Sarasota Improv Festival Workshops
Commitment to Character
Led by Ripley (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
Veteran Improviser, Laurie Jones, will lead you in a workshop to help you find more commitment to your characters through groundedness and true emotion. Have you given a 6 when you were trying for a 10? Did leaning into a character feel too phony? Whatever is it that has you interested in going deeper, this workshop is for you! Laurie has performed and trained at Second City Chicago, IO, Impro Theatre, and is an ensemble member of Ripley Improv, Impro Theatre, and Wishbone Theatre Collective.
Be Your Own Action Hero!
Led by Orange Tuxedo (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
Saying "yes" isn’t just agreeing to the reality your partner is creating in the scene. It’s also saying "yes" to actively moving the scene forward. This workshop focuses on making active, fun choices so you can avoid talking about what you’re doing and tackle it instead. If you have been in a rut or recently found yourself with little more to offer than being a talking head, this workshop is for you!
Intro to Improvised Rap
Led by Festival Headliner MC Hammersmith (United Kingdom)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
In this workshop, we’ll cover the basic building blocks of improvised rap, how to find your flow, how to successfully rhyme and land punchlines in improvised songs, all while keeping things fun, stress-free, chill and relaxed. The session involves a lot of writing with pen and paper, and not a huge amount of standing up alone and rapping on the spot. The atmosphere is always very relaxed, fun and supportive! Rapping is one of the things improvisers find most terrifying – this workshop will show you how to turn that fear into freedom and fun. A hugely useful skill for anyone currently improvising musicals and songs, or looking to further their musical improv repertoire.
Deft Theft: Character Archetypes
Led by Parallelogramophonograph (Austin, TX)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
We are all human beings, and as humans, we love and chase compelling stories and memorable characters. But how do we make memorable characters on-the-spot in improvised theatre? One delightful tool is the archetype Rolodex! The character types you love from books, movies, and television are right at your fingertips - and actually - already in your brain! In this workshop, you’ll learn to access and recognize dozens of character types and use your own body and voice to fully inhabit them. “Stealing” has never been this fun or useful!
The Wonder of Silence in Improv
Led by Impromptu (Sarasota, FL)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
Ever wonder if there's room for quiet moments in improv? Have you ever wanted to try a scene that's intimate and powerful, or filled with pauses for reflection and emotion? In this workshop, we'll do exercises that push you to get in touch with vulnerability, and scene work that illustrates the ways in which you can create quiet moments in the midst of humor.
Acting Chops for Improv
Led by Available Cupholders (Austin, TX)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
Wanting to add some emotion to your scene work? Some depth to your short form games? Do you want the audience to be on the edge of their seat before you say a single word? In this workshop you will learn some method acting, Meisner, and script study techniques and how to apply those principles to your work as an improviser. Take your improv to the next level! You were always an actor before you were an improviser. Believe it and be more believable.
ClownProv
Led by 2-MAN NO-SHOW (Toronto, Canada)
Saturday, July 22 | 9-11AM
ClownProv blends elements found within clown work (physical comedy, le jeu, finding "the game," and joyful play) with improv. Participants will learn to maximize joy during performance; repeat and build off their successes, and access their "inner clown" within the context of improv scene work.
Dr. Cacky's Improv Cleansing
Led by Orange Tuxedo (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, July 22 | 11:30AM-1:30PM
Is your scene work tired and sluggish? Are you falling back on the same tired choices and characters you always make? Do you need to get back to basics and be playful and strong again? If so, Dr. Cacky's Improv Cleansing is for you. He'll give you the improv equivalent of a high colonic, flushing the toxins of insecurity and indecision out of your system. Whether you're a veteran improvisor or new to the artform, this is the perfect workshop for the performer who needs to practice owning their impulses and delivering them with confidence right away.
Good for all skill levels, recommended 6 months experience.
Be Here Now: Joy & Presence in Improv
Led by HERE: The (Improvised) Musical (Columbus, OH)
Saturday, July 22 | 11:30AM-1:30PM
From the minds behind The Improv Retreat and The Nest Theatre, Tara & Rance (HERE: The (Improvised) Musical, iO Chicago, Second City, ComedySportz) take participants on quite the journey. Presence and perception is the name of the game. Come do some original trippy paired exercises, two person scenework, actively listen and find the fun. Part bohemian methodology, part scenework, this workshop is both invigorating and full of meaningful musings on connection being the name of the game.
Movement for Actors & Improvisers
Led by Ripley (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, July 22 | 11:30AM-1:30PM
Learn the tools for becoming a dynamic performer and creating ensembles that spin improvised adventures from absolutely nothing in Movement for Actors and Improvisers. Starting with the basics of Alexander technique, actors and improvisers will learn to energetically connect to the body and voice. Then, using improvisation along with select lines from Shakespeare's plays, students will explore tools for stage presence and moment-to-moment work, enhancing their connection to fellow performers and the audience. Finally, in improvised scene work, students will put it all together and discover how connection, emotion, and stage picture creates story.
Villainy: Being Bad on Stage
Led by Parallelogramophonograph (Austin, TX)
Saturday, July 22 | 11:30AM-1:30PM
Learn how fun it is to be bad. In this workshop, PGraph will teach you how to play downright evil characters on stage that the audience will love to hate. It's easy enough to play a 2-dimensional bad guy, but for true evil to shine in all its dark glory, your characters must be rooted in truth, and be unique individuals. Learn to: Create a fully fleshed out origin for your villain, React properly to evil actions done on stage, Make your monsters more human, Treat dark moments with the respect and patience they deserve.
Find Your Flow: An Introduction to the Hip Hop Musical
Led by North Coast (New York City, NY)
Saturday, July 22 | 11:30AM-1:30PM
This introductory musical improv workshop introduces you to the basics of Hip Hop Improv: the combination of free-style rapping and scene work. A North Coast artist will guide you through the basics of free-styling which, instead of forcing the rhyme, is all about gaining access to the rhymes that have been in your catalogue since you were a kid. Learn how to set yourself up, find your flow, and weave your rapped verses into your improv scene work!
Improvised Environments
Led by Ripley (Los Angeles, CA)
Saturday, July 22 | 2-4PM
Working the WHERE in Who, What, Where, & Why. In every scene we improvise, we have an opportunity to create an environment that helps us tell the story with more depth and specificity. In this class, students will learn how to activate the imaginations and engage the environment for themselves, their ensemble, and the audience. We will abandon awkward phrases like "thank you for coming to the <insert location here> with me" and "I'm so glad you invited me to the <insert location here>." And we will replace those phrases with more inspired and organic reactions to the improv coach in our minds. This class will focus on labeling specifics, spacework, atmosphere, using emotion, and giving our creative mind time to create.
Sketch Writing
Led by Big Bang (Boston, MA)
Saturday, July 22 | 2-4PM
Television shows that look for comedy writers often look to read packets full of original sketches. From SNL to late night shows to even narrative comedy, shows turn to sketch packet submissions to interview and eventually hire writers. This introductory sketch writing class will focus on the overall philosophy of sketch writing for packets, the anatomy of a tv packet, and how to write sketches to showcase your comedy chops with incorporating elements of improv.
Beginning Musical Improvisation
Led by HERE: The (Improvised) Musical (Columbus, OH)
Saturday, July 22 | 2-4PM
From the world-touring HERE: The (Improvised) Musical team (The Nest Theatre, iO Chicago) - This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to start their path into musical improv, or build on intermediate skills they may already have. Tara & Rance will alleviate the all-too-common fears of this specific form of art, encouraging improvisers instead to lean into relationship, earn the song, and create songs and duets fearlessly in this fun two hour dip.
Getting to Know Will (Shakespeare)
Led by SAK Comedy Lab (Orlando, FL)
Saturday, July 22 | 2-4PM
Are you tired of just adding “th” at the end of all your words in Shakespeare scenes? Unpack the beautiful language that is Shakespeare and apply it to your short- and long-form improv! Explore key Shakespearean language devices such as allusion, alliteration and antithesis (and that’s just the a’s!) and see how they can add authenticity, color, and comedy to your work. No prior Shakespearean experience needed, but a little advanced reading or YouTube binging couldn’t hurt!