Playback Theatre
Playback Theatre is a form of improvised theatre in which performers take personal experiences from audience members and turn those true stories into theatrical pieces. It is used around the world from public performances to private drama therapy sessions. Students will learn how to use their improv skills in fresh ways, while learning new tools they can apply to all of their improv work. Heightened listening and emotional connection converge in this artistically satisfying story-driven format that builds community for all involved.
- Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required Request this class
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It reminded me that improv comes from a place of truth, memory and emotion.
Personal Storytelling Class
First person storytelling shows are all the rage on stages and podcasts across the country. In this class, you will learn how to take true events from your own life and weave them into engaging performances. We will work on public speaking skills, presentation, story structure, different narrative approaches, and creating your own unique style. Each week, students will be given a new assignment for how to structure a story. Students choose their own subject matter for their personal stories. This class culminates in a performance, where each student will share a 3-7 minute personal story.
- PrerequisitesNo experience necessary. Request this class
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I really love the space Amanda Rountree created for our storytelling class, how it was structured, the honest helpful feedback, the camaraderie of the class supporting each other. I appreciated it as a space I felt safe to take risks, which I believe has made me a better storyteller. I look forward to more classes with Amanda!
The Harold
In this 8-week class, improvisers will learn the philosophy and execution of The Harold, the world-renowned long-form developed by Del Close and The Committee in San Francisco in the 1960s. Before it was reined into a shorter, structured format in Chicago more than fifteen years later, The Harold was an unstructured organic exploration of themes through the convergence of scenes, games, monologues, songs, transformations, and more rooted in the legendary improvisation techniques of Viola Spolin. The Harold exercises every tool and skill each individual improviser has, while the ensemble collaborates to orchestrate an improvised whole together. There will be a graduation performance on the evening of the last day of class.
- Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required Request this class
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Amanda is not only a great improviser with years of experience, but she knows HOW to teach it. I believe this is hard to find nowadays. She is a gifted teacher. You will not be disappointed by trusting in her creative way of teaching, her unique insights and honest feedback.
Beginning Improv
Improvisation is more than just a useful tool for actors, it’s a different way of approaching life. Through fun games and exercises, students will gain more confidence, more creativity, and more playfulness with the basic improv skills of listening, reacting, working with others, and trusting oneself. Not only will it make you more comfortable while thinking on your feet, it’s really fun! This class is simply eight weeks of meeting and playing in an enjoyable, supportive environment without the pressure of a final performance.
- PrerequisitesNo previous training or experience necessary. Request this class
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I took my first improv class with Amanda, and I’m so glad I started with her. I walked into that class terrified – I had no acting experience and was rarely funny. She created an environment
where I felt encouraged and safe to be vulnerable (a rarity for me at that time)….I can also honestly say that her classes have changed my life outside of improv – I’m more open, more comfortable with failure and less stressed in social situations.
Continuing Improv
In this class, students will build upon the skills they absorbed in Beginning Improv, and learn how to confidently sustain scenes. They will continue to explore short form performance play, while also adding more to their skillset, fully completing a sturdy foundation for strong improvised theatre.
- PrerequisitesBeginning Improv Request this class
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You need to know how to teach to make a difference, and she surely does.
Creating & Sustaining Characters
In this 8-week classs, improvisers will learn how to create and sustain characters effortlessly. Students will practice building characters from both within and without. Going far deeper than playing a cartoonish caricature, actors will develop long-lasting skills that will assist in playing a variety of genuine, believable characters who have heart.
- Prerequisitesprevious improv or acting training/experience required. Request this class
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Every week of class, Amanda introduced a new way of creating characters, or gave a fresh perspective on a familiar approach. Her approach really empowered me since I came into improv without an acting background, she gave me the confidence to be more bold with my characters.
Advanced Scene Study
Learn how you can nurture the skills needed to create grounded scenes that can sustain themselves for longer than just a few minutes. In this 8-week class for improvisers, we will focus on breaking out of any habits you may have formed that can hinder sustainable work, while we explore the small steps we can make to do truly sustainable, dynamic scenes. This class culminates with a graduation performance.
The Fall 2024 session will be at the Georgia Tech Campus.
- DatesSundays, 11am-2pm, September 22-November 17 (no class Oct. 27)
- Cost$280
- LocationStudent Center at Georgia Tech — 351 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
- Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Amanda’s Advanced Scene Study Class is not just the best improv class I’ve taken, it’s the best performance class I’ve taken in general. She is incredibly specific with her instruction, pushing and pulling at each performer where they need it. At the end of each class, I walked away feeling challenged. At the end of the session, I walked away a stronger improviser and actor.
Forms
Students will spend the first four weeks of this eight week class learning a sampling of different long-forms. This class goes far beyond the Harold to explore character-based, narrative-based, and deconstruction-based formats. Students will spend the second half of this session workshopping and developing a new original format that they will perform in a final graduation show.
- PrerequisitesAdvanced Scene Study completion or preivious long form improvisation class/training at any reputable training center Request this class
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I felt like I relearned exercises that I’d known for years in a way that finally connected me to them and gave them new life.
Narrative Collage Master Class
Although not as well known in many improv communities, Narrative Collage is a unique and entertaining improvisation format originally developed by Del Close. Because it relies on individual monologues to create a connected story through separate narratives that are expertly woven together, it is a perfect fit for online play. This format highlights the players’ abilities to create and sustain strong characters and stories. In this 4-week class, students will exercise both their skills of building a strong, cohesive narrative and creating and sustaining clear characters, all while learning the tools needed to execute an engaging Narrative Collage performance.
- LocationOnline
- Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required.
Request this class
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Amanda Rountree’s skill as an instructor is top notch. Her insight is amazing, and it is matched by her succinctness in giving constructive and critical feedback. She offers the learner clear directions on their path of development in the art of improvised theater and a deeper understanding of the nuances of performance.
Intermediate Personal Storytelling
This 8-week class builds on the skills that students exercised in their first Personal Storytelling class, as they continue to explore the most engaging ways to share their personal experiences. The instructor will give specific feedback so that students can sharpen their own unique storytelling style. This 8-week class culminates in a final online performance, wherein each student will showcase a personal story.
- LocationOnline
- Prerequisites8-week Personal Storytelling class or instructor permission
Request this class
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Each week she finds the pearls in each of our stories. Everybody gets help to create their own style of storytelling…Zoom didn’t change her ability to give helpful feedback and guidance to the class.
Advanced Personal Storytelling
This class builds on the skills students executed in both Personal Storytelling and Intermediate Personal Storytelling, as they continue to refine their own unique style. Based on each student’s individual needs, the instructor will give further story structure assignments or specific homework based on the student’s individual goals with a particular story. This class is not just for students of storytelling, but for experienced storytellers who would benefit from the weekly homework deadlines of a master class.
- LocationOnline
- Prerequisites8-week Intermediate Personal Storytelling or instructor permission
Request this class
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Each week she finds the pearls in each of our stories. Everybody gets help to create their own style of storytelling…Zoom didn’t change her ability to give helpful feedback and guidance to the class.
Summer Storytelling
This online class is for any personal storyteller or storytelling student who wishes to continue to explore the most engaging ways to share their personal experiences. The instructor will give specific feedback so that students can sharpen their own unique storytelling style in a supportive environment. Students can easily fit this class into their summer schedules by choosing to take just one class, the whole six-week session, or any number in between. (One class costs $38, the price for taking all six is $199).
- LocationOnline
- PrerequisitesPersonal Storytelling Class or instructor permission
Request this class
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Each week she finds the pearls in each of our stories. Everybody gets help to create their own style of storytelling…Zoom didn’t change her ability to give helpful feedback and guidance to the class.
Narrative Improv
Find out how to apply narrative to any scene or improvised show—without being in your head about it! Learn story structure beyond the basics so that you can recognize and utilize it in your work. Students will learn the ins-and-outs of storytelling, exploring common story structures from ancient fairy tales and legends to contemporary movies, applying their new skills to expertly weave together a narrative-based, format-free, online improvised performance.
This class culminates in a final online graduation performance.
- LocationOnline
- PrerequisitesAdvanced Scene Study completion or preivious long form improvisation class/training at any reputable training center
Request this class
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I am astounded at this unique process based upon trust in our ‘natural storyteller’ and playful impulse to create an improvised story. Amanda takes us on a journey through storytelling. She pulls each one of us out of our heads to reach a natural state of play and ease through group exercise and personal homework. In Long Form Narrative, I have been challenged to find my own story, and to fully trust in myself as an actor and ensemble member. Everyone should take this class who is interested in honing his or her improvisational skills, or to go deeper into the craft—Do it!
Intermediate Improv
After mastering all of the basics, students now progress into creating full-fledged characters, playing strong relationships, and forming satisfying resolutions to their scenes and stories. This eight-week class will culminate in a graduation showcase, so that the players can show off their improv skills and talents!
- PrerequisitesContinuing Improv Request this class
Improvising Shakespeare
Learn how to improvise a play in the style of William Shakespeare! The thought of improvising in this style might sound inspiring, impossible, intriguing, or intimidating. But this class will put you at ease with some enjoyable ways to learn the skills of bringing this classic genre to life. You will gain familiarity and confidence with the language and style. The class will culminate in an entire play improvised in the style of the Bard.
- PrerequisitesNarrative Improv completion or preivious improvisation training at any reputable training center Request this class
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For those that might see this and think, ‘hmm, sounds interesting, but…’ I have this advice: take the class. It will challenge your improv brain at a whole new level, and while it’s a lot of work to get good, it is also a freakishly fun format to perform.