Improv Workshop will culminate in an interactive live performance showcase on Sunday, April 28.
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED
LEADER: Andrea NewallWHEN: Thursdays from 6-8 PM, beginning March 14, 2019.
WHERE: First UU Campus. Look for signs pointing you to the correct room.
WHAT IT IS: As created by Brazilian theatre visionary and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Augusto Boal (1931-2009), Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.) is a form of popular community-based education that uses theater as a tool for social change. Originally developed out of Boal’s revolutionary work with peasant and worker populations in Latin America, it is now used all over the world for social and political activism, conflict resolution, community building, therapy, and government legislation. It is also practiced on a grassroots level by community organizers, activists, teachers, social workers, cultural animators, and more.
In the workshop, we'll practice some of the games, techniques, and activities used by T.O. practitioners throughout the world. We'll present a scene (with audience participation opportunities and plenty of flexibility) at the end of the workshop.
The FUNdamentals of IMPROV
LEADER: Mike James with guest coaches Antonio TJ Johnson, Milo Shapiro and Rita Mooney
WHEN: Saturday, March 16 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Antonio TJ Johnson)
Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM-noon (Guest Teacher: Milo Shapiro)
Saturday, March 30 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Rita Mooney)
Saturday, April 13 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: TBA)
WHERE: First UU Campus. Look for signs pointing you to the correct room.
WHEN: Saturday, March 16 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Antonio TJ Johnson)
Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM-noon (Guest Teacher: Milo Shapiro)
Saturday, March 30 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Rita Mooney)
Saturday, April 13 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: TBA)
WHERE: First UU Campus. Look for signs pointing you to the correct room.
WHAT IT IS: Join us for four fun improvisational theatre workshops. Our guest teachers have years of experience as improvisational performers and teachers. They will share the art of spontaneous storymaking through fun interactive improv games. Improv is for everyone and it can benefit your everyday life by improving your creativity, your confidence, as well as strengthening your relationship and communication skills. Those particpating in the workshops will have the option to share their new found improv skills at a showcase Sunday April 28th.
First Workshop: Saturday, March 16 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Antonio TJ Johnson)
Award winning actor, director and songwriter Antonio TJ Johnson will be sharing his talents on March 16th. Over the past 40 years TJ has become one of San Diego's most prolific stage actors, performing with the San Diego Rep, Cygnet Theater, La Jolla Playhouse as well as most of the other major local theatrical companies. Recently TJ was nominated for the 2018 Craig Noel Awards as Outstanding Featured Male Performance in a Play for his role in "Smokefall" at the Backyard Renaissance Theatre. Another member of the Grunion Theatre Improv troupe in the early 90's, TJ will lead the workshop in improv games as well as scene work emphasizing the actors process of focus listening.
Second Workshop: Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM-noon (Guest Teacher: Milo Shapiro)
After two years with the Grunion Theatre, Milo Shapiro became a founding member of San Diego TheatreSports in 1993, where he performed weekly shows for the next 14 years. He has studied the improv arts in L.A., San Francisco, Edmonton and Calgary (working directly with improv guru Keith Johnstone). He has also performed over the years to popular acclaim with numerous singing improv groups. In 2000, Milo started his company IMPROVentures, applying improvisation to business practices and development. Milo has presented his “TEAMprovising”, training program for dozens of major corporations, emphasizing team connectedness, improved communication and innovation.
Milo is also a San Diego based speaking coach. He speaks professionally, leading large audiences in improv games in his keynote program “We Gotta Fail…To Succeed!” Visit www.MiloShapiro.com.
Award winning actor, director and songwriter Antonio TJ Johnson will be sharing his talents on March 16th. Over the past 40 years TJ has become one of San Diego's most prolific stage actors, performing with the San Diego Rep, Cygnet Theater, La Jolla Playhouse as well as most of the other major local theatrical companies. Recently TJ was nominated for the 2018 Craig Noel Awards as Outstanding Featured Male Performance in a Play for his role in "Smokefall" at the Backyard Renaissance Theatre. Another member of the Grunion Theatre Improv troupe in the early 90's, TJ will lead the workshop in improv games as well as scene work emphasizing the actors process of focus listening.
Second Workshop: Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM-noon (Guest Teacher: Milo Shapiro)
After two years with the Grunion Theatre, Milo Shapiro became a founding member of San Diego TheatreSports in 1993, where he performed weekly shows for the next 14 years. He has studied the improv arts in L.A., San Francisco, Edmonton and Calgary (working directly with improv guru Keith Johnstone). He has also performed over the years to popular acclaim with numerous singing improv groups. In 2000, Milo started his company IMPROVentures, applying improvisation to business practices and development. Milo has presented his “TEAMprovising”, training program for dozens of major corporations, emphasizing team connectedness, improved communication and innovation.
Milo is also a San Diego based speaking coach. He speaks professionally, leading large audiences in improv games in his keynote program “We Gotta Fail…To Succeed!” Visit www.MiloShapiro.com.
Third Workshop: Saturday, March 30 from 1-4 PM (Guest Teacher: Rita Mooney)
Rita Mooney has three decades of improvisation experience. She has performed and coached with Grunion Theatre, San Diego Theatresports, Finest City Improv, and Tantra Theater. She also has been a Toastmaster for seven years, and has recently taken up stand-up comedy. For 20 years Rita has practiced and taught yoga. She enjoys supporting people in having fun and playing in a safe and comfy environment, where we all feel we shine! Rita will be sharing her improv and yoga knowledge by teaching the importance of being in the moment in a scene. She will also explore character development.
ABOUT MIKE JAMES: The workshops will be directed by Looking Glass Theater regular Mike James. Mike was a member of the popular Grunion Theatre improv troupe which performed hundreds of shows throughout San Diego in the early 90's. It was during that time he had the opportunity to workshop with the late Gary Austin, the founder of the L.A. Groundling theatre. Mike is looking forward to resurrecting some of the FUNdamentals he learned in those workshops as well as his days as a performer.