In-Person: Performance Ready Refresh: SERIES (All 4 classes)

Class Time/Dates: Saturday, September 24, 11:00am-2:00pm /// Saturday, October 15, 2:30-5:30pm /// Saturday, October 29, 11:00am-2:00pm /// Wednesday, November 2, 7:00-10:00pm

Schedule: *See individual class listing*

Class length: *See individual class listing*

Class size: 16 students maximum

Tuition: $180

Prerequisite: F3 or equivalent

*Email bats@improv.org to confirm eligibility*

Location: Bayfront Theater at Fort Mason Center for the Arts

Attend the entire Performance Ready Refresh Series at a discounted rate! (Each class individually is $54 and can be found at improv.org/school/specialty.) See individual class descriptions below.

Acting and Presence with Dave Dennison

Talking is necessary in Improv; naming the basics is the first step to inhabiting an improvised scene. However, when we slow down and imagine the reality that we’re creating, when we connect to our characters and partners and live in the moment, our improv becomes more compelling. In this workshop, we’ll focus on doing more with the verbal offers we make, physically connecting to the world and finding the often surprising emotional truth of the characters.

Singing and Dancing with Zoe Galvez and Joshua Raoul Brody

Get out of your head and into your body! BATS Musical Director Joshua Raoul Brody and Company Member Zoe Galvez will run the class through some quick warm-ups then plunge right into a variety of improvised song and dance formats and styles. You’ll perform solos with back-ups, duets and group numbers. You’ll learn to move as an ensemble with instant choreography. You’ll do scenes with songs in them and you’ll dance your pants off!

Narrative Devices with Tim Orr

Transitions, both within and between scenes, are one of the truly magical aspects of long-form improvisation. Experiment with them, combine them, discover your own! As with all space object and “where” work, the key is to take your time with what you’re doing, and observe what your partners are doing. Slow down! Taking your time makes things easier to read, and also expands your options.

In this class, we’ll explore:

– lights and music as transitions

– entrances and exits (energy, stage position, the push/pull of comings and goings, etc.)

– scene start options

– making other people “appear” without prolonged stage set-up

– cross-in-front/wipe

– instant on-stage location changes

– instant on-stage character changes

– tapping in/out to play new or established characters

– playing multiple characters

– character switching, pacing and proximity

– split focus (basic and advanced)

– flashback/forward with possible simultaneous dialogue/narration

– montages

– close-up/longshot

Finding Your Voice with Regina Saisi

One of the most basic obligations that we have as stage performers is to reach the audience with our voices! But sometimes this can be challenging. In this class, we’ll look at ways that we can address our “low-volume habits” and overcome them! Remember: speaking loud enough on stage makes you…..more YOU!