Welcome to the ComedySportz
World Championship Workshops for 2005!

We’ve put together a terrific line up of teachers for you. Virtually every class is new this year (there are 48 different sessions!), and managers are free to take all the classes they want because there are no schedule conflicts and none of the managers have to teach. You’ll find short form, long form, movement, music, skill building and scenework. There is something for every level of experience.

All of the workshops are held at theatres, not in the hotel.

Here’s how it works:

There are six rounds of workshops, two each on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The times are 1:00 - 3:00 pm and 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Each round has eight offerings and those are described below. Most workshops are free; some guest artists have a $10 fee (they are marked with an asterisk*), but you don’t have to sign up for those classes if you don’t want to.

When you arrive in Hollywood, you will receive your own personal class schedule. Most of your choices will be your first or second choice. We encourage teammates to sign up for different things and then share the rewards with your team.

Workshop registration closed on Wed. 8/17 at 4:00 pm. If you did not sign up for classes you can do so at tourney check-in at the hotel. Some classes are full, but there are still plenty of options.

Good luck choosing. It ain’t gonna be easy!

The Workshops

Workshop 1 • Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

1A. Improv as a Performing Technique* (double session)

A workshop devoted to the use of “listening” as a key element in the creation of characters, situations and developing relationships. Mr. Arrick uses a generic sense of the word “listening,” as not just something heard, but something seen, touched, remembered — all things sensory. Concentration will be placed on ways to spontaneously receive, perceive and then transform external stimuli into physical, verbal, and/or psychological responses. In addition, players will learn to employ “listening” as a way of exploring multiple variables of time, place, and urgency.

LARRY ARRICK
From the beginning of his career as a director and teacher of acting, Larry Arrick has been fascinated with the use of improvisation as a rehearsal and actor training technique. His first involvement with improvisation as a performance technique was as Paul Sills’ successor as the director of the Compass Players in Chicago. (Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Barbara Harris, Severn Darden, Shelley Berman, et al.) After the demise of the Compass Players and its reincarnation as the Second City, Larry directed companies in Chicago, New York, and London. (Eugene Troobnick, Avery Shreiber, Mina Kolb, et al.) He directed the comedy revue, “Catskills On Broadway,” on Broadway of all places. He has worked with comic Jimmy Tingle for over ten years and is currently directing Tingle’s fourth one-man show, “The American Dream,” which will open this fall in Boston. He has directed over 100 plays, 2 1/2 feature films, and more network TV than he cares to remember.

1B. Developing Characters and Their Voices*

Wenndy MacKenzie is one of the top voiceover talents and coaches in the world. In this workshop actors create new characters with unique physical and vocal characteristics, mannerisms and behaviors. Learn to be comfortable with dialect, accents, physicality, and other radical character changes. You’ll walk away with characters you can use in your work. Wenndy teaches character and vocal work improvisationally.

WENNDY MACKENZIE
Wenndy is a singer and voice-over artist and is voice coach to many notable performers (including Tony winner Lillias White, Melissa Manchester, Diahann Carroll, Keith David, Hattie Winston, Billy and Lisa Zane and song-writer Alan Bergman). Wenndy’s voices have been heard on “The Archies”, “Uncle Croc’s Block,” “The Groovy Ghoulies,” Disney’s “Adventures in Wonderland,” “The Rugrats” live soundtrack, and the “Crayola Bunny” Series for Hallmark. Wenndy’s vocal singing impressions can be heard on karaoke world-wide, and on radio on the Premiere Comedy Network. Wenndy has numerous concert, album, film soundtrack, Broadway show and television credits. She has been vocal coach for many television and Broadway productions.

1C. Long Form Skills

An overview of various long forms & the philosphy that they are built on. Participants will learn the Harold, La Ronde, the Snow Globe, and the Armando.

MARION AUSTIN OBERLE
Marion Austin Oberle has been with ComedySportz since 1998. Before she discovered the joy of not having to memorize lines she got her M.A. in acting and performed around the country in various Equity theaters (including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Studio Theater and the Asolo Theater). She stumbled into improv in Chicago and was lucky enough to perform with ComedySportz Chicago, ImprovOlympic, Second City and the Players Workshop. Two years ago she moved to sunny California with her husband & cats. She teaches at ImprovOlympic West as well as coaching various teams and selling fast food to the nation through her commercial appearances.

1D. The Art of Five Things, or Twelve Easy Ways to Make Jell-o

This workshop approaches Five Things as a performance piece rather than a game to be lost or won. Players will concentrate on making the most effective mime and gibberish choices in given situations, and hopefully creating moments within the game that are scenic. Five Things should not just be impressive because you “got all five!” A team should take the audience through the process with attention to detail rather than just speed and a correct guess.

FRANK MACIEL
Frank Maciel has been improvising with ComedySportz for 15 years. Between his role as a founding member of the Minneapolis team, time spent with the New York team, and many years with Los Angeles, Frank has played “What Are You Doing” over 17,000 times. He has appeared on TV in sketch comedy on the nationally-syndicated show, “Quik Witz,” as well as improvisation on “World Cup Comedy,” seen sporadically on the PAX network. PAX…Oh, what a night! Frank is currently a director, writer and performer for the Walt Disney Theme Parks, and is helpful with color consultation if you are painting the interior of your home soon.

1E. Just Relax and Be Yourself, Darling: How To Tell The Truth About Yourself In Headshots, Interviews and Performance

This fun, fast-paced workshop will help you define your identity and create your own brand. Just think how great it’ll be when someone says, “So, tell us about yourself…” and you have a vibrant vocabulary to help you sell yourself in a way that is both authentic and compelling. Instant charisma guaranteed or your money back. Really. (This is an enormously popular class in Hollywood. Ask the CSz LA players.)

SAMANTHA BENNETT
Samantha Bennett is a Senior Facilitator with Sam Christensen Studios, specializing in Identity Definition and Personal Branding. She is also an actor, writer, ComedySportz alumna, and enthusiastic teacher who revels in the unbridled success of her students.

1F. Improv Your Life

Do you feel like your improv group is like your family? Did you and your life noticeably change after you discovered improv? There is a reason for that! YOU became an IMPROVISER! We are going to focus on using the essential rules of improv in your everyday life. This will help newer teams that need bonding. It will also improve your work and personal relationships. It will give you a spring in your step!

LAUREN PRITCHARD
Lauren has been improvising since 1991, and teaching improv since 1997. She has worked here in town with ComedySportz, ACME, TheatreSports, Houseful of Honkeys, Liquid Radio Players, and produced 99 Blanks. You may have seen her perform TheatreSports in LA, Orlando, Seattle, Atlanta, and London. She has taught at Unexpected Productions Seattle, Stella Adler, The Acting Corps, TheatreSports, SAK, Zoe and Company, Disney, and USC summer camp. She has also taught improv seminars for business in California, Washington, and Florida. In Venice, Italy, she worked for the Brave New Workshop and the Disney Cruise line. She opened their new ship, the Disney Wonder, and its improv comedy show in the Barrel of Laughs club. In 1995 she worked in Orlando at Disney’s Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island. She has worked at Universal Studios in LA and Orlando, and performed improv in “DUH” at Disney’s California Adventure. She also hosted the national game show tour of Game Lab Live for Nickelodeon. You can catch her on the PAX TV improv show “World Cup Comedy,” on “Strong Medicine” as Tori, “Girlfriends” as Veronica, or as the Bank One and Big Lots commercial girl.

1G. Non-linear Storytelling

This workshop is about creating scenes and longform shows that don’t adhere to the traditional “beginning, middle, end” format. Stream-of-consciousness and tangents play a large part in this work, so be sure to wear your experimenty hat.

MATTHEW YOUNG
Matt began improvising at SAK Theatre in Orlando in 1991, and moved to LA with Houseful of Honkeys (featuring Danno Sullivan) in 1996. Matt has been in over 30 national commercials (VW, Fandango.com, Circuit City), was on “World Cup Comedy” (with fellow CSzer Andy Goldblatt), and recently appeared on “Desperate Housewives.” He also plays in bands.

1H. High School League® Round Table

How do you run your High School program? What can we share and learn from one another? Learn the secrets of LA’s enormously successful progam which is slowly taking over the schools in southern California (almost 70!). Let’s talk then go have a drink, cuz we can.

NATASHA ARNOLD
Natasha Arnold began improvising in 1994 at Orlando Florida’s SAK Comedy Improv Lab. She moved out to Los Angeles in 1997 and played with various improv troups including GRUMP and ImprovOlympic West. In January of 2000 she joined ComedySportz LA. Currently Natasha is the Director of the Los Angeles ComedySportz High School League and Co-Director of the their College Team. She is one of the creators and improvisors in “The All Girl Messy Show.” Natasha performs in the Improv show “DUH” at Disneyland California Adventure, and also performs at Universal Studios in the new “Fear Factor Live” show and at Special Effects Stages. She has had the pleasure of training under Keith Johnstone, Mick Napier, Sam Christensen and Stephen Book. Natasha isn’t just an improviser; she has appeared in commercials and independent films too. She gives a great hug.

Workshop 2 • Tuesday, 3:30 - 5:30 pm

2A. Larry Arrick: Continuation of 1A* (*you must be in session 1A to take the continuation)
2B. Wenndy MacKenzie: Developing Characters and Their Voices* (see description above)
2C. Long Form Skills (see description above)
2D. The Art of Five Things (see description above)
2E. How to Tell the Truth About Yourself (see description above)
2F. Improv Your Life (see description above)

2G. Theatre Styles: Everything But Shakespeare

Let super-nerd Andy Goldblatt share her obsession for genre with you! She’ll take you on a fun-filled, magical journey through theatre history, and show you how to work it into games with the greatest of ease. You’ll say, “Kabuki? No problem! Chekov? Hilarious! Brecht? Bring it on!!”

ANDY GOLDBLATT
Since graduating from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, Andy Goldblatt has driven a tiny car while pitching auto insurance for a commercial in Peoria, starred in a cult-classic university anti-cheating video, and been a finalist on PAX TV’s “World Cup Comedy.” Besides being a member of ComedySportz Los Angeles, Andy can be seen on Channel101.com, where she has been creating short films with partner Scott Chernoffi since the show’s very first screening. During the day, Andy works behind the scenes on America’s soapiest soap, “Days of our Lives.”

2H. Non-linear Storytelling (see description above)

Workshop 3 • Thursday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

3A. Revitalizing Rehearsals: Teaching and Learning Self-Sufficiency through Improvisation Technique*

This workshop will focus on invigorating rehearsals and workshops with Improvisation Technique. Emphasis will be placed on the structure of a rehearsal or workshop and the relationship between the actor and the director or coach. We will look at how traditional direction and critique may limit the potential of the performer. With Improvisation Technique, the director becomes a non-authoritarian facilitator. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to solve a problem. Every performer arrives at a personal solution. In this way, actors transcend the good/bad, approval/disapproval mechanisms which keep them from their own source and power. Actors should feel free to work, play, explore, and take risks in an environment that is uniquely free of judgment or disapproval.

STEPHEN BOOK
Stephen Book and Viola Spolin were partners in the creation of the Spolin Theater Game Center in Hollywood, where he served as executive director and principal teacher. He is the author of BOOK ON ACTING: Improvisation Technique for the Professional Actor in Film, Theater & Television –A new technique for improvising performances with scripted and memorized lines (Silman-James Press, 2003). He is a former long-time faculty member of The Juilliard School and the University of Southern California. He has also taught at Stanford, Brown, Globe Shakespeare Center in London, and Gittes (the state theater school of Russia) in Moscow. A theater director, his productions have been seen Off and Off Off Broadway and in regional and university theaters. He has headed a professional actors workshop in Hollywood since 1985. His students and clients have won Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Obies, and Grammys. Current and former students and clients include William Hurt, Kim Basinger, Val Kilmer, Maura Tierney, Tim Matheson, Carla Gujino, David Boreanz, Marg Helgenberger, Christopher Titus, and George Carlin, who has been quoted as saying, “Coming as I did from stand-up comedy — and with a movie part in hand I was greatly in need of a teacher and a system which could bring out and begin to develop my natural skills in a short time. Stephen Book and his workshop were just such a combination. I continue working with him to my great benefit.” William Hurt says, “Improvisation is essential to acting and Book is a terrific teacher.”

3B. Commercial Casting*

This course will be a fast-paced overview of the world of commercial auditioning. We will cover the slate, profiles, being interviewed on camera, the non-verbal/improv audition, and auditioning with commercial copy. The course will show how crucial improv skills are to any audition, particularly commercials.

MICHAEL DONOVAN
Casting director Michael Donovan has cast 45 films, 9 TV series, and over 1,000 commercials. Michael also casts extensively for the theatre, and his productions have been honored by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and the N.A.A.C.P, as well as having received Ovation, Backstage West Garland and L.A. Weekly awards. A two-time nominee for the Casting Society of America’s Artios Award, Michael’s recent credits include the national tour of “Aida,” and “Judgment at Nuremberg” at the International City Theatre (I.C.T.), where Michael is resident casting director. Upcoming shows include Pasadena Playhouse’s world premiere of “Open Window,” The Theatre @ Boston Court’s production of “Mother Courage,” and “A Year with Frog and Toad” (also at I.C.T.). Michael’s teaching credentials include the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the American Film Institute, the Stella Adler Academy, and he will be a guest lecturer at UCLA in the spring of 2006. Michael is currently directing a play entitled “Banned Plays,” and has recently been appointed Artistic Director of the newly-formed Culver City Playhouse.

3C. Improvising the Song

This is a class in musical improvisation, which focuses on the song. What makes a song a song? Huh? We’re asking you! This much-acclaimed workshop is chock full of insights for even the most musically timid. Experience the joy of song and learn a thing or two. All skill levels are welcome.

STEVE PURNICK
Steve Purnick has been a professional improvisor for over 20 years. In New York: Chicago City Limits and Unexpected Company. In Orlando: Disney’s Comedy Warehouse, and SAK Theater. In L.A.: Houseful of Honkeys and ComedySportz. In Las Vegas: “BOO!” And on tour with “Wayne Brady and Friends.” Steve was a finalist this season on PAX TV’s “World Cup Comedy” along with his team ‘Ham Squad.’

3D. You Must Be High

This workshop is all about status–what the dictonary says: The position relative to that of others. The deal: So we know characters, we know how to tell a story, we know tilts, we know games… but we want more. Status will teach you how to play any character with more depth. Learn how to physicalize the different levels of status. Discover the difference of playing a high status “doctor” versus a low status “doctor.” Learn how to create a status switch…what happens if the president, who is supposed to have high status, really has low status or vice versa? We will learn how to improvise it & how to recognize it everywhere. FUN!!!

NATASHA ARNOLD
Natasha Arnold began improvising in 1994 at Orlando Florida’s SAK Comedy Improv Lab. She moved out to Los Angeles in 1997 and played with various improv troups including GRUMP and ImprovOlympic West. In January of 2000 she joined ComedySportz LA. Currently Natasha is the Director of the Los Angeles ComedySportz High School League and Co-Director of the their College Team. She is one of the creators and improvisors in “The All Girl Messy Show.” Natasha performs in the Improv show “DUH” at Disneyland California Adventure, and also performs at Universal Studios in the new “Fear Factor Live” show and at Special Effects Stages. She has had the pleasure of training under Keith Johnstone, Mick Napier, Sam Christensen and Stephen Book. Natasha isn’t just an improviser; she has appeared in commercials and independent films too. She gives a great hug.

3E. Tom Enyart: Ballroom Dancing for Improv*

This workshop will focus on increasing versatility for improv musicals through basic rhythms and cool moves–fox trot, waltz, rumba, tango, cha-cha, salsa, swing and samba. Learn some impressive moves to help make the world believe you’re a dancer. Dress comfortably, no crepe soles or sticky-soled shoes.

TOM ENYART
Tom has had 25 years experience as a ballroom instructor. He is also a skilled mime, having trained with Francisco Reynders, a classmate of Marcel Marceau under DeCrux in Paris. After Marceau, Reynders is perhaps one of the most recognized mime artists in the world. In addition to being a trained mime and ballroom dancer, Tom is a SAG actor and writer, currently pitching a screenplay, sitcom, and murder mystery novel.

3F. Rap

This workshop is designed for everyone–folks who are experienced at improvising rap, or those who have tried it and don’t feel comfortable yet. Even the rhythmically challenged will enjoy this workshop, which will show you some easy techniques for creating your own spontaneous rap. Plus you get the bonus of a live DJ laying down the beat! You might even learn to handle gettin’ street cred and bringin’ home the bling-bling to your crib. Peace out.

CORY ROUSE AND BRYAN GREEN

BRYAN GREEN
Bryan is not only a talented improviser with CSz LA, but a former DJ with Vision Los Angeles spinning old school break beats and drum and bass at events in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Using the turntables, studio software and a computer, he has used his skills in improv shows for both ComedySportz and Ninja Vanish (a longform group from CSz LA’s College Team). Bryan is currently part of a two man collaborative effort with DJ Special Ed making electronic instrumental tracks using the latest in recording software. He has also created three popular mix tapes, and if you’re lucky, you might get one.

CORY ROUSE
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Cory landed a job hosting for Nickelodeon. Since then, he has starred in “Voodoo,” a short film which has won several national awards, including Best Short in Slamdance-Anarchy 2000. He has also been seen touring the country with “Wayne Brady and Friends” and was a writer for “The Wayne Brady Show” for ABC. He is currently the host of “Cheat!” on the G4, a 24-hour gaming network. Cory also recently starred as Frodo in a much-heralded musical version of “Lord of the Rings” called “Fellowship!” which featured many members of ComedySportz LA. He is also part of “DUH,” the improv show at Disney’s California Adventure.

3G. Film Styles

If you’re gonna do improv shows wherein you ask the audience for a film style, you’re gonna need to know what Film Noir is, because that’s what they’re gonna say (along with Western, Silent, and Jell-o). We’ll take a handful of film styles, from the most commonly-suggested ones to Fellini, and learn key things about them that’ll make you look and sound like an expert. You’ll also get a handy pamphlet to take home with you, and maybe we’ll watch some video clips. If you’re faking your way through film styles, this is the class to take.

PHIL WARD
Phil has been with ComedySportz since 1989, before many of you were born. He’s the Managing Director of CSz LA; he directs nationally touring children’s shows; he does serious drama with Hollywood’s award-winning Theatre of Note; he’s improvised on some puckish hidden-camera TV shows; he has an album out on Trough Records; he can’t wait to meet you.

3H. Making Weird Choices Work

This fun workshop will teach you three practical tools for making it “work” when your scene partner makes a weird and unrealistic choice–you know that guy, don’t you? These tools work especially well in short form games that tend to manufacture absurd choices and non sequiturs (i.e. Blind Line, New Choice, Columns, Hesitation, Playwright).

KATHERINE GOTSICK
Katherine has been performing and teaching with Chicago CSz for six years, and is the former director of the family matinee series. She also studies and performs at ImprovOlympic and the Playground Theatre, and teaches at Second City.

Workshop 4 • Thursday, 3:30 - 5:30 pm

The sessions from workshop 3 are repeated. See descriptions in Workshop 3.

Workshop 5 • Friday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
5A. Revitalizing Rehearsals: Teaching and Learning Self-Sufficiency through Improvisation Technique*(see description in Workshop #3)

5B. Team Building

There may be an “I” in improv but there still ain’t one in Team! This workshop goes straight to the heart of trust with team building exercises, challenges, big risks and other fun stuff all designed to help illustrate the importance of team. Players, want to have a better show? New players, want to feel like you can do anything? Managers, want your players to be more comfortable with and less judgmental of one another? Everybody, want to know what it’s like to be completely supported on stage? Deepen your “trustability” level and come do some improv fear factor-ish stuff with Pat, and remember what it was like to just jump…

PAT DADE
Pat performed with ComedySportz in Washington, DC (1988-1996) and Los Angeles (1996-2004) and has taught workshops since ’94. She’s currently the Improvisation Instructor at the Stella Adler Academy and Manager of the school’s “Resident Improv” company, made up of current students and graduates. Television appearances include ABC’s “Less Than Perfect,” episodes of Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine,” as well as the motion picture “S.W.A.T.” She is also a writer, recipient of a Telly award for her screenplay to the film “The Prodigal Daughter,” and an Aurora Platinum award for “The Cross” screenplay, and a DC Council on Arts and Humanities award for her children’s novel, “You Must Remember This.” Pat is currently directing her own stage adaptation of “The Screwtape Letters,” opening early September.

5C. C.S.I. Hollywood

Why do bad scenes happen to good people? In this class, Detective Jen Bascom will give you the tools to examine the facts, test the DNA, and solve the crimes of bad scenework. You will learn how to tilt your scenes, have fun with reactions, and create a common vocabulary for kick-ass stories. Can you handle it? Yes? Then join the force.

JENNIFER BASCOM, the Scene Whisperer
Since 1995 Jen has made her living as an improviser/ teacher, instructing in such places as New York City, Venice, Italy and Nassau. With a wide variety of students from bank presidents and corporate executives, to Girl Scouts, to Norwegian ship builders (no lie), Jen has used improv as a tool to lighten the world’s load. She was an improv/acting teacher for the University of Rhode Island’s theatre program for 3 years, as well as an award-winning arts director for a nationally-recognized creativity program. Some of her favorite gigs have included: the 2002 Orlando Fringe Festival’s Best Show Winner “Fairy Tales,” Disney’s Comedy Warehouse, SAK Theatre, the Brave New Workshop, Free Style Rep, the Rhode Island Shakespeare Co., and being an original cast member in Disney Cruise Line’s first improv club. Jen currently can be seen on PAX’s “World Cup Comedy,” as well as various running national commercials and films.

5D. Todd Stashwick: The Beast*(double session)

A synthesis of classic Viola Spolin techniques with experimental, innovative emphasis on observation, illumination, and transformation — very physical, very theatrical, and highly entertaining. This organic improv workshop will redefine what constitutes an “initiation.” It will engage the ensemble while simultaneously strengthening the individual’s “predator mind” in play. Dress to move! (This workshop is highly endorsed by CSz Minneapolis’ Jill Bernard.)

TODD STASHWICK
Todd was a performer and writer with the Second City Chicago from 1992 to 1996. In New York he co-founded and performed with Burn Manhattan, the critically acclaimed underground comedy-improv troupe directed by Shira Piven. He founded the Los Angeles based organic improv theatre, The Hothouse, where he performs, teaches and produces improvised shows. His current improvised projects include the critically acclaimed The Doubtful Guests and the spontaneous theatre jam Mayfly. He recently returned from England where he workshopped and directed the improvised theater piece “Hoof!” at the Unity Theater in Liverpool. On television he has guest starred on “Will & Grace,” “Dharma and Greg,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The Drew Carrey Show,” “The Guardian,” “CSI,” all three “Law and Orders,” “Boston Legal” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” among other monsters. Most recently he worked with Mary Louise Parker on her upcoming Showtime series “Weeds.” Perhaps you’ve seen him dressed as a butterfly, or dodging yellow M&Ms in a movie theater.

“Todd Stashwick seems well on his way to influencing new generations of improvisors.”
-improvreview.com

“I think Todd Stashwick is very much at the forefront of where improv is growing.”
-Asaf Ronen, editor, yesand.com

5E. Classical Mime for Improvisers

You will not be instructed in feeling your way around the inside of a box or walking in the wind. You will be instructed in walking, cycling, archery, tightrope walking and flying. You will receive greater understanding of the mind-body connection. Improve control of your physicality and nonverbal communication skills and experience the power of silence. Dress casually in clothing that gives you freedom. You will be barefoot. A truly unique experience.

TOM ENYART
Tom has had 25 years experience as a ballroom instructor. He is also a skilled mime, having trained with Francisco Reynders, a classmate of Marcel Marceau under DeCrux in Paris. After Marceau, Reynders is perhaps one of the most recognized mime artists in the world. In addition to being a trained mime and ballroom dancer, Tom is a SAG actor and writer, currently pitching a screenplay, sitcom, and murder mystery novel.

5F. Improvising Shakespeare

…and the dreaded suggestion rings forth from the audience: “Shakespeare!” You always get this one when you ask for a theatrical style, and you don’t know what to do with it– until now. This workshop takes you into the world of Shakespeare: voice, movement, vocabulary, meter, history, plot structure, stock character types. Blow the audience away, and look smooth and cultured doing it. All skill levels welcome.

RICK STEADMAN
Rick has been acting and improvising for twelve years. He started working with ComedySportz in Spokane, where he was a founding member, and eventually Associate Artistic Director. In 2003, he moved to the LA team, where he is not really an associate nor a director, but tries to at least be artistic. He took master classes in acting and directing Shakespeare at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, and has scars to prove it. Rick recently appeared in the feature film “Miriam,” and can soon be seen with his sketch comedy group, Quality Time.

5G. Jason Buyer: Audition Technique For the Comedic Actor*

This workshop will provide you with the advice and feedback of a top-notch coach and casting director. Learn technique for auditioning for both half-hour sitcoms and half-hour single camera comedies.

JASON BUYER
Jason began casting extras and commercials in his home town of Chicago, Illinois. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has worked on over ten pilots and dozens of episodic television shows. He was the senior casting coordinator at Warner Bros. Television (”Eastwick,” “Zero Effect,” “Thieves,” “Harry Stone,” “Bull,”) the casting associate at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting (”Rude Awakening,” “Any Day Now,” “The Gregory Hines Show,” “Glory, Glory,” “Rag and Bone,”) and the former associate at Weber & Associates Casting at MGM (”Dead Like Me,” “She Spies,” “Fame Encore,” “Stargate -SG1,” “Soldier of Fortune,” “The Outer Limits,” “The Crow,” “12 Angry Men,” “The Gingerbread Man,” “A Hero From Zero.”) Jason and his “Marketing the Actor” program has been has been flourishing for the past three years, with Jason teaching two on-going audition technique classes, running a commercial intensive class, as well as coaching and consulting clients. In addition, Jason is an invited keynote speaker at numerous universities, conducting marketing seminars for their graduating seniors and theatre students, and recently cast a Red Tail Ale spec commercial that just won the prestigious silver Clio award. www.marketingtheactor.

5H. No Piano, No Problem

Who says you have to shy away from music just because a piano player is not there? Who cares if you think you are not musical or not a singer?! You have 5 other people on stage to create the music and make you look good. This can amaze and delight an audience when you create music from your surroundings! Think “Stomp,” “Drumline,” a cappella groups, and good old-fashioned madrigals! My motto: if you can talk, you can sing; if you have a heartbeat, you have rhythm. (Sorry, no dead people, please.)

LAUREN PRITCHARD
Lauren has been improvising since 1991, and teaching improv since 1997. She has worked here in town with ComedySportz, ACME, TheatreSports, Houseful of Honkeys, Liquid Radio Players, and produced 99 Blanks. You may have seen her perform TheatreSports in LA, Orlando, Seattle, Atlanta, and London. She has taught at Unexpected Productions Seattle, Stella Adler, The Acting Corps, TheatreSports, SAK, Zoe and Company, Disney, and USC summer camp. She has also taught improv seminars for business in California, Washington, and Florida. In Venice, Italy, she worked for the Brave New Workshop and the Disney Cruise line. She opened their new ship, the Disney Wonder, and its improv comedy show in the Barrel of Laughs club. In 1995 she worked in Orlando at Disney’s Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island. She has worked at Universal Studios in LA and Orlando, and performed improv in “DUH” at Disney’s California Adventure. She also hosted the national game show tour of Game Lab Live for Nickelodeon. You can catch her on the PAX TV improv show “World Cup Comedy,” on “Strong Medicine” as Tori, “Girlfriends” as Veronica, or as the Bank One and Big Lots commercial girl.

Workshop 6 • Friday, 3:30 - 5:30 pm

The sessions from workshop 5 are repeated, with the exception of #6D, which is a continuation of Todd Stashwick’s “The Beast.” See descriptions in Workshop 5.

If you did not register for workshops, check with us when you arrive for tourney.