The Actor's Way to Improvise- David Razowsky
In this three-class workshop actors will be exposed to instant scene creation, character development and the joys of being a supportive scene partner.  This isn’t about “the funny,” rather it’s about the relationship and the humor that comes when improvisers tap into their acting chops, and when actors are freed to travel to wherever their scene wants them to go.  Through Razowsky’s workshop true, honest and organic choices come easily.  You will never look at improv in the same way.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - March 23, 24, 25 - 3pm-6pm - Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street

Tuition - $180, to register contact info@artisticnewdirections.org

David Razowsky is the former Artistic Director of the Second City Training Center in Los Angeles.  He was a cast member fo ten Second City revues where he created material with Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris and Jeff Garlin, among countless other performers.  He is an adjunct factuly member for the California State University and directed their mainstage production, Beeswax, a performance of original monologues created through improvisation by CSU students.  He is a co-founder of Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre.  He has taught at Artistic New Directions’ Master Improv Retreat for the past three summers

Diving Into Script-Writing with Jeffrey Sweet

It's impossible to cover all the technique of writing scripts in two three-hour sessions, but you can make a helluva start.  In the first session, Jeff introduces common-sense strategies for making scenes work (useful not only to writers but to improvising actors and directors as well).  At the end of session one, he makes an assignment.  In session two, the scenes written in response to the assignment are read and analyzed and new techniques come to light.

Monday - March 22, 3pm-6pm and Saturday - March 27, 9:30am-12:30pm - Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street

Tuition - $120, to register contact info@artisticnewdirections.org

Jeff has taught this stuff at a wide range of places, including both Second City and the Actor's Studio as well as a dozen or so universities and countless theatres and play development outfits.  His book, THE DRAMATIST'S TOOLKIT, is in wide use around the country and is in its 14th printing.  It is recommended by more than a few Pulitzer Prize-winning writers as having been useful to them.  When he's not helping other people write, he is a member of the playwrights ensemble of the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theatre, which has produced more than a dozen of his plays, several of which have won major awards and been produced on stages in New York, around the country and in some of the more enlightened world capitals.

Improve Your Improv - Michael Rock

If you love improv or if you'd just like to be more creative, spontaneous and self-confident - either in performance or your daily life - then this class is for you. Heard the phrase "yes and"? Do you remember those tools of great improv: spontaneity, teamwork, listening and being changed? Okay, okay, so we can't do ALL that in one 3-hour session, but we can brush up on these basics. With over 20 years experience in improv, Michael creates a class that is professional and focused, yet fun, supportive and relaxed.

Friday, March 26 - 3p-6p - Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor

Tuition $45 - To register: info@artisticnewdirections.org

Michael Rock is a Broadway performer, award-winning director, college professor and improviser. He has been teaching acting and improv for over 20 years at Second City, NYU, Marymount Manhattan College and many others. He has trained first-time performers, professional actors, corporate executives and everyone in between.

Wednesday Night Improv Workout
led by Scotty Watson

To thank the actor/improvisers who give of their time by reading new works at our Anything Goes Open Rehearsals, for the 2008-09 season, we will be providing a FREE workshop in improvisation for actors who are attending Anything Goes. Scotty Watson (The Second City & AND) will run the workshop so that it is fully harmonious with the work of Gary Austin and of Michael Gellman... with some good old fashioned short form improv thrown in just for fun. It's a great workout for improvisers, a wonderful introduction to improvisation for actors and a darn good warm up for all of us attending Anything Goes. Attendees of the workshop will give a 15 minute performance at the beginning of Anything Goes, performing short scenes based on suggestions from the writers and other artists in attendance.

Wednesdays, 6:00p-7:15p - Check Calendar page for confirmation of dates.

This Workshop is free, to register contact info@artisticnewdirections.org

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Payment by Credit Card is via PayPal, www.paypal.com with ArtNewDir@aol.com as the Payee. For more information please contact info@artisticnewdirections.org.