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2022/2023 Workshops

MASTER CLASSES

Effect Becomes Cause
with Pat Shay


Saturday, December 10, 2022
1:00pm - 4:00pm

Theatre Row Studios

411 West 41st Street, Studio 5
New York, NY 10036

Cost: $40 
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.




WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Boiled down, improv will always be about the elemental exchange of cause and effect: you give me something, I'm impacted, and what I do gives you something back. In this workshop, we're going to play with this idea in every way we can: from short form to long form; from traditional "Harold" group games to freeform pieces; from solo improvising to everyone onstage at once. We'll build confidence that we have the tools to succeed playing with anyone, in any context, and in any style of improv.

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INSTRUCTOR: PAT SHAY

Pat Shay has performed for touring companies or house teams at iO Chicago, the Second City, UCB, and the PIT. He performed for a long time in Chicago, working with Del Close and Mick Napier, before moving to New York. He’s taught at iO Chicago, the PIT, and has coached groups from all over the country. On TV, he’s been a hard-nosed reporter on The Blacklist, a concerned (and, two scenes later, grieving) dad on FBI, and once looked on in joy and relief as Jon Bon Jovi deleted his son from the timeline in a cable TV ad. He and his wife Mary Theresa Archbold cohost the funnyparents podcast, which is a storytelling show of parents who work in the comedy business.

Scenes That Work!
Scotty Watson's Scene Builder Workshop


November 8, 2022
7:00pm - 10:00pm

Theatre Row Studios

411 West 41st Street, Studio 5
New York, NY 10036

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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Scene work is the backbone of improvisational theatre. It is the medium through which we explore the larger narrative. But in improvisation, “in the moment,” we’ll often sabotage ourselves and create unnecessary challenges to overcome.

Remember back to that last scene you were in that crashed & burned. I guarantee that the mistakes were made in the 1st 30-seconds. Scotty teaches how to initiate scenes that work so you can tell your story your way.

We’ll work on…

  • Smart initiation

  • Getting to the point

  • Keeping your inventory small specific & important

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Cost: $40 
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.




INSTRUCTOR: SCOTTY WATSON

Scotty Watson is an alumnus of The Second City Canadian National Touring Company & taught improv & advanced sketch writing for The Second City NYC. Since 2005, he has served as Master Teacher of improvisational theatre at ANDTheatre Company in Manhattan, delivering a weekly free drop-in class in New York City.

Scotty has created successful improvisational theater programs for companies and schools around the world.  His students perform in theater, on television and in feature films and include an Academy Award winner. Scotty also directs comedies for the theater. He recently worked with the Emmy award-winning show runner of M*A*S*H*, Cheers & Frasier.  He has performed as an actor Off-Broadway, on television and in feature films and recently he had a popular series of TV commercials for the New York market.  

IRTE Workshops

The IRTE Workshops are a continuing series of group classes led by top IRTE company members to explore and develop performance ideas and techniques representative of IRTE's unique style. We also hope that by bringing performers together in an open, supportive environment, we help expand and nurture a diverse community of actors.

Workshops may be taken together or separately.



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Improvisational Acting: Finding Your Character’s Voice
Instructor: Nannette Deasy

Monday, September 12, 2022
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Theatre Row Studios

411 West 41st Street, Studio 3
New York, NY 10036
 

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

Part writing workshop, part improvisational acting workshop, this class will teach you how to flesh out and breathe life into a character you may have already begun exploring.  

Many of IRTE's shows utilize pre-established and recurring characters. We'll work on writing and performance exercises that can help fill out and define a strong, consistent character while remaining flexible and spontaneous enough for in the moment discovery and growth.

Great for Improvisors, Actors and Writers alike! ALL LEVELS WELCOME!

Cost: $20 




NANNETTE DEASY (AEA) is the Artistic Director and Founder of IRTE. A graduate of Columbia University with a degree in English, she is an actor, sketch writer, director and producer. A member of Actors Equity Association, she has performed at theatres including the Public Theatre, LaMama Etc., Ensemble Studio Theatre, and New York Theatre Workshop and in various films and commercials. She has been a cast member of numerous comedy groups and theatres, including Gotham City Improv and is one half of the comedy duo Double D, creating and producing original comedic live shows and films. She studied sketch writing at the Upright Citizens Brigade and the Peoples Improv Theatre, where she was a writer for their video sketch house teams Simply Elegant and Arthur Warburton. Nannette has also taught improvisational acting at Gotham City Improv, the IN Studios Conservatory, privately and for IRTE.


 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WORKSHOPS: 
Open to all with previous improvisational acting experience.


Proof of Vaccination is required for attendance.

Space is limited, so please email IRTEinfo@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Please note: As some of our workshops may become quite physical, IRTE cannot be held responsible for any injuries you may incur, and that by participating in any IRTE sponsored events, you are indemnifying IRTE against any harm or damages.
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