About this Event
This introductory workshop is geared towards performers interested in learning the fundamental tools of improvisation comedy and musical improvisation through engaging exercises and group game play designed to bolster your skills (“Yes, And,” agreement, active listening, being supportive) and lay the foundation that will allow you to create without self-judgment.
Prerequisites: Any performer and actor versed in TV/film to commercial, theatrical to musical theater are welcome. No improv experience necessary. No singing experience required.
Class size: 16 students maximum
Additional details: Participants must show proof of vaccination before attendance. Class will be masked (KN95 or N95 masks, please). There is no food allowed in the room.
Class length: 3 hours with one break.
There will be no refunds for this event.
YOUR FACILITATORS:
Melissa Parker Caron is a crafter, actor, performer, mom, and member of the all-female Star Trek musical improv group Redshirts! Prior to acting, Melissa toured the country as an indie rock band musician and singer. After moving to NYC, she dove into improv at The PIT, Magnet, and UCB. She wrote and performed her one-woman solo show “Dorothy in Wonderland” at SOLOCOM2017, a show about navigating adulthood, miscarriage and finding your self worth. Melissa also co-hosted a baby and toddler variety show called The Shout Hooray Show. She is an Armory Comedy house team player and a core member of Shot4ShotNYC. She's currently working her way through the 1-yr Professional Acting Program at the Barrow Group. When she’s not on stage or performing online, she’s coaching improv teams, walking dogs or shopping for more crafting supplies.
Sloane Miller is a founding member of Redshirts, the only all-women, Star Trek-inspired musical improv comedy team in the known universe (Insta/FB: Redshirts Musical Improv). Additionally, she’s an author, licensed social worker, and applied improv facilitator. She studied piano; method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute; voice at NYU/Cap21; and improv and musical improv at the PIT and Magnet theaters. Since 2012, she’s been making up songs regularly on New York City stages and at conventions. When she's not singing or eating homemade apricot rugelach, you can find her at sloanemiller.com.
ACCOMPANIMENT:
Ammon Taylor is a pianist, composer, music director. With a Bachelor of Music in composition from UT Austin, Ammon has a background in classical, jazz, and musical theater. In his former position as the Paramount Theatre’s Education Music Director in Austin, TX, Ammon did everything from setting children’s narrative inventions to music with the Paramount Story Wranglers to arranging and music directing full musical revues for summer camps. Ammon is an avid accompanist of improvised theater, and has created scores for improvised musicals on-the-spot with various troupes and theaters in Austin, and is currently involved with The PIT theater in New York. The winner of B. Iden Payne awards for his original scores in 2015 and 2016, and for his live music performance in 2018, he attended the National Winter Playwright’s Retreat in 2019, and is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, 2022 cohort (composition.) He is also the composer and creator of the internationally acclaimed post-apocalyptic song cycle Rites of Warming.
PLEASE NOTE: By purchasing this ticket you are agreeing to the terms of the Code of Conduct as listed below:
WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE
Improv workshop spaces are not typical of other workshop spaces as they are experiential and require participation of each and every member. As such, we provide a code of conduct for our time together because improv is an artistic, creative, and collaborative endeavor that requires trust and support amongst players.
OUR PLEDGE TO YOU
We ("Melissa & Sloane") strive to create a safe space and environment so that learning, creation, and collaboration can proceed in a spirit of mutual respect, trust, and safety.
We are dedicated and committed to providing a harassment-free space regardless of gender identity or expression, race, national origin, ancestry, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, or education status.
The term harassment means unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical or visual, that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s participation in programs, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. (Definition of workplace harassment by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.)
Improv may tackle complex and controversial topics, and all workshop attendees have the right to express themselves without a fear of censorship or judgment.
However, and most vitally, any improvised content dealing with sensitive topics such as race, gender, sexuality, must be expressed in a creative, intelligent manner that demonstrates compassion.
Freedom of expression will not be considered as an excuse for words or actions that may fall under any of the following: hate speech, discrimination, misconduct, harassment, or sexual harassment.
In short, harassment in any form will not be tolerated.
VIOLATION OF THIS CODE = IMMEDIATE TERMINATION or DISMISSAL.
Inappropriate conduct will result in immediate removal from workshops.
Refunds will not be given to attendees who are removed from a class due to harassing conduct.
A FINAL NOTE
Maintaining a safe, creative, learning space for all is a learning process for everyone and learning, like improv, can be messy. That’s okay. We’re in this together; we have your back.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
PianoPiano Rehearsal Studios, 37 West 65th Street, New York, United States
USD 75.00