Saturday, April 28th, 10am - 4pm (with a one-hour lunch break)
18 people maximum.
$85 / $75 for Institution students
Register here: http://www.theinstitutiontheater.com/workshops/26
This day-long intensive will be accessible for people who have never done song improv before, even if the thought of it terrifies them. It will move on to more advanced concepts as the day goes on, so be ready to stretch yourself.
No matter how comfortable you are with singing, you should also have some improv background, at least a year of training or live shows under your belt.
We will explore:
1. Warming up and why it’s important
2. Building vocal confidence: exploring melody, rhythm, discovering your natural voice
3. Finding your own way of approaching a musical accompaniment.
4. Music improv as a natural extension of scenic work: using character, location, story, etc. to create a rich and interesting song
5. Group singing: coming to a chorus, finding harmonies, call and response
6. Homework and work you can do together to improve your music improv skills, including resources
RICK and LAURA HALL met in Chicago, driving around in a smelly van with the touring company of THE SECOND CITY. Laura broke all her dating rules by going out with an actor (worse yet, an improviser!), but since then they have gotten married, had two kids, and moved to Los Angeles. There they continue to perform, both separately and together.
Rick and Laura have taught improv workshops at camps, colleges and theaters around the country. Laura especially likes helping people who are scared out of their minds at the thought of doing music improv find out that it’s actually really fun and something they can do.
Laura is best known as the improvisational pianist on television’s WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY. She was also on the DREW CAREY SHOW live episodes, and has toured the country doing live performances with DREW CAREY AND THE IMPROV ALLSTARS.
Laura has sat in and played with tons of improv groups in Chicago and L.A., including The Groundlings, Improv Olympic, ComedySportz, Theatresports, The Improv Institute, Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!, and Totally Looped.
