The Improv Class Six Pack
Six Weeks.
Six Subjects.
Six Instructors.
Tuesday Nights 6-8pm October 15th - November 19th
$200 + HST
To sign up or for more information email improvtournament@gmail.com
Ghazal Ghiami
Instructor
Commitment
Commitment
Sometimes we find ourselves checked out when performing on stage. Maybe we’re frustrated with our own choices or our scene partners. Maybe we don’t think we’re being “funny enough.” Maybe we all collectively lost the thread.
Whatever the reason, the root cause always seems to be that we are not truly present. We’re not really there. In this class, we’ll attempt to solve all our commitment issues in order to become a better improviser!
We’ll explore committing to characters, to emotional choices, and to the reality of the scene. What does it mean to be committed to the offers we ourselves make, versus the sometimes conflicting offers made by our scene partner? How can we stay committed when we’re playing more subtle, less big characters?
Lack of commitment is an issue not only for new improvisers but seasoned ones as well. It’s the fear of looking dumb. But that’s an oxymoron- no one looks cool doing improv. So let’s let loose, get locked in, and commit commit commit!
Bio
Ghazal Ghiami (She/Her) is an Iranian-born comedian living in Toronto. She got her start at The Beaverton, where she formerly served as a Senior Editor. She is a regular performer at Bad Dog Theatre Company. She’s performed at the Vancouver Improv Festival, the Detroit Improv Festival, and Just for Laughs Toronto. She is a member of The Second City’s Touring Company and the highly volatile improv troupe Mrs. Beast. She hopes you are titillated by her wonderful wonderful credits!
Ed Choi
Instructor
Voice Of Reason
Voice Of Reason
Constant yes and'ing leads to absurd characters in a situation so unrealistic that performers become ironically detached from their own scene, which can be alienating to an audience.
The one missing ingredient to countless failed improv scenes is often the voice of reason.
This class will focus on bringing realism and authenticity to the scene, the power of reacting truthfully, and identifying how to enable your scene partner without betraying the audience's trust. You will walk away from the class knowing how to ground any chaotic scene and allow the audience to be in on the joke.
Bio
Edward Choi is a Toronto-based improviser and has been featured in numerous comedy productions, including: Detroit Improv Festival, Vancouver Improv Festival, JFL42, and Second City Tour Co. Notable programs where Edward studied improv include: Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City Conservatory, and Bad Dog Studio Series. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the province of Ontario.
Katie Chin
Instructor
Object Work
Environment
Environment/Object Work
No more talking heads! Let’s make a more immersive world in our scenes with objects and environments built with the power of our bodies and minds. Like Doctor Strange, but better!
Bio
Katie Chin is an actor, producer, singer, and comedian. She is the head producer at Stay Tuned! Improv, where she got her start running the Stay Tuned! Improv workshop for teaching and practicing musical improv skills.
She now runs multiple musical improv jams and shows, most recently Hip-H(op)erandom, a hip-hop improv bucket jam; and Make Up! The Musical, the award-winning musical improv at Guelph Fringe Festival 2024.
Katie is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory Program and the recipient of The Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award for outstanding comedy and comedy writing at Humber College. She has also trained at Comedy Bar Pro, Bad Dog Theatre, and The Assembly.
Brennan Asbridge
Instructor
Ghosting In Duo Scenes
Ghosting In Duo Scenes
Learn how to seamlessly play multiple characters (i.e. ghosting) in the same scene.
In this workshop we'll go over how to spice up your duo sets by making distinct character choices and big physical offers all while playing a variety of characters all in one scene!
Bio
Brennan Asbridge is a comedian, writer, and actress with over 10 years of improv experience. She has performed and taught at festivals across North America in Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Detroit, and Montreal. She has written for YTV, is an understudy for the Mainstage company at Second City, and is one half of the improv duo Two Girls One Trenchcoat. You can catch her performing in shows across the city, or check out some of her viral reels with her sketch troupe $20 Sandwich from the comfort of your own phone.
Rhys Naylor
Instructor
Improvise Faster
Improvise Faster
This workshop will focus on building and sustaining momentum in a set.
We will work on getting into the meat of a scene faster, using a successful scene to propel the set forward, and building to a satisfying finish!
Bio
Rhys Naylor is a Toronto-based actor, comedian, and writer.
An alum of the Second City Conservatory and the Bad Dog Theatre Featured Players, he is currently understudying the Second City Touring Company, and performs regularly across the city with his improv troupe Little Miss Normal.
Alfred Chow
Instructor
The Improviser's Toolbox
The Improviser's Toolbox
This workshop aims to equip you with essential tools, techniques, and strategies to navigate scenes where you may encounter sticking points.
Regardless of your background or improvisational style, this workshop focuses on universal scenarios that frequently arise in scenes.
Examples include sustaining longer scenes, finding your character’s point of view, supporting your partner when they come in with a big character, adding more variety and specificity to your sets, and more!
Bio
Alfred Chow is an improv teacher, producer, and performer. He has performed in over 20 cities worldwide across Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America. In Toronto he co-created and performed in the shows “All of us are Asian” and "All of us are Naughty". He has also performed with Bad Dog Theatre in shows such as “Close Quarters” and "Theatresports". In 2023 his duo "Mahjong Mafia" outlasted 90 other teams to win "The World's Biggest Improv Tournament". Alfred is a teacher for the improv schools “The Assembly” and "Bad Dog Theatre", has led corporate improv workshops and has taught workshops internationally. He has studied improv at world-renowned schools such as UCB, iO, and Groundlings Theater, and has worked with over 100 coaches during his improv career.
