Advanced Study: 100% Organic Improv with Mark Chalfant
Let intuition be your guide.
“The unknown is where we go to find new things and intuition is how we find them.” – Viola Spolin
In this eight week elective we’ll explore an approach that centers discovery, intuition, and physicality. Agreement, mischief, pattern, and thematic exploration will also be central to the play. Class is likely to explore absurdism and surrealism, body-centered play, and styles beyond a purely comedic focus (though there will be plenty of laughter!).
The class will explore shaping a show as inspired by its content and will have its own format for the showcase.
If you’re a student who rigidly clings to rules, format, or premise-based play, be prepared to set those tendencies aside in this class. If you’re a student curious to explore a wide emotional, physical, and tonal range in improv this is for you.
ABOUT MARK
Sharing a student’s discovery in improv is one of Mark’s greatest joys, which is why he has been a lead instructor in WIT’s training program since 1999. Emotional honesty and storytelling sensibility are his main jams. Mark’s teaching is informed by his experience coaching and directing dozens of WIT ensemble projects, and facilitating training sessions for WIT@Work. Mark has studied improv nationwide (in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland) and has pursued theater training all over DC (Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Theatre Lab). Among those with whom Mark has studied are: Keith Johnstone, Barbara Scott and J. Raoul Brody, Matt Besser, Charna Halpern, Mick Napier, Jay Rhoderick, Todd Stashwick, Shira Piven, and Rebecca Drysdale.
