2017 Course Catalog Letter from the Artistic Director Dear Students, On behalf of the faculty and staff in Table of Contents Hollywood, I would like to welcome you to The Second City Training Center. By enrolling with us, you The Adult Improv Program 4 are becoming a part of the most prestigious comedic tradition in the The Conservatory 7 world. For over 57 years, The Second City has provided a collaborative and specialized Studies 8 safe space for artists to hone their improv skills, create original material, writing 11 and grow as performers. Our training center in Hollywood is Harold Ramis Film School in Chicago 13 unique in that it offers artists the Online Classes 14 opportunity to explore their creativity while immersed in the very nexus of directing 16 the entertainment industry! While studying with us, you will learn to music 17 say “yes”, support others, play to the height of your intelligence, and Kids & Teen program 18 discover your personal comedic style. Whether your dream is to work Kids & teen camps 19 professionally, open yourself up creatively, or just step outside of your comfort zone, I have no doubt your time here will prove invaluable. PRICING 20 Joshua Funk, Artistic Director, Policies / Benefits for Students 21 The Second City Training Center, important dates 24 Hollywood 2 323-464-8542 • secondcity.com 3 IMPROV 1-3 Improv 3: Scene Work Improv Drop-In Physical Comedy 101 Improv classes have a performance Move past short form games and The Improv Drop-in is a The human body is capable of at the end of their class. Ages 18+ enter the world of what makes an noncommittal, two hour class that amazing things!! Ok, now stop improv scene work. will keep students on their toes and thinking of that and come back 3.5 hours • 7 week class schedule can be inject fun into the day. Drop-ins to thinking about comedy...We’re Improv 1: The Basics are designed for anyone who has going to teach students how to tell Intro to the rules of improv. Yes, And!! found online taken at least one full length improv a lifetime of stories without saying a 3.5 hours • 7 week class schedule can be class. Get extra class time, play with word; learn how to be a funny person found online Foundations of Second City new people or work with amazing doing things and not a person doing INTENSIVE! DO IT FAST!* ADULT IMPROV INTENSIVE! DO IT FAST!* coaches! We cap the class at 16 funny things. 3 Days • 11am - 7pm 5 Days • 11am - 7pm • Aug 14 - 18 PROGRAM students, so arrive early to get a spot. Prerequisite: Open to all students Dates: This intensive combines improv Weekly on Wednesday and Sunday from 3.5 hours • 7 week class schedule can be Jan 20-22 Aug 11-13 and sketch into a week-long class Improv is creating something from 12-2pm, $20 cash or credit at the door. found online March 3-5 Oct 6-8 that covers the core elements of nothing; acting without a script. April 7-9 Nov 3-5 PREREQUISITE: students must have taken INTENSIVE! DO IT FAST!* It sounds scary but everything’s The Second City. All elements of the one full length improv class, anywhere, to May 26-28 Nov 20-22 improv process are covered with 5 Days • Mon - Fri • 11am - 4:30pm going to be ok, don’t stress, we June 23-25 Dec 8-10 participate. Dates: put the ‘fun’ in fundamentals. No July 14-16 a particular focus on relationship, point-of-view, and ensemble. Feb 27-March 3 experience necessary, just the 5 Days • 11am - 4:30pm Students explore comedic voice Duo Class July 10-14 willingness to explore creativity, Dates: Students pick their favorite person finding confidence in front of others, as sketch writers through in-class Feb 6-10 Sept 18-22 writing exercises, learn sketch and they’re halfway there! A Second and thinking on the spot. Inspiring March 27-31 Oct 16-20 formatting and structure, while using City teacher specializing in duo Improv for Students with Anxiety and professional actors train in the April 10-14 Nov 20-24 performances will help each pair find For students struggling with feeling Aug 21-25 the core concept of “yes and”. craft of improvisation because it is their improv voice. This 7-week class anxious, who want to try more practically an industry standard on will culminate with a performance on social events or to try to push their set and in auditions. Taste of The Second City our Studio Stage. comfortable boundaries a little bit, Improv 2: Creating Characters we teach our basic improv program *WARNING!: If you’re coming in from out of Students get to act like their weird What’s this improv stuff? This 2-hour Prerequisite: Second City Conservatory 1 in a room where all the students town for an INTENSIVE, please let us know family members. intro workshop will give students or higher (or equivalent at another training when you register. These classes only go a little taste of what our improv center). For students who have training but are like-minded and the teacher is forward if they reach minimum enrollment. 3.5 hours • 7 week class schedule can be patient and understanding. found online program is all about. are unsure whether they qualify, please $25 per workshop • 1-3pm. call us at 323.464.8542. Learn the same skills that our other INTENSIVE! DO IT FAST!* students learn in the improv program Register by calling 323-464-8542 3 hours • 7 weeks 3 Days • 11am - 7pm but at a pace and comfort level that Dates: 2017 DATES : fits the group. Jan 27-29 Sept 8-10 Feb 18 Aug 5 Prerequisite: Open to all students March 17-19 Oct 27-29 March 25 Sept 16 April 21-23 Nov 17-19 April 8 Oct 14 3.5 hours • 7 weeks June 9-11 Dec 15-17 June 17 Nov 11 4 July 28-30 July 8 Dec 2 5 The conservatory Conservatory 1: Scenic Improv Conservatory 4: Two-Person Grad Revue* Building on previous experience, this The final level of the Conservatory class lays groundwork for the Second Reimprovisation is a master class in the Second City Study improv as an acting technique Second City creates sketch City-style of scenic comic improv: style of creating and performing a and its use in the development of comedy thru improvising and then performing great two-person scenes Second City sketch comedy revue. a Second City-style revue in this reimprovising scenes until they rooted in meaningful relationships This class will encompass three advanced program, the cornerstone eventually become “scripted.” between the characters. Skills consecutive levels. In Grad Revue of The Second City Training Learn this unique comedy skill that include strong listening and reacting, A, students will use reimprovisation Center. Students build upon the all Second City alumni have used to emotional turns in the scene, and to generate material for their show. fundamentals of improv, advance create their work on the solid scene structure. In Grad Revue B the material will their scenic and character skills, Second City stage. explore forms and styles, and learn 3.5 hours • 7 weeks be polished. Finally, students will 3.5 hours • 7 weeks to use improv to create material for a perform their finished and complete satirical comedy revue. one-act Second City revue for a Conservatory 2: Characters Conservatory 5: Group run on The Second City Studio Work on creating original comic Theater stage. The Conservatory Faculty characters, sustaining them, Reimprovisation Allison Bills moving scenes forward via natural Students combine the group scene 3.5 hours • 14 weeks Amanda Blake Davis character reactions and recognizable structures learned in Con 3 with the *Students must pass an audition to enter Brett Guennel human behavior. Continue to build reimprovisation in Con 4 and use into Grad Revue. The number of available Carla Cackowski believable characters, while building those methods to not only improvise roster spots are limited. Please call the office for upcoming dates. Celeste Pechous confidence, which are vital parts to but reimprovise group scenes until Dave Colan the characters’ emotional work. they become solid cast sketches. Doug Morency Eileen Montelione 3.5 hours • 7 weeks 3.5 hours • 7 weeks Frank Caeti Ithamar Enriquez Conservatory 3: Group Improv Jaime Moyer Build upon the skills developed in Jenna Jolovitz Con 1 and 2 and apply those skills to Katie Nahnsen executing excellent group scenes. Dwayne Colbert Navigate the complexities of group Kevin McGeehan scenes by learning group scene Marc Warzecha structures, group scene premises, Martin Garcia and strong give and take in a group Michael Anastasia improv setting. Nancy Hayden 3.5 hours • 7 weeks Rob Belushi Rob Janas 6 Ron West -Bill Murray 7 LONG FORM IMPROV Long Form 3: More Complex Structures ACTING & SCENE STUDY Acting 3 PERFORMANCE The Harold, The Bat, Deconstruction, Students take techniques learned All improvisers should have acting This class will have students move The Living Room, An Oak Tree, Goon thus far and use them in forms classes as a part of their tool set. into advanced scene study. Students ENSEMBLES River….what the heck are those? played around the world. After This class is perfect for those who will be assigned a comedic sketch We’ll teach students these long learning more difficult forms, the have improv training or just want and will be part of an ensemble piece Second City Long Form Ensembles forms and some others with really class creates their own form.