Improv theater is the practice of building a scene or a story one piece at a time, in the moment, without any planning or scripting. Working with a group of others, or by yourself, you create a supportive environment where anything goes. It’s a joyous, uplifting, and deeply rewarding exercise where you can learn about yourself and have fun in the process.

This is a four week workshop, where you’ll develop (or, for more experienced players, deepen) your understanding of the shared fundamentals of improv theater. We’ll explore these fundamentals through improv exercises, games, and scenes, in a supportive and safe environment. The skills you’ll learn are:

• Accepting and giving offers
• Being open to change
• Embracing failure
• How to play!

This workshop series is perfect for beginning improvisers (people who have never had any training), and intermediate improvisers (people with some training), ages 18 and up. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, you just might learn a thing or two, or at least have an excuse to improvise with new people!

About the Teachers

Liz Butler and Ben Jardine are improvisers who met in New Zealand four years ago, and have been performing with each other ever since. They recently finished touring their improvised music concert Live from International Waters around the United States, and are returning to the Berkshires after several months performing in New Zealand. Their show Spitz & Crumple was nominated for five awards at the 2022 New Zealand Fringe Festival.

Liz Butler grew up in the Berkshires, surrounded by the arts, but they fell in love with improv the hardest. Liz is excited to be back and teaching improv, after spending four years in New Zealand. They’ve taught at the New Zealand Improv Festival, and have performed at the New Zealand Comedy Festival and at the New Zealand Fringe Festival, where they were nominated for Most Promising Emerging Artist in 2022 festival. Liz loves the possibilities that improv brings, and enjoys being wholly present with their scene partners. Liz believes improv is a skill that celebrates spontaneity, trust, silliness, and joy.

Ben Jardine is a New Zealand-American improviser, writer, and musician. Ben has taught improv for a couple of years, and has performed at the New Zealand Fringe Festival and the New Zealand Improv Festival for the past four years. Ben has performed in and produced countless improv shows, and finds joy in making discoveries with his scene partners. Ben loves storycraft, improvised music, and creating interesting characters.

Mondays, June 5, 12, 19, 26 (ALL FOUR WEEKS FULL/ SIGN UPS CLOSED)

6-9PM

$100.00 for all 4 sessions