Class Schedule 2012
WINTER CLASSES – 2012
We are in the final stages of upleveling, upgrading, and basically redefining what IMPROVOLUTION is! It’s a very exciting time and things couldn’t be going better. We are adding more teachers, more structure, more classes & workshops, and also the scope and span of what improv is for.
Therefore, we are “running light” on the classes we will be offering this fall as we prepare to open our doors very soon on “Improvolution 2.0.” The current schedule is as follows:
• LEVEL 1 / BASICS: Manhattan – Mondays, Jan 23 for 10 weeks. 7-9:30pm. Cost: $300 (10 sessions + show) Instructor: Holly Mandel
• LEVEL 1 / BASICS: Brooklyn – Wednesdays, Feb 1 for 10 weeks. Cost: $300 (10 sessions + show) Instructor: Nadia Manzoor
FREE TEST DRIVE: For the first night of Level 1, we offer anyone a FREE TEST DRIVE. That means you can try out the first class and see how you like it (and we’re sure you’ll like it!)…and if you’d like to then enroll in the class you can do so at the end of the night. We know for some it’s an investment to take the entire class without knowing exactly what you’re getting. To sign up for this, you’ll need to send an email to reserve a space and specify which location you’re attending. (CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL)
• LEVEL 2 / CHARACTER & SCENE DEVELOPMENT – Wednesdays, Jan 25 for 10 weeks. 6:30pm-9pm. Cost: $330 (10 sessions + show) Instructor: Holly Mandel
• LEVEL 3/ CHARACTER WRITING WORKSHOP - day class forming now for February. Contact Brendon if you’re interested.
• LEVEL 5 / ADVANCED IMPROV SERIES – Tuesdays, 7-9pm. 3 session themed classes: Long-form, characters, games & shorter scenes, fundamentals. Rotating Instructors. Class space is limited. Cost: $120 for all 3 sessions + 1 show.
SERIES 1: Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7: Extended scenework with Holly Mandel
ANYONE CAN IMPROVISE
Learn the fundamentals – the basic tools, rules, and philosophy – through games, drills, exercises, and simple scenes. Holly Mandel was not only a Groundling Company member but an advanced teacher for all the levels at the school. When she created IMPROVOLUTION she brought her knowledge and experience with her and the unique character-based “Groundlings”-inspired approach.
It is a noncompetitive, supportive environment where both actors and non-actors are welcome. You’ll leave with an understanding of WHAT makes improv work and WHY it works…and a new confidence that you…yes, even YOU…can do it.
Whether you’re a performer, comedian, public speaker or not, improv is honestly for anyone who wants to do it. We stand behind our motto that “ANYONE can improvise!” Come on! You know you want to!
(Write in the comments which workshop you’d like to attend when you purchase the workshop)
HOW OUR SCHOOL IS STRUCTURED
We have 5 Levels – Basic through to Sketch Comedy Writing. We’ve designed the classes to build on one another so we suggest that students proceed through each class in order. However, some people have had training elsewhere and may want to take a class that best suits their level of experience.
Also, you can never learn too much in improv and many students elect to re-take classes several times (for half-price) so they can stay sharp, go deeper, and experiment.
Performing is an integral part of learning – not a light at the end of a long tunnel – and so at the end of each level we encourage students to perform in their class shows. It’s another way to learn, to grow, and to understand what improv is and how it works.
THE LEVELS
We break it down pretty simply…if you’ve had little or no improv training then you will want to start with our BASIC WEEKEND INTENSIVE or our LEVEL 1 CLASS which will give you the rules, tools, fundamentals, and experience to walk away saying confidently…perhaps even arrogantly…”Yes, world, yes. I can improvise!” You will be able to perform in a class show at the end of the session which is an integral part of learning and understanding improv.
Once your an addict to improv and performing, we have the LEVEL 2 /SCENE & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CLASS which meets starts where Level 1 stops. You will learn how to keep a scene moving and feel the power and freedom of improvising as characters.
After LEVEL 2, logically you’d go to LEVEL 3 – which develops more in-depth character work through monologue writing. And teaches writing with an improv angle.
And LEVEL 4 teaches Long-Form improv, with an emphasis on the CLAP-IN format. Long-Form basically means there is no director, the cast directs themselves based on what interests them and which direction they want to take the scenes. It’s like having learned how to play an instrument, you can them begin to jam together.
LEVEL 5 is our Sketch Writing class…using everything learned up until this point to write scenes, knowing how best to structure and present an idea or character.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
What IS improv?
What does it mean to be a “good improviser”? How do you create a successful scene? How do you apply improv to other creative aspects of life? Why does improv help with auditioning, scene work, and performance? And also with work dynamics, public speaking, and brainstorming? Why should every single person learn about improv???
This is a quick way to find out!
Learn all the basics of improv in just one day or over a weekend with an emphasis on teamwork, characters, positivity, trusting the unknown and yourself.
You will:
- Learn the improv basic ‘language’ and discover IMPROVOLUTION’s unique approach!
- Experience pushing your own edge in the context of working in and for a group!
- Discover a deep trust in yourself, in your partners, and the confidence that comes from that!
- Experience how fun, freeing, and EASY improvising actually is – especially in a safe, noncompetitive, and positive atmosphere!
LEVEL 1 / IMPROV BASICS
Learn the fundamentals of improvisation – the basic tools, rules and philosophy – through games, drills, and scenes. We emphasize a character-based “Groundlings”-inspired approach to improv, although not exclusively.
It is a fun, noncompetitive, supportive environment where we don’t teach you just one format, we teach you how to be a good, competent player with an understanding of WHAT makes improv work and WHY it works.
Whether you’re a performer or not, improv is honestly for anyone who wants to do it. We stand behind our motto that ANYONE can improvise!
LEVEL 2 / CHARACTERS & SCENE DEVELOPMENT
Continuing on from Improv Basics, this class is designed to hone your skills, offer more tools, and introduce characters as a way to develop your scenework. Much like Level 1, games, drills, and scenes will be used to give both an intellectual understanding as well as an experiential one. Character work will be introduced through both improvised and in-class writing assignments.
LEVEL 3 / WRITING LAB: CHARACTER MONOLOGUES
Level 3 gives you the chance to begin to explore and understand both deeper dimensions of characters AND the ability to study the structures of scenes from a writing angle. Regardless of your abilities as a writer, this class is NOT a “how to write” class – instead, it uses improv as the means to create more well-defined characters, finding their motives, their quirks, their subtlety in a way that you rarely could in a spontaneous improv game. You will be given several different ways to come up with characters and create them both in and outside of class.
And you’ll be amazed how much you like to write. When done with an improv background, it’s a lot easier than you would ever think.
Shows will be a mix of improv and your character monologues.
LEVEL 4 / LONG-FORM IMPROV
Long-form is a more advanced style of improv that does not usually require a director. The performers ‘self-direct’, working together in higher and more complex ways to create scenes based on their own ideas. Once you have a basic understanding of how long-form works, you can easily adapt to other versions. You will also learn in a hands-on way how scenes are constructed, what makes a scene really work, and how best to set up and execute your scene ideas.
LEVEL 5 / SKETCH WRITING
Taking everything you’ve learned – long form, character monologues, and improv basics – students are now ready to dive into Sketch Comedy Writing. Having experienced what makes an interesting and successful scene, you will be able to explore scenes from a writing standpoint and learn how to create scenarios and characters to sustain sketches; learn how to write for multiple characters; and how to best express an idea you have.
DROP-IN CLASS
This is a weekly drop-in for current and previous students of Improvolution as well as our other improv friends from other schools and trainings who either want more improv in your week than just once (we understand!) or if you are unable to take a current class. We do not recommend taking this class INSTEAD of a Level class, as Level classes are more focused, build on one another, and have a concrete goal for your improv development.
More details to come.
PAY HERE NOW
Installments are accepted as long as a deposit is received before class begins.
Holly Mandel
Artisic Director, Founder
IMPROVOLUTION! was founded by Los Angeles GROUNDLINGS alumna HOLLY MANDEL in January 2002 when she moved to New York after deciding to leave LA and, well, move to New York. As a GROUNDLING she performed, wrote, directed and taught as a Main Company member for over six years, studying and performing with some of the best in improv and sketch comedy. She created the longest-running long-form show in LA before leaving, “The Crazy Uncle Joe Show” which you can see any Wednesday night at The Groundlings. She also studied with the wonderful SECOND CITY director Jeff Michalski and the fantastic Stan Wells of THE EMPTY STAGE in Los Angeles.
Holly teaches at and directs IMPROVOLUTION’s shows, as well as performs with GROUNDLING alums and various troupes. She also teaches improv at HB Studio and coaches both individuals and groups.
Here is a photo of Holly in a blonde wig from a sketch from the Groundlings. 
No, she does not still own it. Yes, she wishes she did. ”It was one of the best wigs I ever had the honor of wearing.”
Radhika Vaz
RADHIKA VAZ has been teaching improv for over 4 years with IMPROVOLUTION. She has also taught at various other schools including HB Studio. She has also worked with several media companies in India. She is the QUEEN OF LEVEL 1.
Radhika has been performing with IMPROVOLUTION for over 6 years and produced her own sketch show with Katarina Kojic in 2007, The KAT AND RAD SHOW.
Radhika thinks birthdays are indulgent.
Anthony Minto
School Administrator
This is not what Anthony looks like now. Some people didn’t get that this was Anthony as a confident youth.
Anthony has been teaching for almost 6 years and has been a performing member of IMPROVOLUTION for almost 7 years. He has also performed in several improv groups including 4 PLAY, 7 CHAIRS, and THE AGENCY.
He has taught at various schools including HB Studio.
Anthony has been known to celebrate not only his own birthday but his vast array of friends’ birthdays as well.
Kat Kojic
KAT KOJIC has been teaching improv for over 4 years and performing with IMPROVOLUTION for over 6 years. She has also produced her own sketch and improv show incorporating her photography work in 2007. Along with Radhika, she performed in their original sketch show, THE KAT AND RAD SHOW in 2007.
She’s also an amazing, intuitive and creative photographer…most of the photos on this site are hers (all the good ones basically). She is able to capture the essence of a person and uses her improv talents to stay present and spontaneous. Check out her work: http://MiseEnScenePhotoshoots.com
Kat thinks birthdays are fantastic.
Mike Iaia
It’s hard not to adore Mike Iaia. Many have tried but all have failed. He has been teaching at Improvolution almost since he started performing. A member of IMPROVOLUTION since 2002, Mike has performed, directed, and emceed many a show…a gift which he never flaunts. But should. We haven’t asked Mike what he thinks about birthdays but are anxious to hear his unqiue self-depricating take on the matter.
AND OUR STEERING COMMITTEE STAFF MEMBERS...
Rebecca Stuard
Helping steer the ship, using her skills of positivity, organization, lots of care, and eerie ability to attract people and things.
