Each workshop description on this menu is a starting point. All classes are adjusted in the moment based on the needs and interests of the students. Custom workshops specific to your needs are easily composed.
A typical session runs 3 hours and is appropriate for 6 to 18 students.
All theatrical improvisation requires at least moderate movement, participants should dress accordingly.
Stop Making Sense!
Reactivate the play in your work.
All Levels
Focus on scenework and style.
Get unstuck and get weird! Free yourselves from the bounds of plot, the shackles of story, and the vortex of superficial justification and return a sense of truth and organic play to your performances. Dare to be stupid!
An AND for every YES
Powerful moves for powerful scenes.
All Levels
Focus on scenework.
In depth and intensive scenic diagnostics designed to enhance players’ effectiveness and oomph!
Includes a clarifying discussion of the sometimes confusing, even contradictory “rules” of improvisation.
Figurenuerbindlichkeit!
Strength and commitment of an actor to the character on stage.
All Levels
Focus on character and scenework.
No matter how you initiate your character choices, it’s for naught if you don’t commit to those choices and truly honor the gifts you give yourself in a scene. Strengthen your figurenuerbindlichkeit and position yourself to offer strong, dynamic gifts to your partner and the scene.
Avant-prov
Tropes of the avant-garde for everyday improvisation.
All Levels for improvisational actors.
Intermediate and Advanced for musicians and dancers.
Focus on style, scenework, and technique.
Players explore and mix techniques of modern theater, dance, and music to expand further into intense theatricality. Even if this is your only experience with “weird theater”, the techniques and experiences within will expand your creative communication on stage.
Live video and audio can be incorporated if available.
A session of this workshop in ’08 inspired Parisian troupe The Improfessionals to create the show Bubble Soup, which they have been performing in Paris and abroad.
Don’t just SIT THERE!!!!
Improvisational movement for powerful scenework.
All Levels
Focus on movement and scenework.
Combine advanced longform scenework and structures with improvisational movement techniques. Master your ability to communicate and make moves non verbally. Add abstraction, theatricality and visceral motion to your improvisation.
Raison d’être
Fulfilling your character’s true purpose.
All Levels
Focus on character and scenework.
You’ve strengthened your figurenuerbindlichkeit, now focus on your character fulfilling his or her full purpose in the world of the scene. This on-your-feet character / scenework class focuses on keeping the truth of your character solid while responding to the needs of your partner, his/her character, and the scene itself.
Hard Core Basics
“Guaranteed” scenic initiations and “sure fire” heightening!
All Levels (with some review for advanced players)
Focus on scenework.
An absolute must for rookie improvisers, a great brush up for experienced players looking for a work out. Reese’s cross-level approach allows novices to learn by working with more experienced players, and veterans to re-absorb old lessons and even reactivate dormant skills when working with players newly discovering concepts and skills.
Cross Polinations: Close v. Johnstone
The strengths of “Chicago Style” improvisation for “Theatresports” influenced performers,
and vice versa.
All Levels
Focus on scenework and styles.
Performers with training and exposure based in Keith Johnstone – Theatresports – plot driven techniques almost always achieve major breakthroughs when working in Chicago style, Del Close – Harold – game/character driven techniques. Chicago style performers, of course, also experience great leaps when focusing on the Johnstone style.
This has become Rob’s most popular workshop in Europe.
Compositions: Elements of Advanced Longform Structures
Intermediate to Advanced Level
Focus on technique and style.
Participants play with the nuts and bolts of improvisational tehcniques and styles through theatrical composition. By removing (at least some of) the infinite variables of improvisation, players work with new editing techniques, scenic variables, and even a few ‘tricks’ without threatening the quality of their improvisational scenes.
Create an Original Longform.
All Levels
Recommended for companies and groups.
Focus on technique, style, and scenework.
Exploit your company’s strengths and strengthen its “weaknesses” by creating a form tailored specifically to your group’s needs. Utilizing classic longform elements combined with techniques and interests unique to your company, this workshop will set you on the road to creating a signature form.
Freedom Through Structure
All Levels
Focus on structure and scenework.
Even veteran improvisers can be intimidated by the supposed limitations of a more structured improvisational form. Utilizing existing structural elements participants will feel the paradoxical artistic freedom achievable by committing to a structure.
Big Bag of Tricks
All Levels
Focus on technique and scenework.
Disciples of pure improvisation often deride players they see performing out of a ‘bag of tricks’, and therefore miss the advantage of a variety of improv tools.
This workshop introduces and reminds participants of a huge array of tools and tricks while exploring the possibilities of using these techniques organically and honestly.
Longform Improvisation Basics
The Harold, et cetera
Novice Level
Focus on scenework, technique, and form.
This workshop is designed for players with limited or no experience with the classic structures of longform. This workshop has proven particularly worthwhile for companies who have an academic understanding of the structures but lack the opportunity to see them in action.
Contact Rob for rates and availability for any of the above workshops.