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:  THURSDAY

Dates: Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21

NO CLASS NOV 28

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

Make-Up/Practice Day:  12/5  7pm - 9pm

ShowCase:  TBD

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructor:

Tara Gadomski (she/her) is an actor, filmmaker, improvisor, BBC radio producer and Sundance Knight Fellow. She trained in London and worked with the Fluxx Impro company for many years, performing full-length improvised plays around Europe. Tara loves working with all ages of improvisers. She helped create the improv show The Quest which toured rural schools in Pennsylvania and is currently is a teaching artist with The Unscripted Project in Philadelphia public schools. Her favorite acting credits include Orange is the New Black (Netflix); The BLACKLIST (NBC); Recent Tragic Events (T.I.C. Theatre) and Lost Pirates (Edinburgh Fringe Festival.) Tara is also happy to improvise in Portuguese and Hungarian, if she can find anyone who will take her up on the offer.

What Others Say:

"Tara was an excellent teacher. ... She is very personable and encouraging. Her feedback on our scenes was incisive and very helpful in bringing out the best in us."

"Tara fostered a togetherness among the class participants through games and exercises. She encouraged everyone to speak up with questions or comments about anything we were doing, and was always receptive to anything participants had to say."

"Tara's emphasis on boundaries/fences and presenting her own non-standard fences during each class helped normalize the use of fences"

"Tara REALLY knows her craft and she leads class in a thoughtful and balanced manner — with both affirmation and considered expert feedback where needed. As a side note, we all appreciated her international experience and perspective!"

"She is good at what she does"

"Do it. She's incredible"

"Just take it! "

"She's awesome!"

"Tara is such an excellent teacher: flexible, empathetic, aware, talented, and intelligent that she was open to our suggestions and worked excellently to make adjustments (meet our needs) on the fly!"

Intermediate- Advanced Improv: Story, Games, 3rd beats: You are well on your way to performing a HAROLD.

This level is a little differnt than 101 and 201. There are very few paired scenes in this class. Instead, You and your class work more as an ensemble. You will begin to learn to recognize patterns and to initiate and play the types of spontaneous group games played in HAROLD and other long form formats. You can expect to receive more specific and individualized notes and side coaching. Meets once a week for eight weeks.

Prerequisites: PHIT level 201 or permission of 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: THURSDAY

Dates: Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21

NO CLASS NOV 28

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

Make-Up/Practice Day: Dec 5   7pm - 9pm

ShowCase: TBD

Room: TBD

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

About the Instructor:

Devin is an actor and deviser based in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the University of the Arts / Pig Iron Devised Performance Program. Devin grew up in Alaska, studied Physics at Notre Dame, built data centers in Des Moines, and somehow wound up at clown school.

What Others Say:

"Devin is a great teacher! He made class comfortable, fun, and challenging!"

"Devin brings so much richness and intention into his curriculum...I most valued his ability to meet people of different skill levels where they're at with appropriately challenging insights and guidance."

"Devin will challenge you in class, and give you the focus to improve. He knows that being funny and being not funny are both on the path to improving."

"Made class a lot of fun AND I've been learning a lot! I appreciate his direct feedback!"

"Devin is the best. Practices great safety tools/fences, and really encourages us to explore our own ideas and be ourselves."

"Devin was high energy, which is great for Monday evenings! His pointers/critiques are delivered in a sweet way that leaves everybody eager to improve without any demotivation."

"Take the class. It is going to become the day you will look forward to the most every week and will only enrich this unique life of yours."

"He made the class fun by the constant encouragement to have fun, play and keep it positive. He delivered feedback in a helpful manner."