Organic Initiations and Scene Dynamics with Jordana Mishory
Make the first moments count, and the rest will fall into place.
A blank stage can feel scary. It has to be filled, but with what? While there is NO SUCH THING as a perfect initiation, there are techniques to help you more easily hop off the back line and start a scene. This class will help you more easily set yourself up for success by making a choice at the top of a scene, actively listening to yourself and your scene partner, and then fully committing.
In this class, we will practice different ways to organically initiate a scene (starting a scene inspired by just a word or phrase). And just as importantly, we will work on how to RESPOND to an initiation to honor that choice and set the scene to enable more play and less work.
Thoughtful initiations require good listening from a scene partner. We will work on techniques to be more open and ready to truly play with someone’s idea and kick off a scene from the word go. We will also work on making choices at the top to help yes-and the initiation.
This class will also explore how to effectively and successfully play out scene dynamics, including foolish character-voice of reason and pea-in-the-pod scenes.
This class is for you if:
- You want to feel empowered to hop off the back line and more easily initiate a scene
- You struggle to respond to initiations and/or are seeking tools to really yes-and your scene partner at the top of a scene
- You find that it sometimes takes too long to nail down your scene dynamic / game, and want techniques to help establish deals, dynamic, and game more quickly and then play those dynamics throughout the course of the scenes
- You want to spend more time in scenes playing (vs. working)
Participants should be prepared to work hard (while still having fun!) and have a desire for targeted feedback.
This class will last for four weeks, and will not have a showcase.
ABOUT JORDANA
During the day, Jordana works as WIT’s operations manager. At night, Jordana teaches advanced classes at WIT and performs with House Ensemble Uncle Gorgeous, Featured Ensemble The Hypothesis, and indie teams Galbraith & Mishory and I Wrote That.
Jordana was a cast member in The Heist, an improvised drama about a bank robbery gone wrong, as well as WIT’s POTUS Among Us 2016. She previously played with long-time indie stalwarts Cake Bagel, Jos. A. Banksy, and WIT Ensemble Love Onion, and directed Hellcat.
She has performed at festivals across the country including the Del Close Marathon and the Chicago Improv Festival — as well as at The Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage New Play Festival. Jordana completed the WIT curriculum and trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. She has spent enough money on workshops over the years to presumably purchase her own private island. (She assumes, having no idea how much private islands cost).
Jordana is a strong advocate of side-coaching with an intense focus on believable emotions and strong deals. She is a stronger advocate of having the most fun you’ve ever had in your entire life while on stage. She spends most of her time in scenes trying not to giggle at her hilarious troupemates.
