Theatre Tuscaloosa Announces 2019 Spring Improv Workshops
November 20, 2018 – Theatre Tuscaloosa will offer three improv workshop options beginning in January of 2019. All workshops will be held in the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center at Shelton State Community College’s Martin Campus (9500 Old Greensboro Rd).
“A Taste of Improv” is a workshop offered in cooperation with Positively Funny, Inc. (PFI) and the PFI Comedy Institute of Birmingham that will give participants a “taste” of what improv classes are all about. This workshop will be held on Sunday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Shelton State Dance Studio and will cost $20. The class will last two hours and will cover some of the basic concepts of improv, including living in the moment and boosting your self-confidence. The class is limited to the first 15 people who register. Students who choose to continue with the eight-week workshop “Basic Improv: The Fundamentals” course (see below) will have the tuition of this workshop applied to the full cost of the eight-week program.
“Basic Improv: The Fundamentals” is a more in-depth improv workshop offered in cooperation with PFI. Classes will be held on Monday nights for eight weeks beginning January 14 and ending March 11 (there will be no class held on January 21) from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Shelton State Dance Studio. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of exercises and games that train the analytical side of the brain to focus on simple goals, freeing the creative side, and silencing the negative thoughts that can make individuals freeze during a performance. No prior experience is required to enroll in this workshop. Students must be at least 16 years of age to register, and tuition is $195 for the full eight-week course.
“Intermediate Improv: Scene Work” will be offered to those who have completed “Basic Improv: The Fundamentals.” Classes will also be held on Monday nights for eight weeks beginning January 14 and ending March 11 (there will be no class held on January 21) from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Green Room (SSCC Room 2913). Students can take their improvisation to the next level by learning the skills crucial to scene work, including emotion, listening, and transformation, as well as continuing to hone skills learned in Basic Improv. Students must be at least 16 years of age to register, and tuition is $195 for the full eight-week course.
All improv offerings will be overseen by PFI Chief Creative Officer David Grissom who received his improv training at the famed Second City in Chicago. Before founding PFI, Grissom was a staff writer for television shows including 3rd Rock from the Sun, That 70s Show, Will & Grace (original), Weeds, and Grey’s Anatomy.
More information and registration is available at www.theatretusc.com or 205.391.2277.
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Theatre Tuscaloosa is a 501c3 not-for-profit community theatre located on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College. Theatre Tuscaloosa has been enriching the greater Tuscaloosa community since 1971 through quality theatrical productions and educational outreach.
