About this Event
Do you find yourself rushing in scenes? Or perhaps the opposite—you feel overly hesitant, like you’re walking on egg shells, and it seems to take forever to “find” the scene. Maybe you have experienced both, depending on the scene?
How fast do you improvise, and how fast should you improvise? Is the answer the same for every person? Every scene?
Sometimes a slow scene is “patient,” “committed,” and somehow both funny and satisfying. But other times a slow scene is just… slow. And a little boring.
On the other hand, fast scenes can be “exciting” and “hilarious.” But fast scenes can also be confusing and superficial, or even panicked and uncertain.
So, what gives? What’s the right speed of play, and when? Why? And how do we practice getting faster if we need it, or slowing down, and recognizing when to do it?
These are the questions we are going explore in this class.
Dates: The class runs Saturdays, starting 11/14/2026 and running for 3 weeks (skipping a week for Thanksgiving).
Instructor: Nate Shepherd
Nate is a writer, comedian, and lawyer originally hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. He also occasionally officiates friends’ weddings, if they ask nicely. Nate fell in love with improv while taking a class at Coalition and has never looked back. You can now catch him performing with Airhead (a Coalition house team) and Power Nap (an indie team), as well as directing Coalition’s monthly storytelling and improv show, Richmond Famous. He has performed at the Last Word and 2nd Best Fest comedy festivals and trained at the World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS) in Los Angeles. Nate believes that improv offers a chance to slow down, take a break from the digital world, and connect with people in a meaningful way. It’s also just plain fun. His teaching style focuses on helping students get the most out of both aspects of the art form.
Prerequisites: Improv 101 and 201, or equivalent classes at a comparable institution. Email [email protected] with questions.
Cost: $110 (Early Bird: $90)
The Coalition Theater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Once classes begin, all sales are final. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending or completing your registered class. While we do our best to accommodate such situations, refunds are awarded only as credit for a future class or shows and are subject to the discretion of The Coalition Theater management. Requests for refunds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and any decisions regarding refunds will be made at the discretion of the theater.
Event venue & nearby stays
Coalition Theater, 8 West Broad Street, Richmond, United States
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