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Improv 401 — Harold Workshop

Saturdays 3-6pm starting Aug 07, 2010
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 301 within previous two years
Cost: $350

Improv 401 serves as the end official \"end\" of our improv program. This course offers students the chance to strengthen their individual skills while giving them more practice with the long form improvisation performance known as the Harold. Additionally, the course will introduce new openings and exercises about playing without fear, emphasizing group ownership, and bringing more of themselves to their scene work.

One goal of the course is to help students perform stronger scenes. The instructor will use the first half of the course to identify and troubleshoot any weaknesses that the individual players may be demonstrating.

The other goal of the course is to allow students to continue to perform full Harolds. The instructor will use \"side-coaching,\" or feedback given during an improvised piece as it is happening, in order to facilitate success in the students\\\' improvised scenes. The instructor will also give notes after each performance in order to enhance and improve the quality of future performances.

This course meets for three hours a week for eight weeks. Students will perform in two class performances at the UCB Theatre – once halfway through the course and once at the end. Graduation is also contingent upon students seeing at least two improvised shows at the UCB Theater before the end of the course.

NO CLASSES JULY 31 & SEPTEMBER 4

Class meets at Lyric Hyperion Theatre in Silver Lake

Will McLaughlin

mclaughlin, will
Will has been a perfomer at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre since the year 2000, before apes were our masters. He has appeared in several shows at the UCB Theatre including Anydayville, Crime Scene Improv and Piledriver, which he broke a rib for.

Will has performed with the NY Harold Teams Renegade 77, America!, Grenade vs. Washing Machine and Police Chief Rumble. The latter Harold Team won the Emerging Comics of New York award for best sketch show, Piece of Bullsh*t Pie. He is also the creator of Wake Up With Buff Trumuscle, another ECNY nominated show.

Will has appeared in several national commercials, TV shows such as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch and MTV's Damage Control. He has also played featured roles in the films Spandex: A Father's Tale and Terrorists! starring the UCB's Ian Roberts.

He is thrilled to be teaching at the UCB Theatre LA.

Student Feedback

"Will provided us with great knowledge. He always kept it fresh, fun and new. He is hilarious."

"Will was awesome, always prepared and gave great feedback and criticism."

"Will is intelligent and well-versed in the ways of improv."