Musical Improv L3: Ensemble with Mark Chalfant, Beth Lyons & Michael O’Connor
Discover the joy of improvising songs and the craft of musical theater.
Put your musical improv training into action! In this eight-week course, we’ll create shows as an ensemble, complete with backline support and edits. Building on our work from Levels 1 and 2, we‘ll put all the pieces together into fully improvised musical theater, culminating in a class showcase. Emphasis will remain on emotional integrity, solid scene work and songcraft, and following the fun! Students will learn from iMusical members Mark Chalfant and Beth Lyons. Michael O’Connor will be the accompanist for the class.
Participants must have completed Level 1 (2019’s “Foundations of Musical Improv” or 2017’s “Intro to Musical Improv”) and Level 2 (“Scene into Song”) — or equivalent — or have permission from the instructor. Please reach out to the education manager at classes@witdc.org with any questions.
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.
ABOUT BETH
Born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, Beth fell in love with improvising in middle school. She’s studied at Washington Improv Theater including the musical improv curriculums. She attended performing arts high school and majored in theater at Hollins University. Learn more about Beth here.
ABOUT MIKE
Mike has been supporting improvisers from behind a keyboard since 2012, when he joined the musical improv troupe That Racket! in Austin, TX. Mike has previously served as the accompanist and musical director for Over the Lege, the ONLY Texas-based political comedy satire variety show. Learn more about Mike here.
