Austin Improv

We're not messing around in 2013. We managed a last-minute booking of one of our favorite improvisers and instructors. Rich Ross of BATS Improv in San Francisco is popping into Austin for two days only to play in the debut of Fandom and direct Maestro on Saturday night. And on Sunday he's teaching two absolutely essential workshops:

Making Your Improv Meaty
Sunday, January 6, noon-3pm - $35
Its great when audiences leave show laughing, but its even better if the remember what some of the scenes the next day. In this workshop we'll explore ways to make improv scenes be about something that hits audiences in their hearts, rather than just about fluff.

Directing Maestro For Maximum Awesome
Sunday, January 6, 4pm-7pm - $35
The Hideout is moving Maestro into the downstairs theater in 2013 and if we're going to keep selling it out every week in a 75-seat theater we need to kick it up a notch. We need players and directors capable of finding the fun at all times and running a tight, thrilling show. If you're interested in being a part of that, this workshop is the perfect springboard to a bigger, better Maestro - where anything can happen and the name of the game is delight yourself, your fellow players and the audience. Rich Ross is a Maestro genius and his take on the format is nothing less than inspiring.

Rich Ross is simply amazing! Studying with him is somehow easy, fun, and extremely inspiring and informative at the same time. I took workshops with him several years ago and I'm so glad he's coming back to Austin!

Seriously, highly recommended.

I took one of those workshops and I agree.

I signed up for the Maestro one!

One of the best shows I've ever been in, that I remember so well until this day was a Six Degrees with Rich Ross. He's great.

I'm also signed up and excited for the Maestro workshop. I am particularly interested in what makes a good show for the audience versus the performers and if those are the same.

Signed up as well for the Maestro class.

I'm still a bit green when it comes to directing.
Found my groove in directing Fancy Pants and would like to see if I can find an approach/in road to Maestro that works for me.

Rich is one of my favorite teachers, and taking his Maestro workshop is still something I consider to be a landmark in my improv training. One of the 3 most important/formative classes I've taken.

Alright I'm in!

No joke. I count Rich Ross's workshops I took in 2007 as some of the best ever. He's got a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter without a lot of BS. In particular, he has a deep understanding of Keith Johnstone techniques without being a parrot.

For instance, one idea that has stuck with me all these years that's particular to narrative is that the protagonist's only job should be to make choices. It's the job of the rest of the cast to do all the story work... to basically present them with choices.

If the person playing the protagonist feels like the whole show is their responsibility, then something is wrong.

This was from a workshop on improvising STAR TREK, and it wound up having a profound affect on my improv thinking to this day.

At any rate, please consider taking one of Rich's workshops. Who knows when we'll get him down again.