improvPLAYHOUSE™ “prepare with the pros” 116 West Lake Street & 735 North Milwaukee (Our New Studio Theatre-3 Doors Behind Caribou Coffee) Libertyville, IL 60048 NEW WEBSITE! (web)improvplayhouse.com (e) [email protected] (ph) 847-968-4529 (fx) 847-968-4530 Spring ‘06 ADULT SCHEDULE Course Descriptions on Reverse Side ALL IMPROV JAMS AND SHOWCASES AT THE 735 STUDIO

LOCATION LEVL/CLASS DAY TIME DATES CODE FEE DESCRIPTION/INTRUCTORS (and other info) No Classes 3/25-4/2, 4/16 Improv Intro/ Sat 12:30-3:00p 3/11-4/22 LA-SAT-I1 $210 Jessica Carlton CLASSES HELD Level 1 Foundations of Improv AT OUR Beginning Acting Sat 3:15-5:15p 3/11-5/21 LA-SATBA $235 Jessica Carlton 116 W. Lake St. (10wks) Foundation of the Acting Craft Studio unless Long Form 1 Mon 7:30-10:00p 3/13-5/1 LA-MLF1 $210 TBA otherwise noted Foundation of Long Form Improv “Actors Who Tues 7:30-10:30p 3/14-5/23 LA-TAWW $345 Courtney Shaughnessy All classes are Write” (10wks) 10 Week Writing/Performance held for 7 weeks Intensive unless otherwise Improv Level 3 Wed 7:30-10:00p 3/15-5/3 LA-W-I3 $210 TBA noted. Games and Story Improv Level 2 Thur 7:30-10:00 3/16-5/4 LA-TH-I2 $210 TBA Improv Characters 30 Minute to 1 Hour Voice Lessons with DAWN HOMMOWUN. Mon (FILLED), Tues & Thurs 3:00-6:30 and beyond. $20 for 30 Min. $35 for 1 hour. CALL THE STUDIO TO SCHEDULE! ALL AGES WELCOMED! Dawn Currently teaches voice for the Village of Northbrook and is an especially gifted professional actress, vocalist and instructor. “ACTORS WHO WRITE” with Courtney Shaughnessy A once in a lifetime opportunity to develop and perform your very own show. “Actors Who Write is a 10 Week intensive course taught by Courtney Shaugnessy, resident playwrite of Serenditpity Theater, professional voice over artist and actress. Miss Shaugnessy has worked professionally in London, Scotland and in Chicago at the Goodman and Steppenwolf theaters. She is author of “Being 11” which made its debut at the Tony Award Winning Victory Gardens Theater. Chris Jones, of the Chicago Tribune says, “Shaughnessy is a name to watch-She’s the kind of emerging Chicago writer who wisely writes about what she knows.” This course will focus on a 20-30 minute piece that each individual student will create to perform for the Improv Playhouse community. This will be an ensemble piece that will meld each individual’s style with the other ultimately creating a complete show that will showcase the talent and style of each artist in the course. Goodman Casting Director, Adam Belcuore and Brody, Tenner, Paskal film and commercial Casting Director, Matthew Miller will be coming to class! You will have an opportunity to learn how to market yourself and your writing in the “business” of theatre and film. They will be giving feedback, advice, and their time to YOU and your art. There is limited space for this course and students will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis following a review of materials. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity. 1 on 1 TALENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION/COACHING Improv Playhouse Staff and/or David Stuart, IP Guy In Charge and an AFTRA/SAG member and member of USA TODAY’s Small Business Panel are available for 1 on 1 Talent Management Consultation and Coaching. The time-tested and well proven track record of Mr. Stuart’s Mentoring Marketing Strategy for success in the entertainment, business and corporate performance event industry is well worth saving a trip to the City. Avoid exorbitant workshop costs and rip-off, pie in the sky promises. Materials included. Call an IP Consultant today and breathe new life into your marketing strategy and audition repertoire. REGISTRATION FORM WORKSHOP PRICING REFLECTS ON THE LENGTH OF THE SESSION, THE NUMBER OF CLASSES AND THE LEVEL OF TRAINING Minimum enrollment for all classes is generally 6 (six) students. All class placements are subject to instructor approval. Student transfers may be made upon determination of skill level. Classes and levels may be consolidated and locations changed due to enrollment considerations. Schedules and instructors are subject to change. We reserve the right to substitute instructors from our interns or professional staff. DISCOUNTS(Maximum discount: 1 per registration. Only applicable for workshops meeting six times or longer or 2 term option) NEW STUDENTS: Sign-up with a Friend (New Student for IP) and Take $5.00 Off One Registration Fee. 2 TERM or MULTIPLE CLASS OPTION: Beginner-Advanced Levels $10 Off Registration if registered for more than one class per term or if you register for 2 terms in a row. MAIL, E-MAIL, FAX, OR CALL IN YOUR REGISTRATION (Please call to confirm your registration, as no confirmation will be sent to you) Please make your check, money order or VISA/MC/Discover payable to: Improv Playhouse™ 116 W. Lake St., Libertyville, IL 60048 (PH)847-968-4529 (FAX) 847-968-4530 (e) [email protected]

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PHONE (h)( )______(w)( )______(cell)______CLASS CODE______EMAIL ADDRESS______VISA/MC/DISCOVER # ______-______- ______- ______EXP._____/_____ Agreement: 1) I understand that upon confirmation a place is being held for me in class. Therefore, should I not attend, there will be no refund. 2) I agree to pay all tuition in full and on time as required by Improv Playhouse for all classes attended. 3) Tuition is non-transferable/non-refundable. 4) The undersigned hereby saves and holds harmless the Actors Workshop Company and Improv Playhouse and its instructors jointly, severally, or personally and each and every one of them from any act or acts and any and all claims or liabilities arising from participation in instructed classes and class performances inclusive of staged public performances. SIGNATURE ______DATE______Improv Playhouse™ ADULT CLASS DESCRIPTIONS (Schedule on opposite page) ADULT CLASSES AND ACTORS INSTITUTE TRAINING IMPROVISATION TRAINING AND PEFORMANCE ENSEMBLES Level 1-Intro to Improvisation The building blocks of improv! Begin with games, improv forms and scene basics that help build a connected and trusting ensemble-the foundation of good, spontaneous improv comedy. It’s a great way to explore your creativity, hone presentation skills, become more comfortable speaking in front of others. Level 2-Intermediate The Character Class Explore, get inside, portray and create an endless array of characters through your body and voice. Define and discover objects in your stage environment creating more advanced scenes and teamwork. Level 3- Games & Story Games and Sketch for the stage. Engaging in the art of sketch comedy. Discover how to find the Beginning, Middle, and End of games/scenes. Level 4-Improv Styles Study the many different styles and forms of improv including satire, parody and musical improv. Included are film, theater and styles from literature. Level 5- Showcase! It’s time to create, write and direct your very own version of: It’s Saturday Night…! Or Whose Line Is It…?! Well, you get the picture…

IMPROV & THEATRE GAMES This is the foundation of our training that fosters the process of “play” which young people are inclined to engage in and adults are inclined to resist. More than learning the forms of “Whose line…” our students participate in the games of theater that nurture skills in character development, spontaneity, giving and taking focus and ensemble (team-work) building. All have a ton of fun in this training! LONG FORM IMPROVISATION Students with previous improvisational experience will explore the specific techniques involved in a variety of long form improv structures. The Harold methodology made famous by Chicago’s very own Del Close, and additional long form tools will be explored. IMPROV FOR ACTORS Another way of saying, “Actors…be spontaneous!”. For those students who have theater life experience, are presently in a college theater program or have a theater degree. Through the process of improvisation students will learn to increase character and scene building skills. THE ACTORS WORKOUT This class is for students who are looking for an exploration of in-depth acting. Students will focus on growth and creativity in classroom activity centered upon basic acting fundamentals. Rehearsal and improvisation are used to help students connect the body and the voice allowing students to become comfortable and confident on stage, in auditions and in life. BEGINNING ACTING Through the use of objectives, character development, given circumstances, sub-text, obstacles and physical actions the student will focus upon how the actor recreates human behavior. The students learn to eliminate the paralysis of the beginning actor and become comfortable and confident on stage by learning to be “in the moment”. INTERMEDIATE ACTING: THE ACTOR’S TOOLBOX This “on your feet” class will look at various works from contemporary American and British playwrights and teach students how to break down a scene and make more creative and daring choices. Learn techniques to apply in rehearsal and performance. Students will explore improvisation to make creative choices, research and prepare scene analysis. Students will work on different scenes to allow them to focus on stretching creatively. Outside rehearsal time will be required. ADVANCED ACTING: FOR THE CAMERA 1 & 2 This class is an in-depth look at what it takes to truly “make it” as an On-Camera Actor, whether here in Chicago or on either coast. Students work with material from current on-air television shows, films (both indie and studio), and commercials/PSAs. Students get insight not only from practical experience as well as “Auditioning Successfully”, but also on what to do once the job has been offered! Students always receive honest, direct, constructive feedback and guidance from a casting director. AUDITION WORKSHOP MONOLOGUES AND THE METHOD Students will breathe new life into audition pieces by exploring Lee Strasberg’s Method and/or Michael Shurtleff’s method, made famous at the Actors Studio in New York. Using techniques such as relaxation, sense memory and substitution, students will discover ways to create playable realities within the confines of an audition situation. Please come with at least one prepared 1-3 minute monologue. BEGINNING COMMERCIAL VOICE-OVER Learn the “how to’s” of radio and television voice-over commercials. Ideally suited for students with some acting experience, this class covers analyzing and acting commercial copy, taking direction, audition skills and techniques to increase versatility as a voice actor. In addition, students learn about demo tapes, agents and the voice- over market in the Denver area. A local voice-over agent leads one session and two sessions take place in a professional recording studio. Please bring two blank burnable CDs and one 90-minute audio cassette to the first class. INTERMEDIATE COMMERCIAL VOICE-OVER Take the next steps toward a working career in voice over. This class will delve more deeply into voice over technique (analyzing and acting copy, taking direction, audition skills and techniques on how to increase versatility as a voice actor) as well as the steps toward putting together a demo. Weaknesses and strengths will be addressed and worked. Outside work will be assigned. Several sessions take place in a professional recording studio. Please bring one blank 90-minute audiocassette to the first class. Pre-requisite: students must have taken Beginning Commercial Voice-over, have equivalent educational or professional experience, or permission from the instructor ADVANCED VOICE OVER/RADIO DRAMA Radio Drama will cover vocal technique to interpreting and developing sustained characters, script analysis, sound effects, and recording technique. THE ACTOR’S VOICE Discover the elements of the speaking voice and the application to acting, presentation and studio work. Exercises to protect and strengthen the voice focus on breathing, resonance, projection, inflection and communication skills. This course will talk about taking care of the voice and how to warm it up for longevity and stamina. In addition, students will cover topics of interest to voice-over professionals such as alignment and breathing, using pitch, inflection and rhythm, character, voices and dialects. STAGE COMBAT: WEAPONS AND OTHER STUFF OF THE AGES + $35 optional SAFD skills proficiency test fee Rapier, Dagger, Small Sword and hand-to-hand combat. Broadsword is the weapon of choice for those classic Shakespearean heroes and villains: Saint Joan, Prince Hal, MacBeth, Richard III and many others. This class will concentrate on the basics required to sell the power and speed of this medieval weapon. Particular attention will be paid to partnering, safeties and connecting the physical action to character and text. The techniques required to sell a sword fight for an audience tie in seamlessly with the requirements to sell Shakespearean text. Class will conclude with a performance of a fight, complete with scene, for a Society of American Fight Director’s Skills Proficiency Test, which is an excellent caveat for an actor, director or teacher’s growing resume. EXPERIMENTAL PLAYWRITING AND WRITING FOR THE ACTOR: 10 MINUTE PLAYS This course explores the craft, language, tone, character and range of styles and topics which can be effectively presented in a 10 minute script. In-class exercises and examination of existing texts aid in understanding the form. Outside assignments required. This class is geared for the intermediate playwright but beginning playwrights may attend with instructor’s permission. PUBLIC SPEAKING This class will help students face society’s number one fear—public speaking. Basic voice, breath and speech fundamentals, body language and controlling nerves are practiced every day in a fun creative environment. Guest artists will address specific obstacles in the art of perfecting a tailored and unique presentation. (Professional Level Coaching & Instruction from IP Staff, Chicago’s Directing, Casting and Talent Management Community is available)