This exciting 3 hour workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced improvisers who have completed level 2 or equivalent, to practice making big, bold, and beastly choices. Participants will play games and do exercises created to push them outside of their comfort zone and try out weird, wacky, and unhinged characters. Players will be encouraged to take charge of their scenes with strong and intense initiations. It will also give you an opportunity to practice staying in the present by pulling yourself out of your head and into your body by making big physical and emotional choices.
If you ever feel like you are holding back onstage, or are nervous to make strange or absurd choices, this is a judgement free space to cast away grounded scene work and play with no holds barred characters and dive deep into absurdity.
Go big, go bold, and release your inner beast!
WHEN: Saturday, January 6th at 3pm-6pm
PRICE: $60
INSTRUCTORS: Alyssa Tomasella & John Vadas
Alyssa Tomasella
Alyssa fell in love with and started performing improvisational comedy over a decade ago in Rochester, NY. While there, she performed on multiple longform and shortform teams, in various venues and festivals. She started teaching improv in the Rochester area in 2014. She has studied the art of improv and sketch comedy from various theaters, such as; iO, UCB, Second City, and The Annoyance. She also studied, trained, and performed with The Groundlings.
After moving to Pittsburgh, PA, Alyssa joined Steel City Improv Theater in 2018. She completed all five class levels, performed on several teams, produced multiple shows, and coached 10+ teams. Alyssa began teaching classes at SCIT in 2019 and her pedagogy reflects her love of and passion for improvisational comedy, and how it can change people’s lives, both on and off the stage. A
John Vadas
John started his improv journey studying at the Focus Theater in Rochester, NY, circa 2017, where he also performed on the house team and ran a weekly improv jam. He relocated to Pittsburgh in 2021, then started his studies at Steel City Improv Theater in early 2022. He performs with the Harold team Suggestie Bestie, as well as the indie teams Comrade Chad, Sad Boi Smooches, and Improvised Dungeons and Dragons. John currently teaches Level 1 longform classes at SCIT. When he isn’t playing a character that is crying on stage, he likes to cry other places like the beach, in line at the grocery store, or at home. He is happy to provide tips for more effective crying upon request.