Improv Training Center

Beginning Scene Work - Level 1

This level introduces the basics of agreement, making strong choices, supporting your partner, exploring pattern, heightening, and intro to Harold: IO’s signature long-form based on a single suggestion.

ADVANCEMENT
Students should exhibit understanding of agreement, initiations and support in scenes.
Cost: $350

Intermediate Scene Work - Level 2

Extensive work in two-person improvised scenes, Level 2 sharpens listening skills, emotional choices and investment in the dynamics of a scene, such as status and “game”. Introduction to editing techniques, tag-outs, walk-ons, and further work with Harold.

ADVANCEMENT
Students should be able to consistently demonstrate competency in two-person scenes – active listening, heightening, focus on building relationships and characters in concert with scene partner(s), use of pattern and basic game in scenes. Understanding of using edits, tag outs, etc. and playing scenes in different “beats” should be demonstrated.
Cost: $350

Ensemble Scene Work - Level 3

Focuses on advanced character work and exploring environment, using exercises and games designed to take the improviser out of his/her head and into the character and the world onstage. Object work, physical investment in character choices, wants & objectives, and advanced listening exercises provide the foundation for Level 3.

ADVANCEMENT
In addition to all scene work skills in L1 & L2, students should demonstrate the ability to work in a range of characters, genres, and use of environment, objects, and physical involvement to help advance & heighten scenes. Familiarity with openings, group games, and beats in Harold should be demonstrable.
Cost: $350

Advanced Scene Work - Level 4

Incorporating skills learned throughout the previous levels, focus is on building character, relationship, and form with emphasis on grounded scene work as the foundation for long-forms. This level features personalized coaching and feedback for each student targeted to areas of improvement to help each individual become a well rounded, versatile improviser.

ADVANCEMENT
Teacher recommendation.
Cost: $350

Harold - Level 5

Level 5 applies the skills from Levels 1-4 to IO’s signature piece, The Harold. The class focuses on the structure of Harold, including openings, group games, and scenes. Advanced pattern work, group work, editing, and scenework are used to explore the challenges and magic of The Harold. Students have class shows in addition to weekly class sessions. Shows are twice monthly on Sunday nights.

ADVANCEMENT
Competency and confidence playing in the Harold form. Full participation in openings, scenes, group games, and editing, ability to work in an ensemble and support as well as initiate in scenes across beats. In class shows should demonstrate ability to work well in performance setting in group.
Cost: $350

Intermediate Forms - Level 6

Continues exploration of Harold and introduces other longforms, including Armando, The Deconstruction, The Improvised Movie, and others. Elements from other forms are applied to Harold, strong emphasis is placed on creating full longform pieces. Students have shows twice monthly on Sunday nights.

ADVANCEMENT
Demonstrable ability to play various forms, utilizing a wide variety of scene work skills, characters, game play. Competency initiating scenes, supporting other team members, editing, etc. Class shows should demonstrate ability to utilize skills in a wide variety of forms and varied scenes, games, etc.
Cost: $350

Advanced Harold - Level 7

The goal of Level 7 is to prepare students for their Grad Show run, which begins after the completion of Level 6. Each class session focuses on developing the class into an ensemble through advanced group work and further exploration of The Harold and other forms and building on the skills and concepts introduced in previous levels. Participation in Grad shows is contingent upon teacher approval.

ADVANCEMENT
Show attendance, Teacher recommendation.
Cost: $350

Writing Classes

TALK SHOW PORTFOLIOS

BEGINS 8/01/10

The GOAL of this class is a four-page, state-of-the-art talk show portfolio suitable for submission to both literary agents and TV producers alike--and to that end the student has complete access to all that The Comedy Lab and The iO West has to offer, including the performance of his or her material live on stage every Sunday night in what's called The Comedy Lab Live. Here's how it shakes out week-to-week: the student learns to write jokes based on the news (1st week); to expand those jokes into character and commentary monologues (2nd week); to pitch concepts for desk pieces (3rd week), remote ideas (5th week) and various segment ideas (6th week); to create two parody sketches (4th week); and to critique, assess and rewrite a rough version into a final draft (7th week) toward the goal of getting an agent, that starts with the opportunity for the student to see his or her material performed before a live audience in the ADT.
Cost: $350

SNL SKETCH PACKETS

BEGINS 8/01/10

The GOAL of this class is an SNL sketch packet, comprised of at least eight separate sketches, suitable for submission to literary agents, TV producers as well as SNL itself--and to that end the student has complete access to all that The Comedy Lab and The iO West has to offer, including the performance of his or her material by The Comedy Lab Players (a rotating cast of 15 talented sketch actors), every Sunday night during 'The Comedy Lab Live.' Here's how it shakes out week-to-week: the students learns to write jokes based on the news, as well as a cold opening sketch (1st week); those jokes are then expanded into two separate host-type Monologues, as if the student were hosting and if a hero of the student were hosting (2nd week); to create a streamlined version of Weekend Update (3rd week); to create two Commercial Parody sketches and one Digital Short (4th week); to write for the live performance of a sketch that parodies an existing TV show, and a current film (5th week); to write a sketch that incorporates an existing character within the current ensemble (6th week); to write a cast scene comprised on six or more characters, to prepare for the student's live show and to develop a business plan (7th week), toward the goal of getting an agent, etc... that starts with the opportunity for the student to see his or her sketches performed before a live audience by The Comedy Lab Players.
Cost: $350

Comedy Writers Room

BEGINS 08/08/10

Students will undergo an intensive seven-week course, learning structure, joke-writing, writing to act breaks, and everything else agents, managers, and executives look for in spec scripts…all in an environment that closely emulates a professional comedy writers’ room. At the end of the session, the entire class will have taken part in writing one polished, punched-up script of an existing show, and each student will develop the skills necessary to thrive in a writers’ room and continue writing better scripts on his or her own. After dissecting and analyzing episodes of an existing show, students will experience the writing of a new script through every phase: pitching, outlining, writing, rewriting, and punch-up. The instructor, Ed Lee, will provide the class with production drafts of the show being written, oversee the writers’ room, and procure notes from writers currently staffed on network television comedies. Students will also be invited to table reads of shows currently on the air. Whether you’ve never written a comedy spec script before or you’ve written many, this class will give you the tools to become a better writer both in a group setting and on your own.
Cost: $350

Kids Classes

Kids Class

The Children's classes will explore the concepts of improvisation; agreement, making strong choices, supporting your partner, exploring pattern, and heightening. Using short-form improv games and scene work we will gradually work our way to the Harold: IO’s signature long-form based on a single suggestion.
Cost: $300

Teens Class

Workshops

JUST THE FACTS: Advanced Scene Work Fundamentals

BEGINS 08/08/10

Do you find yourself lost in improv scenes? Not sure what pieces of information are important and which ones aren't? Tired of ending your scenes grasping for anything and leaving scenes feeling like they were about nothing? "Just the Facts" will help you develop the ability to zero in on what is most important in your scenes so that you can get to the fun that is possible at the beginning of each scene.
Cost: $160

Screenwriting Workshop

BEGINS 10/13/10

This workshop gives writers the tools you need to write a screenplay and also address some of the common pitfalls, mistakes, and miscalculations that writers make. Many great ideas never make it because the writer didn't have a grasp on the basics of cinematic story telling and the art of screenwriting. Learn how to tell your story in just four weeks!
Cost: $275

Writing & Producing for the Web

BEGINS 7/11/10

Have you come up with funny ideas for internet videos but don't have the equipment, people and resources to make it happen? In this course, we won't just be generating ideas for funny web videos, we will be making them. Writing and Producing for the Web is a seven-week course in which students both write and produce comedy content. Unlike typical writing classes, students will actually get to PRODUCE content using IO equipment and then post the comedy shorts on the IO website. Writing alone or in teams, students will walk away from the class with shorts to put on the web and their reels. Using the IO ethos of team work, students will then help crew on each other's shorts with the goal of creating an online presence for the wonderful talent at IOWest. Students will also have access to editors to help shape their comedy shorts into comedy gold. This will be an exciting course that gives students the opportunity to actually make comedy shorts - not just write them and let them sit on their computers. With an online presence directly on the IO website, students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to the IO Community and to people checking out the site (ie casting directors, agents and managers.) Together, we can make our hilarious comedy ideas into hilarious comedy reality.
Cost: $350

From Moment One

BEGINS 08/01/10

Feel like you're thinking too much in scenes? Do you judge your choices as you make them? Notice that you play the same type of characters over and over? If you answered yes, then this workshop is for you. From Moment One is designed to help the improviser make organic, immediate, physical and emotional choices at the top of scenes that lay the foundation for solid scene work. This workshop takes the improviser from "being in their head" to following their instincts and committing to their very first choice. The aim is to simplify the very beginning of scenes, and allow the performer to remove judgment from their choices. Participants will create more genuine, varied characters on stage and more committed scene work throughout.
Cost: $200

Career Guidance Workshop

In this workshop, you will be guided to the next level of your career. One on one consulting is included so each student gets the benefit of having a personal manager advise them for their unique situation. Headshots, bio, resume and a detailed contact sheets are developed so each student is fully prepared to take on Hollywood. Successful writers, comedians and producers will also guest and answer all questions about their particular stream of income and how they caught their first break. The last workshop had Danny Robinson, SR. VP of Comedy at APA and Bruce W Cameron, film producer,author and screenwriter. Basic contracts will be distributed and explained so each student has a working knowledge of industry terms and how it will result in payment or ownership. Take advantage of all this experience and advice in an intimate setting where everyone can learn the business/marketing side of pitching, development and presenting your talent your own way.
Cost: $200

Back on the Fun Ride

If your improv's getting stale or you're standing on the sidelines waiting for your clever retort or you're become bored and you're sucking the life joy out of your work and your friends' lives or you just want to have far more fun than you're having, this workshop is for you. Three hours that will zoom by in a blink and you'll come out recharged with powerful new tools that will make you get off and your friends will find you more brilliant and your life will get better. Ok? Ok.
Cost: $30