Improvising Shakespeare – Improv Workshop

Join us for a special workshop with guest instructor Michael Lewis! This workshop, Improvising Shakespeare, is limited to just 20 students and is only available on Sunday, October 22 at 1 PM – 3:30 PM.

This workshop introduces you to improvising Shakespeare style. Learn to improvise using the styles and themes of The Bard—from the eloquence of Shakespeare’s language, to keeping thee, thine and thou straight. Discover how much fun this underutilized but fabulously entertaining form can be. Improvising Shakespeare style works to get improvisers out of their heads by focusing on letting their emotions lead them. By focusing on letting your emotions lead gives you a clear point of view to improvise from. The focus on flowery language helps to teach performers to let their words get ahead of their brains, and from there, performers will discover they are capable of things they had no idea they are capable of.

Guest Instructor Information: Michael Lewis has been improvising for more than 20 years. He started improvising in Bakersfield, CA with The Hermit Colony. He has been teaching improv for more than 20 years. In 2007 he found Empire Improv, where he created their three level Foundations curriculum. He has been able to teach improvisation all over California and Nevada. He has taught classes at American Improv Theater, Made Up Theater, Synergy Theater, The University of Nevada Reno, Reno Improv, and at the LA Improv Festival, The San Jose Improv Festival, and the California Improv Festival. He has performed at iO West with The Spontaneous Shakespeare Co., toured improv festivals with Bakersfield, created the improvised police show Police Cops!, performed in Closing Night at Made Up Theater, as well as performing at Magnet Theater, American Improv Theater, and The Comedy Spot.

This workshop is intended for those with some improv experience, but prior experience is not required.