Character Workshop
July 31, 2010 – 11:00AM-1:00PM
Workshop Size: 12
Instructor: Ted Samson
Fee: $20.00
Funny, interesting characters make for funny, interesting scenes. Often, establishing a strong character is a perfect starting point for developing a strong game of the scene. In this workshop, we’ll explore traits that make for strong, engaging characters, such as status, accents, physicality, emotions, and quirks. Students will be encouraged to push themselves beyond their character comfort zones, preparing them to bring a fun, entertaining new cast of characters into their scene work.
Space Object Workshop
Rescheduled for July
Instructor: Jason Casey
Fee: $20.00
The purpose of this workshop is to show the importance of your environment on stage, the location of the scene and the items/objects that would naturally reside in that location. By creating your world and adding detail you can make almost any scene that much more entertaining, believable and beneficial. Scenes that consist of two people just talking are not (usually) as entertaining as the same scene in a world with a definite location and with objects. The more you believe in your objects and use them in a correct and realistic manner, the more the audience will accept your world. The more in tune you are with the objects (whether it be furniture, knick knacks, or whatever) the more you will have to play with in the scene, are you angry? Well now you can pick up the vase you touched earlier and throw it to the ground. By creating the most realistic imaginary world possible your scene will be more successful.
Here’s what students had to say:
“Not only did it teach me about working realistically with space objects, but it also got me thinking about how to create the most realistic environment around me.”
“I think it’s a great addition to the training offered at the Comedy Spot. Jason is an excellent teacher with really good insights into the subject.”
“Jason is a good teacher, very patient and able to spot where you need improvement as a student making it an efficient learning process. And it’s just plain fun.”
Advanced Improv Workshop
Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 11:30AM-1:30PM
Instructor: Jeff Sloniker
Class Size: 16
Fee: $20
Prerequisite: You must be currently enrolled in or have completed Improv 2
This workshop will help you make original choices when initiating, exploring, and heightening improv scenes. Students will be encouraged to go with their second, less obvious, choice.
Sketch Writing Workshop
Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 2:00PM-4:00PM
Instructor: Jeff Sloniker
Class Size: 10
Fee: $20
Special Requirements: Students are required to bring TWO sketch IDEAS to this workshop.
In this workshop Jeff Sloniker will share some basic sketch comedy writing tools for improved sketch writing. Each student will be asked to pitch a sketch idea and will receive one on one feedback. Jeff will also encourage students to give peer feedback on sketch ideas.
James Adomian is a comedian, actor and writer best known for doing many characters and impressions that include Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Vincent Price, Gary Busey, Lewis Black, Orson Welles — and the most anti-Bush impression of George W. Bush ever to be seen.
He performs sketch comedy and standup at comedy festivals, political events and colleges across the country, and can be seen frequently at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre LA in shows such as Comedy Death-Ray, The Midnight Show, America’s Best Comic and Gallery of Evil.
He is featured in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and has performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Celebrity Deathmatch, and Mind of Mencia.
Both the character and space-object workshops look like fun! I wish I could take one or both of them. Damn working on Saturdays! Damn owning businesses! Damn being an adult with responsibilities! I want to be a young, starving artist; except for the starving, poverty part, of course!
Comment by Carla — July 15, 2010 @ 8:31 am