Improv 302 Class

Week 2 of 8

Improv 302 – Advanced Improv – Long Form & The Living Room

Explore the beginning and intermediate techniques of long form Improv! Using the building blocks from Improv 101 & 201, this class will focus primarily on utilizing those skills in application to long form improv. Long form is a style, that calls on the improviser to use only one suggestion in order to build a series of comedic scenes. From the opening, to different wipes and edits, to a variety of exciting long form formats, you will get a great sampling of what it’s like to play this exciting form of improv!

This course will focus heavily on a particular long form known as “The Living Room.” Here is a description, from the People and Chairs blog:

The Living Room is a deconstruction-based long-form set that uses storytelling to inspire scene work.

After grabbing a suggestion, this form opens with the cast having  a casual dinner party-type conversation. Improvisers stand in a horseshoe (or sometimes sit) and tell a story inspired by the suggestion. Here, players don’t necessarily have to play themselves, but should be telling truthful stories, or talking about events actually happening in the world.

Any player inspired by one of these stories can step forward from the horseshoe into the middle and begin a scene.  The ensemble plays a few scenes inspired by the conversation, then the cast returns to the “dinner party,” using information from those scenes to begin a new conversation. (Improvisers shouldn’t act out the stories, but rather use one idea mentioned as a jumping-off point.)

The Living Room flips back and forth between “dinner party conversation” and a series of brand new scenes. As the show gains momentum, the conversations should get shorter and the scenic element should get longer.

8 Week Course – Classes meet once a week

Day/Time: Tuesdays, 7:00pm – 9:30pm starting August 2, 2016.

Prerequisite: Completion of Level 201

Instructor – Rob Sparks

Rob Sparks has been studying, performing and teaching improv for over twenty years starting at Grinnell College in the 90’s.

He’s a main stage player at Unscrewed Theater and has performed in well over 300 shows over the years. He’s studied with many nationally known improv teachers and brings a wealth of knowledge and love for the craft to his classes!

Unscrewed Theater is located at 3244 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85716 (across from The Loft Cinema, next to Fronimo’s). Parking and entrance are located in the rear of the building. Turn in to the Walgreen’s parking lot and go to the left around the building.

Unscrewed Theater is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching, performing, and producing all forms of live improvisational theater in Tucson, AZ.