WORKSHOPS
TCIF HOSTS SEVERAL WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR!
Some of the most esteemed improvisers from around the country offer improv workshops to performers at TCIF at phenomenal prices! Whether you're an improv novice or a seasoned expert, there's a workshop for you!
Public on-sale for workshop registrations opens Friday, October 28th at 12:01am.
EVBTKS (Everything But The Kitchen Sink)
SATURDAY 11/5 AT 10AM-12PM
COST: $40 ($35 for PERFORMERS)
THIRD COAST MAINSTAGE
DURATION: 2 HOURS
Instructors: Annie Donley, Christina Boucher, Devin Bockrath, Jo Scott
This fast-paced workshop, team-taught by Super Human, covers characters, emotions, risk-taking and group work. Expand your character range, learn to move first, think second and discover what can happen when you follow the fun! If you are frustrated, fierce, fearful, fearless, or fun this one’s for you Qwaaan! www.superhumanimprov.com.
About the Instructors: Annie Donley, Christina Boucher, Devin Bockrath, Jo Scott are cast members of Super Human,an improv team that tore into Chicago’s comedy scene in 2012 at The Upstairs Gallery (RIP). Since then, Super Human has become synonymous with bold, hilarious, fearless and fun comedy. Described as a “splash zone of women,” Super Human prides itself on the team’s diverse personalities and playing styles, with an unmistakable focus on creating inclusive learning and performance spaces. They are Super Human and SO ARE YOU!
Finding Character & Managing Point of View
SATURDAY 11/5 AT 10AM-12PM
COST: $40 ($35 for PERFORMERS)
THE LOFT AT THIRD COAST
DURATION: 2 HOURS
Instructor: Rich Talarico
Character = choice. Learn how to line up your own choices with gifts from your scene partners as you help develop each other’s characters on stage. Feel the power of POV - the choice that guides all choices. See how easy it is to discover your character’s world view, the filter through which only your character looks, and learn how to keep “playing the game” of your character throughout a scene and a show. This class will give many tools to create characters instantly.
About the Instructor: Rich Talarico is a Peabody® Award winning, four-time Emmy® nominated writer and producer best known for his work on Comedy Central’s Key & Peele. Rich wrote and produced on TV shows like MADtv, Saturday Night Live, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. As an actor, Rich has appeared on-camera on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, MADtv, the feature film High Fidelity and numerous TV ads including A&W Root Beer's classic commercial, "Mr. Dumass.” Rich is an alum of Chicago's Second City comedy theater and Chicago’s iO (formerly Improv Olympic). Rich has performed for many years with Bob Dassie and Crag Cackowski in Dasariski and has taught improv comedy for 30 years all over the US and Canada and has led the advanced improv classes at UCB LA. — More at richtalarico.com
The Dollhouse - with T.J. Mannix
SATURDAY 11/5 AT 2PM-5PM
COST: $40 ($35 for PERFORMERS)
THIRD COAST MAINSTAGE
DURATION: 3 HOURS
Instructor: T.J. Mannix
An epic musical improv form that blows up the traditional monoscene. The Dollhouse is grounded in strong relationships - and its all happening under one crowded roof. T.J.’s workshop uses the Dollhouse form to focus on honest relationships and physicality. Inspired by the epic, all-female, NYC musical improv team "The Jezebelles," The Dollhouse was made popular during their multi-year run at the Magnet Theater in NYC.
About the Instructor: T.J. Mannix (he/him) has been teaching and performing improv for 25 years in NYC, Chicago, and across the world. He has toured with The Second City/ NCL, is an original cast member of the critically-acclaimed "BLANK the Musical" off-Broadway, and is the Founder/Producer of the 12th annual New York Musical Improv Festival. T.J. has taught/performed at the UCB, P.I.T., and Magnet Theaters and is a faculty member at the both Circle in the Square on Broadway and the Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre at the NYFA. T.J. Mannix has headlined with LimboLand in theaters from Paris to Pittsburgh, Oslo to Omaha, and Vancouver to Chicago. He is a veteran actor, recognized for his work in TV, film, theater, and musical theater. He has appeared in over 85 commercials/voice-overs along with roles on Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order, L&O Criminal Intent, Conan O'Brien, As the World Turns, All My Children, and One Life to Live. T.J. is a popular coach//director in NYC and is also know for his sold out Commercial Auditioning classes for improvisors. He admits to spending a very dark year as a Mousketeer.
Clowning for Improvisers
SATURDAY 11/5 AT 2PM-5PM
COST: $40 ($35 for PERFORMERS)
THE LOFT AT THIRD COAST
DURATION: 3 HOURS
Instructor: Joel Axelrod
In this workshop we'll work on how to heighten vulnerability when we perform, removing our covers and just existing as our true selves on stage. We'll explore pushing to the point of failure. How to stop fearing it and instead use it as a gift. We'll create a conversation with the audience with our choices, and allowing the their engagement or lack of engagement to help guide us. We'll work on heightening, game and how to lock on to the simplicity while still adding variation.
About the Instructor: Joel Axelrod studied improv at iO Chicago, UCB, iO West and Now Improv. He studied Clown directly with Aitor Basauri, Stefan Haves, Daniel Passer, Deanna Fleysher, and John Gilkey. He was a founding member of the clown group The Innocents, where they devised and performed a new show every month for over 2 years. He worked with the award winning theater troupe Four Clowns to write and devise “Welcome to Illyria!" and "Shakedown at the Dusty Spur." He taught Clown and bit creation at "The Catsby Workshops" for over 2 years. He co-founded and co-taught the workshop series "OK Clown" and "Hijinks Class." He developed and taught the Clown 8 week course at Third Coast Comedy Club. In 2022 he's sold out multiple Clownfoolery workshops and intensives in Oakland, Nashville and Toronto, with upcoming workshops in Cincinnati, San Diego, Seattle, and Philadelphia.