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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
• 12 weeks of classes on Wednesday Nights
• 6 weeks of rehearsals held every other Monday; 1 post performance wrap-up meeting and program review
• 3 public shows on the BATS Main Stage in Nov/Dec 2006 (1 Thursday, 1 Friday, 1 Saturday)
THE FORMAT:
Over the course of the 12-week program, there will be several stories in different genres. The genres will be determined by the director, coaches, and cast. The stories may vary in length from half a show, to a full show.
THE DETAILS:
Program Director: Rafe Chase
Coaches: TBA
Cast size: 8 players
Note: There will be homework, in the form of research, screenings, practice and other assignments.
SOME THOUGHTS FROM SESSION DIRECTOR RAFE CHASE:
Nothing engages an audience like long-form improv done effectively. When players collaborate to produce a longer story through spontaneous storytelling, believable characters and emotional honesty, they can create a theatrical experience that is not only entertaining, but often moving.
This course is designed with those goals in mind. The series will focus on the classic 35-45 minute cinematic long-form in preparation for doing two of these improvised “films” in each of the three scheduled showcases. The primary emphasis will be on narrative, acting and character, but students will also explore other aspects of the work such as genre, tone and transitions. The course will utilize periodic guest instructors who will bring their own experience and expertise to the series.
ABOUT THE SESSION DIRECTOR : Rafe Chase has been at the forefront of the exploration of long-form since 1989 and is the creator of several long-form formats including Double Feature™ and Critical Choice ™.
He has been a Company Player and teacher with BATS Improv since 1987 and has taught improv at various institutions including A.C.T. and Stanford University. He is a member of the critically acclaimed group “3 For All” which has won raves in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
DATES:
Classes: Sept. 13, 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8, 15 (skip Nov. 22), 29, Dec. 6
Time: 7-10 p.m. in the theater
Shows: Thursday, November 30; Friday, December 15; Saturday, December 16
Time: 8 p.m.at the Bayfront Theater
Official Workouts: Oct. 2, 17, 30, Nov. 6, 20, Dec. 4
(Final wrap up meeting: TBD)
Time: 7-9 p.m. (most workouts will be held in the theater.)
Note: Previous long-form classes have also scheduled additional workouts on their own at other locations besides the theater.
TUITION:
Program Tuition: $849
Payment Schedule: $349 due September 11; $250 due October 1; $250 due November 1
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applicants should e-mail the following material to jenny@improv.org: (Please put "Long-Form Application - YOUR NAME" in the subject line.)
1. Name, address, e-mail address, and phone number
2. Why do you want to be part of the BATS Long-Form Improv Program?
3. Your improv history and experience (study and performance)
4. Who can we talk to that knows your improv work? (If that person is not a BATS coach, please provide e-mail and phone contact information.)
Applications are due Sunday, August 13, 2006, by 5 p.m.
Members for this second session of the Long-Form Improv Workshop will be selected by the dean and the director from a pool of all interested applicants. Each applicant will be considered for a spot. Selections will be based on talent, potential, commitment and cast balance. Some applicants may be invited for a personal interviewed to discuss the program, expectations, and relevant background. (However, if you are not invited for an interview it does not mean that you are not being considered for the program.) Applicants accepted to the program will be notified by the end of August.
QUOTES FROM PAST BLIP STUDENTS:
Here's what students from the first session of BLIP had to say about the course:
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"An excellent opportunity to develop both my improv and acting skills while learning about genres, character development and ensemble."
"Unlike any performance training opportunity in the Bay Area."
"I feel that I am walking away with an armful of tools and ideas that will help me in the future."
"It was fun, yet intense. Exciting, yet exhausting. We learned so much from an incredibly talented and giving group of improvisers who were willing (and even eager) to share their secrets with us. It was a very special time, one that I will never forget."
FINAL NOTES:
The Long-Form Improv Workshop is a class; it is not an audition for the BATS Company. As with any performance opportunity, there is the possibility that your work in the program will be seen and discussed. But there is NO relationship to this program and membership in the Company.
If members of the workshop would like to continue performing and building on the ensemble created by the experience, they are welcome and encouraged to do so. Graduates will be eligible to perform in special Sunday night long-form shows. Additionally, late night slots at the Bayfront will be made available for rental. However, BATS is not creating a new performance ensemble and is unable to provide ongoing rehearsal or performance space for the students beyond the 12-week program.
For current Sunday Players who wish to remain active in the SPs, participation in the Long-Form Workshop counts as the class portion of your activity requirement.
For the next Long-Form Workshop series, go to the calendar.
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