Clown Combat for the Improviser Too!
With Judi Lewis-Ockler
Friday, March 29, 2019, 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Studios 353
353 W 48th Street, Studio B
New York, NY 10036
"I'm not funny. What I am is brave."- Lucille Ball
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
This workshop is designed to continue exploring stage combat and clown techinques as tools for the clown/improviser who wants a fight performance of the moment, executed with safe, reliable, structured technique the performer can depend on, so as not to maim or die or scare the audience for real! Clown Combat Too! continues basic timing and rhythmic elements inherent to physical comedy and clown using high energy games, improvisation, and simple unarmed stage combat techniques.
Clown is an invaluable art form that gives special credence to live performance, to human nature, to laughter. Clown Combat Too endeavors to bring these ideas to performers in a safe, fun, and respectful environment which, with a little bravery on their part, allows for the performer's clown to come out and play with reckless abandon.
Open to performers with previous basic stage combat/clown/improv training.
Class requirements: comfortable workout clothing/shoes
Max: 16 people
JUDI LEWIS-OCKLER falls down for a living. She works as a stunt performer in NYC (visit judi's imdb page). She is a founding member of Kendall Cornell’s Clowns Ex Machina, and has performed commissioned pieces with them for Cirque du Soliel and La Mama, Etc. She is a resident variety performer in NYC, producing live events and clown spectacle with such clients as Brookfield Place, US Open, South Street Seaport Museum, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her one woman show, Rock n' Roll Mother Goose! premiered at the New York Clown Festival 2016, directed by Barry Lubin, and continues to tour the US. She teaches clown and stage combat on a regular basis at AMDA, The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and Broadway Teaching Group. www.judilewisockler.com
Reserve your spot by emailing IRTEinfo@gmail.com
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $60 per person until 3/22/2019
After 3/22/2018, $70
(Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance)
Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance.
If you purchased through Coursehorse, then our Refund & Cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you are entitled to a refund, or have any questions, please contact Coursehorse here.
Share The Scene! The Art of Give and Take
with Scotty Watson
Saturday, April 27, 2019 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Theatre Row Studios
411 West 41st Street, Studio 6
New York, NY 10036
Upcoming Workshops
Great Scenes Big and Small with Scotty Watson
Sunday, March 18, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Theatre Row Studios
411 West 41st Street, Studio 3
New York, NY 10036
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Great scene work is the backbone of Improvisational Theatre. Some say that great scenes are like porn. You may not be able to describe it... but you know it when you see it.
Scotty Watson says POPPYCOCK!!
The secret to great scene work is simple, but not easy.
Slow Down & Tell Small Stories
and remember...
Words are Envelopes that Deliver Emotion
Leave the explosions to Jerry Bruckheimer. Improvisors will never have that kind of budget. Instead, let's create scenes that explore the small but significant moments of our lives.
SCOTTY WATSON
Teacher, Director & Coach of Improvised Theatre.
Currently on television Scotty is appearing in a series of commercials for The Provident Loan Society of New York. Off-Broadway Scotty was seen as the dis-embodied head of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton in the Off-Broadway musical Walmartopia! He is an alumni of The Second City Canadian National Touring Company and served as an alternate for, “Bebe,” in Cirque du Soleil's Mystere. On TV Scotty has dressed up as David Crosby, a human heart and Carmen Miranda… but with dignity. He has done feature films with Ed Asner, Eric Stoltz and Gerard Depardieu.
Scotty has been working in Improvisational Theatre for over 30 years. He taught advanced sketch writing for The Second City NYC and was Head of NYC Faculty for Artistic New Direction's Workshops in Improvised Theatre. He was also the Senior Faculty Member and In-House Director for The Improvisation News Team.
His favorite food is pie. His favorite person is his wife Carol Lempert.
Reserve your spot by emailing IRTEinfo@gmail.com
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $35 per person until 3/11/18
After 3/11/2018, $40
(Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance
Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance.
If you purchased through Coursehorse, then our Refund & Cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you are entitled to a refund, or have any questions, please contact Coursehorse here.
Exploring "the Where" in Improvisation With
Aretha Sills
Tuesday, April 24, 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Theatre Row Studios
411 West 41st Street, Studio 2
New York, NY 10036
Exploring "the Where" in Improvisation to Create Connections Between Players
“Space objects are projections of the unknown, the invisible self, into the visible world.” - Viola Spolin
"The object becomes the metaphor for the relationship and the scene.” - Paul Sills
“The longer you look at an object, the more of the world you see in it.” - Flannery O’Connor
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Taking time to build a “Where" and enter into it as a group helps players into the present moment and into true relation. We’ll discover the riches the environment has to offer as we slow down and explore it. Through a combination of warm-ups and scene games, players will work with space objects to create onstage environments and allow intuitive connections to emerge.
Viola Spolin’s Theater Games launched the American improvisational theater movement and changed the way acting is taught. Her work has influenced generations of actors and educators. In the workshop, we'll explore the groundbreaking exercises and theatrical concepts found in her seminal book, Improvisation for the Theater, with an emphasis on the philosophies of legendary improvisation innovators Viola Spolin and Paul Sills.
This workshop is for players with some Spolin experience or some theatrical experience who are open to exploring new methods.
ARETHA SILLS is the granddaughter of Viola Spolin. She studied theater games for many years with her father, director Paul Sills (creator/director of The Second City and Story Theater), and has conducted workshops for Paul Sills' Wisconsin Theater Game Center, Bard College, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Art of Acting Studio, Stockholm International School, Sarah Lawrence College, and Northwestern University. Aretha was the keynote speaker at the California Educational Theatre Association conference. She is the Associate Director of Sills/Spolin Theater Works and she directs The Predicament Players. ViolaSpolin.org.
Quotes about the workshop:
"Aretha is dedicated to preserving the pureness of this technique, which from my point of view assists the actor to find the courage to find themself and then to fly. I believe she has, innately and amazingly, all the elements of the technique of both Viola Spolin and Viola's son, the extraordinary director, Paul Sills. I have studied with Aretha, and believe me, the thrill lives on." -Paul Sand, Tony-award winner for Paul Sills' Story Theater; original Second City cast member
"Aretha Sills, carrying on the work of Spolin and Sills, is an amazing, insightful side-coach and teacher. We were fortunate enough to take a workshop in L.A. with her and it helped us reconnect with theater game work on a deeper level. She knows her stuff. Can't wait to work with her again!" -Deb Lacusta & Dan Castellaneta, The Simpsons, writers/ actor
“As an educator and instructor of acting and directing, I was eager to learn about the American theater improvisation developed by Viola Spolin and expounded by Paul Sills. Aretha Sills provides an insight into the authentic roots of the system that has been utilized for years by theatre training programs. The workshop will provide you with an excellent opportunity to explore various games and exercises to enrich your view of performance and acting.” -Norma Saldivar, professor and chair, UNLV Department of Theatre, and executive director of the Nevada Conservatory Theatre
Reserve your spot by emailing IRTEinfo@gmail.com
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $55 per person until 4/15/2018
After 4/15/2018, $65
(Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance)
WORKSHOP SOLD OUT. Please email IRTEinfo@gmail.com if you wish to be placed on a waiting list.
Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance.
If you purchased through Coursehorse, then our Refund & Cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you are entitled to a refund, or have any questions, please contact Coursehorse here.
"Aretha is one of the century's best improvisation teachers. Like her grandmother before her, she understands people, theater, and improvisation in an intuitive and deep way. As someone who has studied with some of the top teachers in the country and has performed for over 15 years, I can honestly say Aretha's work opened my eyes. I understood improv on a deeper level. I was refreshed and returned to beginner’s mind." -David Alger, founder Pan Theater
Clown Combat for the Improviser With
Judi Lewis-Ockler
Monday, May 7, 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Studios 353
353 W 48th Street, Studio B
New York, NY 10036
"I'm not funny. What I am is brave."- Lucille Ball
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
This workshop is designed to introduce stage combat as a tool for the clown/improviser who wants a fight performance of the moment, executed with safe, reliable, structured technique the performer can depend on, so as not to maim or die or scare the audience for real! Clown Combat introduces basic timing and rhythmic elements inherent to physical comedy and clown using high energy games, improvisation, and simple unarmed stage combat techniques.
Clown is an invaluable art form that gives special credence to live performance, to human nature, to laughter. Clown Combat endeavors to bring these ideas to the performers in a safe, fun, and respectful environment which, with a little bravery on their part, allows for the performer's clown to come out and play with reckless abandon.
Open to all students; some previous basic unarmed stage combat preferred but not required. Class limited to 16 students
Class Requirements: Students in comfortable workout clothing/shoes
JUDI LEWIS-OCKLER falls down for a living. She works as a stunt performer in NYC (visit judi's imdb page). She is a founding member of Kendall Cornell’s Clowns Ex Machina, and has performed commissioned pieces with them for Cirque du Soliel and La Mama, Etc. She is a resident variety performer in NYC, producing live events and clown spectacle with such clients as Brookfield Place, US Open, South Street Seaport Museum, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her one woman show, Rock n' Roll Mother Goose! premiered at the New York Clown Festival 2016, directed by Barry Lubin, and continues to tour the US. She teaches clown and stage combat on a regular basis at AMDA, The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and Broadway Teaching Group.www.judilewisockler.com
Reserve your spot by emailing IRTEinfo@gmail.com
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $60 per person until 4/30/2018
After 4/30/2018, $70
(Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance)
Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance.
If you purchased through Coursehorse, then our Refund & Cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you are entitled to a refund, or have any questions, please contact Coursehorse here.
Musical Improv with Deb Rabbai
Sunday, June 3, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
411 West 41st Street, Studio 6
New York, NY 10036
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
In an environment of support and nurturing; we will work together as a group to begin the journey of learning how to be a musical improviser. We will focus on listening to the music that the pianist plays and learning how to create memorable melodies by accepting the musical offers and our own musical offers.
We will do this by learning how to;
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Communicate with your improv musician and develop an awareness of how to accept musical offers.
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Make what is off-the-cuff seem like it is scripted.
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Sing dynamically through the use of physicality, emotion and the storytelling in a song.
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Sing as a group, support and conduct.
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Do all the above while having FUN!
Open to all students. Class limited to 16 students
DEB RABBAI is the Co-Artistic Director, Co-Producer and a Performer with “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical!”, the improvised musical awards show. A native New Yorker, Deb has worked as an actor, improviser, singer and voiceover artist for the last twenty five years. Deb became the Co-Artistic Director of BNHM in 2009 and has proudly witnessed its progress into the hilarious hit it is today. A graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, Deb spent ten years performing and teaching improvisation with Freestyle Repertory Theatre (TheatreSports New York), five years performing with ComedySportz NY and seven years with the Chicago City Limits national touring company. She is also a host, facilitator and entertainer for corporate meetings and general sessions and traveled the world leading sessions on Leadership, Speaker training skills, selling excellence and creative problem solving. Deb is a highly experienced teacher of improvisation and acting, having worked at NYU, Marymount Manhattan College, The American Comedy Institute, Improvolution, NY Film Academy and American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Deb successfully created programs that teach curriculum through improvisation – these programs have been integrated into public schools in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Deb has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and in national commercials for MasterCard, Wendy’s and Zyrtec. Deb has done countless voiceovers, ranging from radio and TV advertisements, to video games and anime films. www.debrabbai.com
www.broadwaysnexthitmusical.com
Reserve your spot by emailing IRTEinfo@gmail.com
Cost:
Early Bird Special: $60 per person until 5/27/2018
After 5/27/2018, $70
(Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance)
Refund if reservation cancelled 48 hours in advance.
If you purchased through Coursehorse, then our Refund & Cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you are entitled to a refund, or have any questions, please contact Coursehorse here.