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Improv 101
in IMPROV CLASSES
Improv 101
with Kirsten LaCerda

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
You will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner. Meets once a week for eight weeks.
Prerequisites: None!
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
A minimum of 8 students is required for this course to run.
Day: MONDAY
Dates: Sep 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00pm
Make-Up/Practice Day: Mon Dec 1
ShowCase: TBD
Room: TBD
Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Kirsten LaCerda's love for improv comedy began at a young age. Performing since 2004, she won "Best Improviser" at the Virginia Thespian Society Conference in 2008. She has taken improv classes with Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and legends like Tim Meadows. Since relocating to Philly, Kirsten has performed on multiple PHIT teams, including Thank You, Places, the improvised musical, which continues to perform every 4th Friday at Tavern on Camac. She strongly encourages you to purchase her children's books, The Poo-Poo Party or Taco Steve: The Quest for the Elder Taco, which can be found and loved on Amazon.
Improv 101
with Arantxa Chavez

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
You will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner. Meets once a week for eight weeks.
Prerequisites: None!
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
A minimum of 8 students is required for this course to run.
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: Sep 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18
Time: 7 PM - 9 PM
Make-Up/Practice Day: Tues Dec 2
ShowCase: TBD
Room: TBD
Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Arantxa Chavez is a theater artist, improviser, and clown from Lima, Peru. She started practicing Improv in 2012 and has not stopped since. Having recently graduated from Pig Iron’s Devised Performance MFA program, Arantxa delights in using improv as a mode for creation, having fun with friends, and reinforcing her collaborative skills. She has many years of performance experience with her old troupe, Unsupervised Improv, and has taught Improv all over Colorado Springs including the Millibo Art Theatre. Locally, she teaches Improv to young students through The Unscripted Project and now here, at PHIT! Outside Improv, see her next in 5 Stagehands Fall Out of a Closet (the goose crisis) during this year’s Fringe Festival, and keep an eye out for more classes and more art!
Improv 101
with Johna Godfrey

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
You will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner. Meets once a week for eight weeks.
Prerequisites: None!
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
A minimum of 8 students is required to run this class.
Day: WEDNESDAY
Dates: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, 19
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00pm
Make-Up/Practice Day: Wed Dec 3
ShowCase: TBD
Room: TBD
Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Jonah (he/him) is a theater director, musician, and educator. A graduate of Pig Iron's MFA in Devised Performance, his Philadelphia collaborations include Pig Iron, Sarah Sanford and Alex Tatarsky, and Nichole Canuso Dance Company. His original musical odyssey, 'The Bad Pirate Rock Show' (created and performed alongside a handful of other PHIT teachers!) was featured in Cannonball Festival the past two Fringe seasons. When he's not making theater, he teaches kindergarteners how sing and bang drums and be kind to each other at Play On, Philly!
Improv 101
with Kassidy Carlese

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
You will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner. Meets once a week for eight weeks.
Prerequisites: None!
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
A minimum of 8 students is required to run this class
Day: THURSDAYS
Dates: Oct 2. 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00pm
Make-Up/Practice Day: Thurs Dec 4
ShowCase: TBD
Room: TBD
Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Kassidy is a Philly native with a love for theatre. This is Kassidy’s first semester working with PHIT and will be teaching a 101 class! She graduated from Messiah University with a B.A in Theatre which allowed her to study in Ireland at the Gaiety School of Acting. She has worked with Philly Young Playwrights, Azuka Theatre, and Yes! And…? Collaborative Arts. She is also in a improv group called Improvabilitee and is excited to be at PHIT.
Improv 101
with Tyler Catanella

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
You will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner. Meets once a week for eight weeks.
Prerequisites: None!
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
Day: SUNDAYS
Dates: Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Make-Up/Practice Day: Sun Nov 30
ShowCase: TBD
Room: TBD
Theater Location: Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Tyler Leif Catanella is a teaching artist, performer, deviser and musician. Before moving to Philadelphia to pursue an MFA in Devised Performance with Pig Iron Theatre Company, Tyler lived in Boston where he taught Acting, Devising, Dance Composition & Improvisation at Emerson College for 5 years as an Adjunct Faculty in the Performing Arts Department. Tyler was the co-founder and artistic director of ParadiseMoves, a non-profit performance company with a mission to share stories through movement that inspire conversation, and make movement improvisation accessible to all regardless of physical ability or experience. Tyler fosters way too many cats, listens to too much Missy Elliott, and is thrilled to be teaching at PHIT!
What Others Say:
"Tyler was so open and encouraging - he created an environment where I, and believe we all, felt supported, connected, and free to try out skills and really learn."
"Tyler was completely himself, and in being so authentic showed us that we could do the same thing. And he cared deeply for our humanity, which in turn meant we did the same for one another. "
Improv 101 INTENSIVE
with Diego Romero-Aros

Intro to Improv: Your HAROLD training starts here!
In this FOUR WEEK INTENSIVE you will start learning basic improv and performance skills, practicing concepts like making your partner look good, “Yes, and..”, creating mimed objects and environments, establishing relationships, and holding on to an emotional point of view. Finally you start to apply these skills to make up short scenes with a partner.
Meets twice a week for four weeks, two hours each meeting. An optional fifth week may be offered as a bonus practice or makeup session, subject to instructor availability and scheduling.
Prerequisites: None! Students must be able to commit to attend twice a week for four weeks to meet the requirements of the full 101 curriculum. Attendace at the last class is required to participate in the showcase.
Adults 18+
Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.
A minimum of 8 students is required to run this class
Day: TUESDAY and THURSDAY
Dates: Oct 28, 30, Nov 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20
Time: 7 PM - 9 PM
Make-up/Practice Date: Tues Dec 2
Showcase Date/Time: TBD
Class Room: TBD
Theater Location:Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
About the Instructor:
Diego is an improviser and sketch comedian PROUDLY hailing from Wilmington, Delaware and is absolutely ecstatic to be coming on board to teach at PHIT, after having graduated from the program! As an instructor, Diego has an energetic and focused energy, with a big emphasis on exploring YOUR creativity and helping to activate your funny bone.On the weekends, you can find Diego performing with teams at various spots around Philly, and at home playing some tabletop RPGs, and would be happy to nerd out about them with anyone who feels so inclined.
What Others Say:
"Diego is an absolute joy and an excellent educator. He knows when to be supportive and also when to push students to find the better “funny.” "
"Diego is a FANTASTIC instructor"
"Diego cuts through the noise to really get across the main idea each class. And he does it through different ways so it’s easy to understand. The energy Diego brings to the entire room is the reason we all are excited each class."
"Diego was honestly an amazing teacher. Very engaging, gives accurate and wonderful feedback"
"He also just has a good energy and encouraged us to do our best as well as give really good constructive feedback along the way. 10/10 teacher "