COMEDIA DEL AUSTIN - Building scenes through improv (New Course includes Performance)
Actors perform scenarios written by class members. During the workshop, each scenario will develop into a story consisting of several scenes written for and improvised by those present.
We will use improv techniques to build the scenes, to develop, flesh-out and expand relationships between characters, and to evolve story. By using solid techniques for committing to the unknown and being in the present moment, actors will find the freedom to make choices that allow them to create more vibrant, real performances.
INTRODUCTION TO GARY AUSTIN
A workshop for those who have never worked with Gary Austin or who wish to refresh their knowledge of improv. Using games created in the 50's and 60's and practiced by Chicago's Second City, San Francisco's The Committee and the original LA Groundlings, these games are the foundation of American improvisational theatre. Enrollment is open to all.
PERFORMANCE 101
In this workshop we will work with improvisational techniques and
processes to build scenes and monologues, scripted and semi-scripted.
We will develop, flesh-out and expand relationships between
characters. We will create a show from the work that happens in the
workshops-- and then perform it in front of an audience.
The workshop meets for seven consecutive Tuesday evenings in January
and February. The EIGHTH NIGHT will be a PUBLIC PERFORMANCE.
While the workshop is open to all experience levels, an interview is
required for admittance. Class size is limited.
ACTING/IMPROV
TECHNIQUE
Gary Austin
Even for the finest actors, there are moments where split second
choices make all the difference in performance. Learning to be comfortable
in those choices is the whole point of learning Improv. This workshop
frees the actor to make the right choices-- by committing to the
unknown, getting out of her head, and being in the present moment.
That freedom allows the actor to create more vibrant, real performance
in both improvised and written scenes.
HISTORY
OF "THE COMMITTEE" AND "THE GROUNDLINGS"
Gary Austin
What the history of "The Committee" and "The Groundlings"
can teach you about success.
What is the relationship of "the industry" to the work
we do as actors? How do you find your own voice in a business that
seems to inspire more imitation than innovation? How do you succeed
by being yourself?
In this lecture and demonstration class, Gary Austin explores the
history of these two seminal improv groups, both of which became
fantastically successful while being original and true to themselves.
Learn about the work of both
companies, how they were created, their relationship with the entertainment
industry, and how individuals in both companies moved on to major
careers.
GARY AUSTIN performed with the famed improv group, "The Committee"
from 1968 to 1971. ("The Committee" performed from 1962
to 1972.) The group included roughly 40 actors during its tenure,
including Rob Reiner, Howard Hesseman, Peter Bonerz, Barbara Bosson,
Leigh French, Julie Payne, Roger Bowen, Mimi Farina, Hamilton Camp,
David Ogden Stiers and Del Close.
After the Committee, Gary founded and was the original director
of LA's THE GROUNDLINGS, which will celebrate it's 30th Anniversary
in October.
HAROLD
Gary Austin
The Harold is the ultimate long-form Improvisation Performance
piece, that incorporates all of the excitement and skill of performing
without a net. A Harold is composed of games, scenes, monologues,
songs, and ritual, all spontaneously generated by 9-12 actors working
together on stage (The name "Harold" has no significance.
That's just what originator Del Close called it thirty years ago.
Gary was part of the original actors’ group that
developed it with him. To learn more, go to http://www.improvcomedy.org/hall/close.html)
Participants in this workshop will learn the Harold form, then
perform the Harold under Gary's direction. The class will be divided
in 2 to 3 groups, and there will be two or three Harolds, each group
performing for the other workshop members.
DEVELOPING CHARACTERS
& THEIR VOICES*
Gary Austin and Wenndy MacKenzie
Wenndy MacKenzie is one of the top voiceover
talents and coaches in the world. In this workshop, Gary and Wenndy
work together to help actors create new characters with unique physical
and vocal characteristics, mannerisms and behaviors. Learn to be
comfortable with dialect, accents, physicality, and other radical
character changes. You'll walk away with characters you can use
in your work.
(* - When Gary teaches this alone, it is entitled CHARACTERS)
SOLO & DUO
EXPLORATION (formerly called "48th Street Exercise")
Gary Austin
The Solo show has become a staple of American Theater. This workshop
has helped actors create solo shows that have gone on to staged
performance, but it is also a great way to stretch your character-building
skills.
In this workshop, we'll explore extreme physical and vocal changes,
creative freedom, emotional depth, sub-text and character to create
compelling solo performances. Bring an idea or theme, or we'll help
you develop one. Memorized text may be used.
In a recent variant (nicknamed "96th Street"), Gary explores
these same concepts with two actors interacting with each other.
A multi-dimensional approach to acting where improv techniques,
breath work and creative freedom nourish the actor working with
or without written text. Gary combines his focus on the actor, playing
actions within the reality of the present circumstances, with Carol's
unique approach to acting based on breathing, awareness and joy.
IMPROV WRITING AND SCENE
BUILDING
Gary Austin
Work with scene building models to develop scripted scenes and
plays through improvisation. Methods are those used at San Francisco's
THE COMMITTEE and in the early years of LA's THE GROUNDLINGS.
AUDITION/COLD READING
WORKSHOP
Gary Austin
Experience joy instead of dread at your next auditions by discovering
how YOU are truly enough. Every second of your audition counts.
This workshop takes you through exercises on the interview and the
cold reading.
Learn how improv comes into play in the interaction between you
and those holding the audition. Do you wish you could maximize those
first few seconds of an interview that makes all the difference
in the world, or do a brilliant cold reading? This is the workshop
that will get you there.
WHO EXERCISE
Gary Austin
In this workshop, you will improvise scenes in which some of the
improvisers know what must happen in the improv, and improvisers
WHO don't know. The actors "in the know" create an environment
that enables
those "not in the know" to do what they must do. This
is the ultimate scene exercise for any actor!
MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
Wenndy MacKenzie
Wenndy takes you through the development of a specific character
from a musical. Each student comes prepared with the memorized text
of his or her character from one scene in the musical, and the song
memorized from that scene. Other students read the lines of the
other characters.
BRAIN
GAMES
Gary Austin
Exercise your brain with improv games that require intense mental
focus and spontaneous verbal response. Create the illusion that
you think fast on your feet whether you do or not.
SHOWTIME
Gary Austin
Develop original material for projects, including scenes, plays,
and solo performance. Create a strategy to produce your own projects.
STORYTELLING
Discover how stories about your life can be developed into show
material.
SECRET CUE / WHO
The Secret Cue and Who exercises are improvisations in which actors
in a scene have secret tasks and cues that others in the scene don't
know about. These two exercises help actors learn to be in response
to what's actually
happening onstage.
IMPROV AS AT SECOND
CITY, COMMITTEE & GROUNDLINGS
Play games created in the 50's and 60's and practiced by Chicago's
SECOND CITY and San Francisco's THE COMMITTEE and by the original
LA GROUNDLINGS. These games are the foundation of American improvisational
theatre.
These games are the foundation of American improvisational theatre,
as practiced by such luminaries as John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda
Radner, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Peter Boyle, John Candy, Chris
Farley, Howard Hesseman, Rob Reiner, David Ogden Stiers, Eugene
Levy, Fred Willard, Laraine Newman, Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Lisa
Kudrow, Helen Hunt, Avery Schreiber, Ed Asner, Joan Rivers, Will
Ferrell... etc... etc... etc....
VOICE-OVER WORKSHOP (with Wenndy MacKenzie)
Wenndy will work with participants on vocal technique applied to stage performance and voice-overs: animation and commercials (characters and straight voice).
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