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
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Applied Improv Workshop

The benefits of learning and exercising improv skills can help any group achieve their goals. In this workshop, the instructor will lead students through various enjoyable games which will focus on one or more of the following: confidence, listening, communication, mindfulness, collaboration, public speaking, creativity, thinking on one’s feet, and more. Then, the group will learn how to apply these skills to fit their team’s specific needs.

Contact Amanda if you’d like to schedule your own private workshop.

• PrerequisitesNo experience necessary
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Yoga & Improv

We all need more fun and less stress in our lives, and this workshop delivers! Each monthly class brings together fun improv play with accessible yoga for all levels. Stretch both your body and your mind, while strengthening your confidence, mindfulness, and creativity in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.

I’m delighted to co-teach this workshop with the amazing yoga instructor, and co-creator of the concept, Elizabeth Chavez Phillips.

Bring a yoga mat if you have one, a water bottle, and comfy clothes you can move in.

• LocationLunar Yoga — 101 Meadow Drive, Cumming GA 30040
• Prerequisitesno experience necessary. All experience levels welcome.
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Personal Storytelling Workshop

Everyone can tell a personal story, but in this workshop for adults, you’ll learn some of the technical ins and outs of taking true events from your own life and weaving them into an engaging performance. We will touch on personal style, story structure, and different approaches in this introductory workshop. Storytelling skills build confidence, connection, and community.

This workshop is pay-what-you-can! Simply enter the amount you can pay (even if it’s just a dollar) when you register.

Contact Amanda if you’d like to schedule your own private workshop.

• PrerequisitesNo experience necessary.
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Talk to Strangers

“Don’t talk to strangers!” Many improvisers treat the concept of avoiding scenes with strangers as an unbreakable rule of improv.  But actually, with the right tools and using the right skills, improvisers can create very entertaining scenes between complete strangers. In this workshop, students will exercise those fun and important acting skills, elevating their play to engaging improvised theatre.

• Prerequisitessome improv training/experience required
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Love the Suggestions You Hate

Sometimes, improvisers receive suggestions from the audience that they dislike. And even though the first rule of improv is to “yes, and,” they might say “no” and ask for a different idea, or perhpas they take the unwanted suggestion and use it for a joyless and completely uninspired scene. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to embrace and honor any audience suggestion to create engaging scenework.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Not At All Human

From gods to gremlins; parakeets to pencils, when improvisers try to play characters so wholly unrelated to themselves, they can get stuck.  It can sometimes be difficult to fully commit to an unfamiliar reality, which can cause abandoned ideas and flailing scenes.  In this workshop, players will exercise both the physical and not-so-physical skills it takes to sustainably play non-human characters, opening up new worlds for scenes and longer narratives.

• Prerequisitessome improv training/experience required
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Creating a Character (from the Inside Out) Workshop

In this one day workshop, students will explore what makes a character tick and how to go deeper than playing just a cartoonish caricature.  Actors will exercise the techniques that assist in portraying genuine, believable characters who have heart.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv or acting training/experience required.
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Build a Form

We will create a new improvised format every single class! Based on the students’ improv experience and preferences, as well as an idea we will draw out of a hat, the director/instructor will lead the ensemble of students in exercises that move into a brand new mid-form or long-form improvisation each week. Students can sign up for just one class, the whole session of classes, or any number in between.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Improv for Teachers

No matter the age of your students, utilizing improvisation skills and games to supplement your personal teaching approach helps nurture new, dynamic ways of learning in the classroom. In this workshop, you will learn the basic principles of improv and how to apply those concepts to lessons across your curriculum, fitting your classroom’s specific needs.

• PrerequisitesNo theatre experience necessary.
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Intro to Improv

This workshop is your chance to get a small taste of how the art and fun of improv can impact your life in a positive way. In the span of just a couple of hours, students will get a small sampling of the gifts that can come from improvising. Improvisation is more than just a useful tool for actors, it’s a different way of approaching life. Through enjoyable games and exercises, students who benefit from regular improv practice gain more confidence, more creativity, and more playfulness with the basic improv skills of listening, reacting, working with others, and trusting oneself. Find out if improv classes are right for you with this introductory workshop!

This workshop is pay-what-you-can! Simply enter the amount you can pay (even if it’s just a dollar) when you register.

• PrerequisitesNo experience necessary.
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La Ronde Workshop

‘The Round’ is a lovely improv format both on its own or as a jumping off point for a broader narrative, in which players explore characters, relationships, and dynamics.  Students in this class will hone their character and relationship playing skills through exploring this format and learning all that it can teach us.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Scene Doctor

These classes are tailor-made for improvisers to get personal, specific feedback from the instructor on their improvised scenework. Students can inform the instructor of any goals they might have for themselves and/or request that she make her own recommendations based on their performance. Class size is limited.

Students can sign up for just one workshop, all six, or any number in between!

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Just for Fun Improv Workshop

It’s easy for adults to forget to set aside time in our lives to play and laugh, but it’s one of the most important things we can do for our happiness.  This feel-good improv class is play-time for grownups, a delightful and necessary break from the work and stress that can build up in our lives.  You’ll spend the entire class-time simply playing and having fun, as Amanda leads the group through both beloved classics and lesser known games.  Since this workshop is just about playing fun games, it’s open to adults with all levels of experience with improv, whether that’s no experience at all, just a little bit, or a whole lot.  Making time for play is an act of self-care.

This is the Holiday Edition! You’ll get a break from holiday stress while learning some games you can share at your own holiday party!

• LocationOnline
• PrerequisitesNo experience necessary. All experience levels welcome.
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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
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Relationship Before Words

In this workshop, improvisers will learn how to easily establish relationships on stage before dialogue even begins.  Integrating the use of space, physicality, object work and emotional reactions, this class helps put the “theatre” back into “improvised theatre,” creating the foundation for more engaging, sustainable scenework.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Improvising Shakespeare Workshop

Improvising in this style might sound impossible, intriguing, or intimidating, but this introductory workshop will put you at ease. Students will gain familiarity and confidence with the language and style, learning the skills to bring this classic genre to life, through fun, improvised scenes.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Talk Like Shakespeare Workshop

If you felt like you could just never “get” Shakespeare in high school, this class will rectify that. In this fun workshop for adults, students will play enjoyable games and exercises to learn the difference between their “thees” and “thous.”  Students will be throwing around both compliments and insults, Shakespeare-style, in no time!

• PrerequisitesNo experience necessary.
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Dramatic Improv Fundamentals

Scripted theatre expresses all subjects, moods, and styles; improvisational theatre should have the same limitless possibilities. In this workshop, improvisers will learn the techniques needed to create a space in which dramatic improvised scenes can occur, without feeling forced or pretentious. Students will revisit and review acting techniques in a fresh way that is applicable to all improvised play. In this workshop, students can expect individual feedback on their scenework in a safe, supportive environment. Even improvisers who don’t have the goal of improvising dramatic scenes will gain skills to help improve all of their improv.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required
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Improv for Actors Workshop

Improv is a useful tool for actors, which helps bring forth ease and sincerity in your acting.  Plus, it makes auditioning easier and less stressful. In this online workshop, not only will you gain the skills and confidence to stray from the script when needed, you will learn how to apply different improv techniques to engage with your scripted material in fresh ways.  This medium is a perfect fit honing your skills for taped and live online auditions!

This online workshop is pay-what-you-can ($20 suggested).

• Prerequisitesprevious acting training/experience required
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Spoon River Workshop

Spoon River is a delightfully dark improv format based off the book, Spoon River Anthologies by E. L. Masters.  Students in this one-day workshop will learn and play with the form, while working their character, storytelling, and monologue skills.  With monologues as its core structure, Spoon River is an ideal format for online improvised play.  We will explore the different approaches individuals and ensembles can make to this mostly forgotten format.

• Prerequisitesprevious improv training/experience required.
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From Online to Onstage

So many improvisers said “yes, and” to staying home and safe during the pandemic by creating and participating in online platforms for shows, classes, and jams. Even though that meant continuing to train and work all of those improv muscles, it also means that a re-entry into in-person improvisation might feel intimidating and even a little scary. If you feel good or confident about the online play you did, but a little nervous or hesitant about how it will feel to return to in-person improv, this workshop is for you.

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