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Improv 201 — Game of the Scene

Saturdays 3-6pm starting May 31, 2008
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 101
Cost: $300

The UCB Theatre Training Center bases their curriculum around the idea that all quality individual comedic scenes focus in on one central comedic idea – this idea is referred to as “The Game” of the scene.

This course will focus on teaching students how to use the idea of “The Game” to create their improvised scenes. Students will be taught how to identify “games” within their scenes, and how to use the concept of heightening to properly play out their scenes once they have them. (Heightening is finding new ways to make your scenes get funnier from start to finish.) The class will heavily focus on learning how to use patterns to fill out comedic scenes based around one central “game.”

Students will also be introduced to the idea of “second beats,” or returning to scenes, characters, and concepts from earlier in an improvised piece.

This course meets for 8 sessions that are each 3 hours long. At the end of the course, students will take part in a class performance at the UCB Theatre. Graduation is also contingent upon students seeing at least two improvised shows at the UCB Theater before the end of the course.

Class Size: 14 Students

NO CLASS JULY 5

Class meets at Art/Works in Hollywood

Drew DiFonzo Marks

difonzo marks, drew
Drew DiFonzo Marks is the current Artistic Director of the UCBTLA. He has been part of the UCB Theatre since 2003 and studied under Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh and many others. He has written, performed, and directed several shows at the UCBT including Bukkake: The Musical and the infamous "Drug Cagematch."

Drew was originally a member of the Boston based improv team "This is Pathetic" founded by David Cross and Laura Kightlinger. Drew has also shot a few National commercials, and a pilot for Comedy Central. Outside of comedy he is also on the board of directors for the Non-for-Profit Theatre Company "Brimmer Street Theatre" which he co-founded here in Los Angeles. He has trained at the ImprovOlympic, The Second City, and The Annoyance as well.

Currently, Drew hosts the "Long Hard Improv Jam" and is on the Harold team Last Day of School.

Student Feedback

"Drew created a great, safe environment for us. He has a fantastic ability to make each of us explore further and go further in our work."

"Drew is helpful, not intimidating. Class was fun!"

"Drew is professional and encouraging. Couldn't have had a better teacher."

"Drew is very enthusiastic. He really cares about improv. His enthusiasm is contagious."