I’m coming back to DC Improv, a Subversive’s favorite

The challenge for most improvisers is trying to stick to “the rules” and believing “Yes, and” is the magic formula for a successful scene. Characters meander and never find their footing. In an instant, you travel from a state of fluidity to a mess of frustration and ask yourself, “How did I go wrong?” or “Now what?” Pick up A Subversive’s Guide to Improvisation and join the fun! (Books available for purchase at the workshops.)

These masterclasses provide methods and exercises that help you connect with your partner and the scene without worrying about the rules.

Point of View: Tuesday, November 3. It’s the bedrock of every relationship. You state your point of view, and your partner says theirs. Sounds easy, right? But how often are scenes derailed because the actors don’t hold onto their points of view or mindlessly add unnecessary details that throw the scene off course? Recognizing, maintaining, and evolving a point of view creates confident and exciting scenes. Register for Point of View.

Find Focus: Wednesday, November 4. What are you focused on when you begin a scene? What great offers are you missing because you’re building a story instead of a relationship? Learn how paying attention to your heart and breath leads to strong scenes and surprising dynamics. Register for Find Focus.

Beat by Beat: Thursday, November 5. A scene is comprised of sections called “beats.” A beat begins when actors establish their points of view and ends when they surrender them for new points of view. Your scene might start off strong, but if you don’t know what the beat is, you can’t build that scene. It will drift, becoming muddled and confusing. Beat by Beat will help you identify, develop, and create new beats in a straightforward and natural way. Register for Beat by Beat.

Play the Moment: Saturday, November 7 (morning). A moment means a pause, a reflection between lines of dialogue. It gives you time to embrace the silence and respond truthfully to what's happening in the scene. A moment can also indicate a profound change to the scene. In this workshop, you'll recognize the power of playing a moment and allow yourself to feel the impact of silence. Register for Play the Moment.

Intention / Connection to Your Partner: Saturday, November 7 (afternoon). I’ve noticed how often two actors in a scene pull in different directions, each with a separate idea of where they’d like the scene to go. It’s as if they’re two different scenes—because they are. They aren’t communicating, so the scene is a mess that’s frustrating to be a part of and challenging to watch. Intention is the glue that keeps you two in flow. The Intention workshop will give you tools to immediately see where you and your partner can connect and effortlessly play the beat like pros. Register for Intention.

Long-Form Skills, Short-Form Games: Sunday, November 8 (all day). Long-form and short-form improvisation aren’t mutually exclusive; they use the same skills that are the foundation for exciting work. Now that you know how to create great scenework, pop that skill set into the improv games you love. This all-day workshop will dive into classic shortform games, focusing on groundedness, connection, and character dynamics. Take your game-playing to the next level. Register for Long-Form Skills, Short-Form Games.