In-Person: In-Person: Boat Court Performance Lab with Dave Dennison

Ft. Mason – Bayfront Theatre

Class Date/Time: Thursdays 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM PST // February 15, 22, 29, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, There will be a performance showcase component to the class.

Prerequisite: F6 or Coach Approval. *Please email bats@improv.org for the access code and other eligibility questions*

Schedule: 8 sessions

Class length: 3 hours

Class size: 12 students maximum

Tuition: $449

Improvised Boat Court is an improv format developed at BATS Improv by Dave Dennison in 2020. It is based on a fictional show Boat Court which has been broadcast for over 25 years by multiple countries around the world. It takes place on the massive ship Boat Court which was created to bring justice to the open ocean. The ship is the largest man-made thing in the world. The show follows the largely separate worlds of the inhabitants of Boat Court. These worlds include:

1. The captain and crew who keep Boat Court functioning.

2. The judges, lawyers, and defendants of the courts.

3. The Interdiction Squad, who bring criminals to justice.

4. The Accounting Department.

5. The doctors, nurses, administrators and patients of Boat Court Hospital.

6. The IT Department.

Each show follows 4 story lines in these worlds. The story lines have long arcs. Improvising Boat Court requires starting in the middle of these narratives, by establishing back story and living in the emotional reality of the characters.

Improvised Boat Court gives players the opportunity to play in different genres (Adventure, Soap Opera, Police Procedural, Dramedy) in the same show. During the Performance Lab we will focus on establishing character, relationship and backstory and finding variety in the worlds we create.