playing with feeling.
Workshop Description.
Tired of scenes that get stuck in the loop of completing simple tasks? This workshop will help you really connect with your partner not just by having an emotion by recognizing and reacting to the emotions of others.
Instructor Biography.
Bill Arnett has traveled around the U.S. and internationally teaching workshops in improvisation. Bill also writes and performs with the award-winng skech group Maximum Party Zone. He can be seen in Chicago where he performs with “Armando Diaz Show” and with “3033″. He’s excited to be back in G’ville working with the GIF and Theater Strike Force!
Lemonade
Workshop Description.
Have you ever found yourself stumped in a scene by a choice you weren’t expecting? In this workshop we’ll work on ways to develop a mindset that looks at each of those situations like a golden opportunity. Once you’ve mastered that skill, you’ll be unstoppable! My workshop is beginning to intermediate.
Instructor Biography.
DANNY MORA, a Florida and Theater Strike Force (TSF) alumnus, performs weekly in Chicago at the iO theater with the legendary Deep Schwa and the legendary 3033 and sometimes the legendary Armando Diaz.
Active listening
Workshop Description.
Listening is more than hearing. You do have to hear, but it is also processing and acting on the information you hear. This workshop will get you listening and reacting more effectively. For the intermediate and/or advanced player.
Instructor Biography.
A veteran of the Second City Mainstage, Andy is currently traveling the country as the host of T.V.’s Treasure Hunters Roadshow. Let him take a look at that old broach your grandmother left you! He can be seen performing in Chicago with the Armando Diaz show and with 3033. He now currently resides in LA.
Openings
Workshop Description.
We’ll go to the places where anything can happen – the beginning of a show; a moment toward the top of a scene; we’ll locate and dive into the areas of the unknown that are most fruitful, where planning falls away. Although we will do group work, scene work will be emphasized. Find new people to play with or sign up as an existing ensemble. For the intermediate and/or advanced player.
Instructor Biography.
Alex teaches and performs in Chicago. He has performed with People of Earth, Atlantis, The Second City etc and currently performs regularly with Chicagoland at the Annoyance theatre and 3033 at IO Chicago. He has directed several sketch and long-form shows that are currently running in Chicago and in other cities and he directs film and tv commercials.
Scene Work Assault
Workshop Description.
Sometimes in improv scenes “play fast” and “listen” aren’t the best of friends. This workshop will focus on techniques you can use to play with force without being a ball hog. My workshop is beginning to intermediate.
Instructor Biography.
Rush Howell, from Atlanta, has been improvising in Chicago since 2000. He has been a part of the highly successful shows The Subject and Cuffed, a weekly Law and Order-styled improvised T.V. show. His love of improv is only surpassed by his love of board games and Roger Federer.
OMG
Workshop Description.
Often the best moments in a scene are the OMG ones-the ones where people's reactions show us how important these events and people are to them. This workshop will focus on finding relationship quickly and getting to those OMG moments sooner.
We will work on reacting moment to moment and finding/heightening stakes so we don't have to work so hard.
Instructor Biography.
Colleen Doyle grew up in Cleveland, where she wrote greeting cards and performed with The Second City. Since then she has had the good fortune to play with ImprovAcadia, The Second City aboard the Norwegian Dawn, and the ensembles Chairs and Showpony at the Chicago Improv Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, DC Comedyfest, Del Close Marathon, and Out of Bounds Austin. Currently she performs with Virgin Daiquiri, Dummy, Mountain Dawn and Ringo Starr. Colleen is very happy to teach at iO Chicago.
SIMPLIFY YOUR IMPROV SCENEWORK
Workshop Description.
Ever feel lost onstage? You “got in your head” and didn’t know what to do? Sounds like you’re
working too hard. We’ll use a few simple techniques that will help you breathe easy and start
having fun again. Stop trying so hard and put up a scene you’re proud of.
Instructor Biography.
Jason Shotts has been an improv instructor at the iO Theater in Chicago, IL for the past seven
years, where he also performs with the teams Henrietta Pussycat and Dummy. He received
iO’s 2011 Del Award for “Excellence in Teaching”.
Improv: Annoyance Style
Workshop Description.
For 25 years The Annoyance Theatre has been has been taking a different approach to improv. In this workshop you will learn the extremely successful style originally created by Chicago improv pillar Mick Napier. You will learn understanding who you are, will be the biggest gift you can give your scene partner. Scenes will start quicker, with a stronger relationships. Take the improv rules you have been told so far and leave them at the door. Learn how a different mentality can accelerate your scene work and make you a better improviser to play with.
For intermediate and/or advanced improvisers.
Instructor Biography.
Derrick Aguis has been improvising and directing for the past ten years. Derrick started his career at the University of Florida as a member of Theatre Strike Force where he performed at several festivals and venues all over the country. It is here where he began coaching and directing both short form to novice improvisers, as well as directing a long form group for two years.
Six years ago Derrick moved to Chicago where he studied and graduated from Second City's Conservatory program, The Annoyance, and iO. Shortly after Derrick started coaching a Playground team, The Basic 8, who he now performs with. For the past 4 years Derrick has been a member of The Annoyance's Skinprov cast with Annoyance founder Mick Napier.
Derrick has been an instructor at The Annoyance over the past 3 years and loves being on the other side of the program where he learned so much. Derrick has really embraced The Annoyance style of improvising, and loves teaching that philosophy.
Although Derrick is still active at Second City, he is a regular at The Annoyance, appearing in An Unscripted Romance, Splatter Theater, Him & Her, The Triple Feature, and The Apartment. He has also directed Despeartion:A Celebration at 2nd City.
Intro to Improv
Workshop Description.
Enjoyed the GIF shows? Never done improv before? Now’s your chance, learn the ins and outs of basic improv in this class. Our instructors take you on a non-judgmental and safe tour of improv 101.
Instructor Biography.
Jeff Anthony Quintana hails from the wonderful city of Miami, FL. He
got his start in performance with Impromedy in Miami and Theatre
Strike Force at the University of Florida. In 2010 he moved from Miami
to New York to continue his training, where he had the pleasure of
training and performing at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, the
Magnet Theater, and the Peoples Improv Theater in New York. From there
he moved to Chicago and has been training at Improv Olympic and the
Annoyance. You can catch Jeff in shows all around Chicago and beyond
by keeping up with his fan page, www.facebook.com/jeffQuintana. From
there you'll hear updates on his other performances including Promise
Ring, Second City's Directors Shows, One Group Mind's Tick Tock
Hitchcock, The Playground Theater's Peach of The Neighborhood and his
one-man improvised musical Cirque. He is very happy to be back home
performing and teaching for GIF 2012!
