A half day Musical Improv with Casey Watts and Brian Young!

Musical improv doesn’t need a musician! Imagine being in the movie Pitch Perfect — just bring your imagination and your character!

In this all-levels workshop, you’ll learn how to create an a capella pop vocal group using improv skills and simple tricks that anyone can learn. Remember, your voice is an instrument!

You don’t need to be a great singer. Just commit to a character who truly believes they’re the star of the stage! We’ll explore how to harmonize, build group dynamics, and “yes, and” our way into catchy group songs. 

Missed your chance to be in a collegiate a cappella group? By the end, you’ll have the skills to perform in a pop choir improv show, blending your voice with others and having a blast along the way.

We’ll send you home with a copy of all the games and exercises, giving you everything you need to keep practicing a cappella musical improv after the workshop.

No past musical improv experience required.Suggested: some improv experience OR some singing experience.

Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.

Day: Saturday

Dates: December 14th 2024

Time:10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructors:

Brian and Casey have been teaching musical improv together for many years with the nonprofit Baltimore Musical Improv Meetup. They make improvised musicals together in the Baltimore-based musical improv group Bad Karaoke Experience (BKE). In a given show, you’ll see them both alternating between singing on stage and doing back-line instrumental accompaniment (Brian on piano, Casey on accordion). BKE has played in DC's Improvapolooza, the New York City Musical Improv Festival, and the Baltimore Improv Festival (BIG).

Brian is also a member of other Baltimore improv teams, including A++  (an all-Asian-American comedy group), and Ready Set No (a D.A.R.E.-style school assembly satire duo). Brian and the cast of Belle! An Improvised Tennessee Williams Play created a series of unique one-act shows at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival with encores at BIG in early 2020. Brian holds a BA in Piano Performance from Bowie State University.

Casey is a long-time teacher, including: musical improv, dancing, web development, and technical skills. Casey can play Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance on at least 15 instruments — and he owns an instrument in every color of the rainbow. Imagine someone walking down the street singing, dancing, and blowing bubbles - that’s Casey!

A Full Day of Musical Improv with Casey Watts and Brian Young!

In the morning, learn to sing as an improv a cappella group, and in the afternoon, explore lyrics for every holiday you can imagine. Each workshop compliments the other, but they also offer unique challenges and tools.

We’ll send you home with a copy of all of the games and exercises, so you have the tools to keep practicing and exploring your creativity after the event.

Musical improv is accessible to everyone! No prior experience is needed. Through a series of engaging exercises that build on each other, you’ll grasp the core principles of improv: the essential “yes, and.” Additionally, you’ll learn the fundamentals of crafting lyrics, understanding rhythm, and developing pitch, ensuring you feel confident and ready to create music.

If you already have improv experience, this is the place to practice commitment and play with making characters and worlds. 

Take both workshops to help use spend the day building a community with a shared language, making it easy to keep practicing together after the day.  Create a strong foundation for practicing and collaborating with others beyond this event. making it easier to continue your musical journey together after the day is over.

In the morning, you will learn how to sing as part of an a cappella improv group. You will work together with others to create music, harmonize, and try out different sounds. This is a great chance to make new friends and feel included.

In the afternoon, you will improvise your own holiday songs. You can get ideas from any holiday you like, whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, or even silly holidays like Pi Day!

 Extra Perk! Register for both workshops and save $75 compared to signing up for each separately!

Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.

Day: Saturday

Dates: December 14th 2024

Time:10:00 AM - 1:00 PM  break 1 PM - 2:30 PM  2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructors:

Brian and Casey have been teaching musical improv together for many years with the nonprofit Baltimore Musical Improv Meetup. They make improvised musicals together in the Baltimore-based musical improv group Bad Karaoke Experience (BKE). In a given show, you’ll see them both alternating between singing on stage and doing back-line instrumental accompaniment (Brian on piano, Casey on accordion). BKE has played in DC's Improvapolooza, the New York City Musical Improv Festival, and the Baltimore Improv Festival (BIG).

Brian is also a member of other Baltimore improv teams, including A++  (an all-Asian-American comedy group), and Ready Set No (a D.A.R.E.-style school assembly satire duo). Brian and the cast of Belle! An Improvised Tennessee Williams Play created a series of unique one-act shows at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival with encores at BIG in early 2020. Brian holds a BA in Piano Performance from Bowie State University.

Casey is a long-time teacher, including: musical improv, dancing, web development, and technical skills. Casey can play Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance on at least 15 instruments — and he owns an instrument in every color of the rainbow. Imagine someone walking down the street singing, dancing, and blowing bubbles - that’s Casey!

A half day Musical Improv with Casey Watts and Brian Young!

Any holiday can be a great excuse to put on a show! Learn how to craft unique holiday hits that’ll have everyone singing along. You don’t need any musical background, just come ready to laugh, sing, and enjoy the fun side of musical improv, no matter the season.

This workshop isn’t just for the winter holidays—it’s perfect for celebrating Halloween, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July, or any holiday you love! With musical improv, you’ll learn to create unique and funny lyrics that bring life to any holiday, from Pi Day to Groundhog Day, proving that every day deserves a song! Get ready to play with your creativity in a festive, fun, and supportive environment!

We’ll explore song structure, melody, and lyrics, focusing on a variety of exercises like: list songs, metaphor songs, and philosophy songs. You’ll play with holiday themes by using what you already know.

List songs will help you draw from familiar holiday elements, leading to funny and relatable moments, while metaphor songs allow you to take any holiday item and turn it into something more personal or a completely unrelated comic twist . Philosophy songs help you to discover your character's perspective and values. You’ll learn how to turn those ideas into lyrics, exploring themes that go beyond the holiday itself.

Additionally, we’ll touch on storytelling genres: learn how to deconstruct different narrative styles and use those elements to shape your holiday songs and bring your stories to life.

After the workshop, we’ll send you a detailed explanation of all the games and exercises, so you can keep coming up with holiday tunes long after the event.

No past musical improv experience required.Suggested: some improv experience OR some singing experience.

Please note: All sales are final. No refunds. No credit for future sessions. No transfers. Please consider your schedule carefully before you register.

Day: Saturday

Dates: December 14th 2024

Time:2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructors:

Brian and Casey have been teaching musical improv together for many years with the nonprofit Baltimore Musical Improv Meetup. They make improvised musicals together in the Baltimore-based musical improv group Bad Karaoke Experience (BKE). In a given show, you’ll see them both alternating between singing on stage and doing back-line instrumental accompaniment (Brian on piano, Casey on accordion). BKE has played in DC's Improvapolooza, the New York City Musical Improv Festival, and the Baltimore Improv Festival (BIG).

Brian is also a member of other Baltimore improv teams, including A++  (an all-Asian-American comedy group), and Ready Set No (a D.A.R.E.-style school assembly satire duo). Brian and the cast of Belle! An Improvised Tennessee Williams Play created a series of unique one-act shows at the 2019 Charm City Fringe Festival with encores at BIG in early 2020. Brian holds a BA in Piano Performance from Bowie State University.

Casey is a long-time teacher, including: musical improv, dancing, web development, and technical skills. Casey can play Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance on at least 15 instruments — and he owns an instrument in every color of the rainbow. Imagine someone walking down the street singing, dancing, and blowing bubbles - that’s Casey!

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: SUNDAY

Dates: Jan 5, Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00pm

Make-Up/Practice Day: March 2, 2025

ShowCase:  Sunday March 9. Block 1 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

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

Intermediate Improv: Scene work

You continue to build on the skills learned in 101 as you progress toward performing HAROLD. Learn how to listen for, and heighten ideas, create 2nd beats, and use simple edits while continuing to create mimed objects and environment, clear character relationships, strong points of view, and close ensemble work. Meets once a week for eight weeks.

Prerequisites: PHIT Improv 101 or permission from the Education Director.

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: SUNDAY

Dates: Jan 5, Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00pm

Make-Up/Practice Day: March 2 2025

ShowCase:  Sunday March 9. Block 1 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructor:

Tenara is a theater maker and educator with a strong background and interest in improvisation. She is currently earning her Masters of Fine Arts in Devised Performance from the University of the Arts/Pig Iron Theatre Company. Tenara teaches Improv 101 - 401.

What others Say:

"Tenara's teaching style was great in building everyone up in addition to offering ways to grow"

"Tenara is the best mix of silly and serious, and she's super dedicated to the work ... I really appreciate her thorough knowledge and her critiques that always made me want to do better and take action the next time around."

"Tenara was great! She really set the stage for the class and exhibited great enthusiasm for all activities, drills, etc. She did a great job pointing out what worked in scenes/games and what needed to be improved upon in a way that felt productive and supportive."

"Tenara was absolutely awesome. She gave us appropriate space and reinforced all the key skills. She also was outstanding at making suggestions and providing examples."

"Tenara is so intelligent and patient. A great teacher!"

"She was very in tune to everyone's needs"

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: MONDAY

Dates: Jan 6, Jan 13, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24, Mar 3

NO CLASS MONDAY JAN 20

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

Make-Up/Practice Day: March 3

ShowCase: SATURDAY March 7. Block 2 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructor:

 Emily Harnett (they/them) is thrilled to be teaching at PHIT. Emily is a life long actor, writer, comedian and professional laugher. They earned their BFA in Acting from Point Park University. Emily previously studied at Emerson College’s Comedic Arts program. They currently write for their sketch channel which is launching in the next few months and perform stand ups around Philly. They are passionate about teaching through play, exploration and acceptance.

What Others Say:

"A fantastic class where we were able to be creative but also learn how to do so in the best way!"

"Emily is wonderful!! They are so talented and have a great ability to teach. They have helped me become a better improviser and actor!"

"Em is really great at creating an inclusive environment."

"Em was great. You feel as good when they tell you what you need to improve upon as you do when they tell you how you're killing it."

"Em has a way of explaining things so they’re easy to follow. And Em didn’t hold back, if the scene didn’t work, they let you know why, and how to make it better which was so refreshing."

Musical Improv 2

Intermission is officially over. It's time for Act 2. Get ready to kick-ball change your Musical Improv Skills right into the next level in Musical Improv 2. Over the course of 8 weeks, students will move beyond the basics, delving deeper into learning and executing more specific song structures and styles, more nuanced ensemble work, more advanced scene to song transitions, light show staging and formatting techniques, and of course, even MORE Jazz Hands!

Each class is two hours long and will have you laughing, belting, shimmying and stage ready to give a, totally made-up, performance of a lifetime.

Class meets once a week for eight weeks.

Age 18+

Please note: ALL SALES FINAL. NO REFUNDS. NO CREDIT FOR FUTURE SESSIONS. NO TRANSFERS. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR SCHEDULE CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING.

PREREQUISITE: Musical Improv 101 from any training center, plus Level 201 improv. Ability to carry a tune (shower singing counts!)

With Musical Accompanist: Dan Perlman

Day: MONDAY

Dates: Jan 6, Jan 13, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24, Mar 3

NO CLASS JAN 20

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

Make-up / Practice Day: TBD

Class Location: TBD

Showcase Date & Time: Friday March 7  7PM

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

About the Instructor:

What Others Say:

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:  TUESDAY

Dates: Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18, Feb 25

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

Make-Up/Practice Day: March 4 2025

ShowCase: Saturday March 8th. Block 2 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructor:

Chris Esperance is a comedian, writer, improviser based in Philadelphia, PA. Chris co-hosted the Mad Ethnic Comedy festival which included a variety of improv, podcast and stand-up acts from the tri-state area. He has improvised on Harold, House teams including Metropolis and Dunk Tank and several Indie teams in his years as a performer. Chris was accepted to Magnet Theater’s REMIX sketch diversity showcase and wrote/performed in PIT’s NYC Sketchfest. He has trained at the Philadelphia Improv Theater (PHIT) and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB-NY) and writes for the sketch comedy team Pagliacci (@pagliaccicomedy) with the Boogiemanja sketch comedy collective.

What Others Say:

 "Seriously thank you so much for the last 8 weeks it was truly life changing and opened up a door which was slowly closing in my life. For that I am forever grateful.""You set such a great tone for the class that made it easy to experiment and let our guards down and try new things. I had a fabulous time and can't wait to do it again."

"I plan on staying with this, and will register for the next 201 class given in the Fall. You have set a very high bar for instructors though. Thanks again for EVERYTHING."