Fearless Opening Numbers: a 3-week clinic

with Johnny Di Sciascio, Carly Otte, andDan Perlman  

In musical improv, the first song sets the stage for the whole show. This three-week clinic will give you the tools to create opening numbers that grab attention and carry energy into the rest of the performance. Each week you’ll focus on a different element: building harmonies and song structure, shaping stage pictures and movement, and finally blending everything into fully realized ensemble numbers. Perfect for improvisers with some musical background who want to sharpen their skills and kick off every show with confidence.

Class meets once a week for three weeks.

Adults 18+.

Prerequisite: Music 1 and Improv 201 and above (PHIT or equivilent)

Class size: Limited to 10 participants to support coaching, reps, and individual attention.

Policies: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. All courses must be paid in full before the first class. Promo and discount codes do not apply to clinics and workshops. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.

Day: THURSDAY

Dates: Aug 6, 13, 20

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Make-up / Practice Day: N/A

Class Location: 1976

Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 North 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106

About the Instructors:

Johnny Di Sciascio: Johnny has been performing/teaching Improv since LITERAL middle school. Eventually going on to study Improv on a collegiate level with various Second City alums as teachers. "Having as much fun as one possibly can under the guise of actually learning something" is the vibe he tries to bring to each and every class. Johnny is also a proud member of Philly's Premier Musical Improv Team "Thank You Places" and performs with them the last Thursday of every month at their residency at Tavern On Camac. (thankyouplacesimprov.com). He also loves to travel the big wide world as far and as often as he can. 

Carly Otte (she/her) Carly Otte (she/her) is a Philadelphia- and NYC-based actor and improviser with credits across film, television, and live performance. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance from Point Park University. She has trained and performed improv for over a decade, with extensive training at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. Her screen work includes recurring appearances on the comedy series Impractical Jokers (truTV) and a lead role in the feature mockumentary The Conspiracists (Amazon Prime). Carly is also an experienced director, choreographer, and coach who loves helping performers build confidence and stay present in their scene work.

Dan Perlman (he/him) is a seasoned pianist with 20 years of experience, known for his dynamic range and musical versatility. He has spent several years performing in various cover bands, tribute acts, piano bars, and jazz ensembles, honing his skills across diverse musical genres. Recently, Dan has been an integral part of Philadelphia's musical improv scene, accompanying the premier team Thank You Places, The Good Kids, the improvised musical documentary Off the Record, and for various musical improv classes and indie teams. He is eager to play his part in further expanding the musical improv scene in Philadelphia!

What Others Say:

"Johnny was very affirming and really made sure we understood what was going on."

"Johnny is so nice and respectful. He makes you feel great."

"Johnny is a really good instructor: he is knowledgeable and he is fun and makes each class interesting and unique! He provides you with just enough structure to successfully master each exercise. He is also very welcoming with all the students. "

“I loved Carly’s advice! Very specific and pointed critiques… would absolutely take a class with her!” 

“Carly’s feedback was very positive, specific, and empowering… She has a lovely easy-going personality, and I imagine she would be a favorite with students.” 

"She has this wonderfully calming energy that instantly takes the stress out of the process, while still giving me the confidence to dive into the material fully prepared. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and always brings in fresh perspectives and choices I never would have thought of on my own, which makes the work feel creative and exciting." 

"Dan is an incredible pianist and we were so lucky to have him, esp since we're all learning and he's so effortlessly able to adapt the backing music to help support."

"Dan is amazing."

"Dan is so skilled and easily adapts to anything we dish at him and has such great instincts when playing."

Musical Improv: The Want Song

One-Time Workshop

In musical improv, a Want Song reveals what a character wants most — and can give a scene emotional direction, momentum, and heart.

In this 2-hour workshop, students will practice identifying a clear character want, recognizing when a scene is ready to become a song, and singing a Want Song that supports the character’s arc. Students will explore how desire, emotion, and song structure can work together to create stronger musical improv scenes.

This workshop is best for students who are comfortable with improv fundamentals and have a basic understanding of song structure, such as verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus.

Come ready to play, sing, and explore your character’s deepest desires through song.

Recommended Experience: This workshop is best for students with some prior improv experience, including Improv 101, Music 1, or equivalent musical improv training.

Adults 18+

Policies: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. All courses must be paid in full before the first class. Promo and discount codes do not apply to clinics and workshops. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.

Class size: Limited to 12 participants to support coaching, reps, and individual attention.

Day: MONDAY

Dates: Aug 10

Time: 7PM - 9PM

Make-Up Date: NONE

ShowCase: No showcase offered with this workshop

Room: 1976

Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

About the Instructor:

Moriah Kofsky is a Philly-based improviser, singer, dancer, and comedy writer. She currently performs with the musical improv group Family Reunion, featuring PHIT instructors and alumni. Moriah took her first improv class in elementary school, later trained at Provocation Theatre in Berkeley, CA, and discovered musical improv through BATS. She has also studied musical improv and clown at PHIT. She majored in Creative Nonfiction Writing at the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a strong foundation in story structure that informs her performance work.