Have an Opinion

Sunday, June 15, 2008
11:00am - 2:00pm
Common Ground Theatre

Have an Opinion taught by Paul Overton

If you rely too heavily on "gifts" from your scene partners in order to form ideas about your characters, you'll find yourself playing the same characters over and over again. This is due to a lack of strong opinions. Experience guided exercises and experiment with scene play that will ultimately lead you to developing stronger characters with purpose and personality.

Paul began improvising during the Cretaceous period and has studied mostly in North Carolina. He is an original member of Four String Samurai.


Please email fourstringimprov@gmail.com or call Ryan Locante at 773.339.2878 to reserve your spot(s).

To ensure the best experience for each student, class size is limited to 12.

Play it Straight

Sunday, June 8, 2008
11:00am - 2:00pm
Common Ground Theatre

Play it Straight taught by Bret Runestad

In the eyes of many, improv is that silly thing you can do where you go on stage and "act wacky." Yet every improv scene worth watching grounds that limitless creativity in honest, truthful performance. Learn to root your improv in honest characterizations and truthful reactions, regardless of where you might find yourself in a scene.

Bret started improvising seriously in college, playing alongside the founding members of Duke University Improv, and not so seriously in a cave in 10,000 BC. From there he went on to study and perform at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in New York City. Upon returning to North Carolina he regularly performed and coached at the DSI Comedy Theater.


Please email fourstringimprov@gmail.com or call Ryan Locante at 773.339.2878 to reserve your spot(s).

To ensure the best experience for each student, class size is limited to 12.

Redefine Your Comfort

Sunday, June 1, 2008
11:00am - 2:00pm
Common Ground Theatre

Redefine Your Comfort taught by Ryan Locante

You’re never going to improve if you continue to improvise safely. Ryan will take you by the hand and walk you along the border of your Comfort Zone, and then for an [un]expected twist, you’ll be kicked into the foreign land of Uncomfortable. Stretch yourself and challenge yourself to play boldly, competently, and without judgment. Discover new characters, moves, and ideas simply by being asked to take chances with your improv.

Ryan got his improv start in Salt Lake City with Knock Your Socks Off (KYSOff) in 2001. He is a graduate of the iO Training Center in Chicago and has worked alongside a broad range of artists including those who have trained, performed, and taught at iO Chicago, Second City, iO West, UCB, DSI, and elsewhere. He has also killed a Wooly Mammoth.


Please email fourstringimprov@gmail.com or call Ryan Locante at 773.339.2878 to reserve your spot(s).

To ensure the best experience for each student, class size is limited to 12.

Order and Chaos!

Saturday, May 31, 2008
11:00am - 2:00pm
Common Ground Theatre

Order and Chaos! taught by Christopher Conklin

Don't just stand there and look confused when things start getting weird or else the show will fall apart around you. Find the ebb and flow of your scenes and shows. Figure out how what you've done influences what's to come. Learn to have fun when you don't know what's going on.

Christopher began improvising at the dawn of time and enjoys it immensely. He has studied at UCBT in New York and DSI in North Carolina.


Please email fourstringimprov@gmail.com or call Ryan Locante at 773.339.2878 to reserve your spot(s).

To ensure the best experience for each student, class size is limited to 12.

Capuchin

Austin Nava has an illegal monkey...

So, I was totally over at Casa de Juevos the other day, shooting the brahzeeze with Big Reader, when I saw something moving around in the back yard. I was all like, what's that? And he was all like, "nothing". Yeahs right! It was totally something and since the only something that looks like nothing is Predator anyway and since it's probably not Predator (although that would be totally kick ass to have Predator in your backyard), it's something else. So, I was all like, "screw this!" and went out in the yard. He tried to stop me, but I totally neutralized his ass with my ghetto stare, and proceeded out of doors. I didn't see anything at first, but then I tripped on some metal object and when I looked down, I saw, to my amazement, what looked like a solid gold chain. Well, I followed that shit alls the way to the bar-b-que and sitting behind the Weber, licking the inside of a Heinz 57 bottle, was an skinny-ass Capuchin monkey. So, I was all like, "WTF? Where the hezell did you get that monkey?" And he was all like,"I ordered it off the internet and they sent me that shit in a box. It's part of my experiment. I let my ladies put make up on him and I just feed him steak sauce." So, I was like, "WTF kind of experiment are you runnin' MF? That fuckin' monkey looks sick. And he was all like,"Nah,that MF ate a book and drank some motor oil last night and he's still goin' strong. He's just jonesin' cuz I ain't given him his cigarette yet. That's the other part of my experiment, Nicotine Deprivation. 'Course I had to get the little bastard addicted first and it took damned near forever." Well, that was it for P-dog. I left his mad scientist ass standin' in the backyard with his "experiment" and went home to take a shower. That shit creeped me the F out. So, if you got a monkey, don't tell me. I don't want to know. And if he ever runs for any kind of office, don't vote for his ass. That MF tortures some monkeys.

Omen

Today when I showed up at work (a music software company/recording studio that doesn't usually have visitors), Miss America 2006 was hanging out in the kitchen while her husband played our piano (poorly). I take that to be an omen that this Saturday's show will be beautiful and also stop world hunger.

My 13 month old son's 5 favorite Clash songs

1. Janie Jones
   
2. I'm So Bored with the USA
   
3. Career Opportunities
   
4. Rudie Can't Fail
   
5. Train in Vain

He doesn't really care for any of Combat Rock.

"

He was the ultimate keeper of secrets, lurking in the shadows of American history. He toppled banana republics, planned the Bay of Pigs invasion and led the Watergate break-in. Now he would reveal what he'd always kept hidden: who killed JFK"

- Rolling Stone

Four String should do a show called "death bed confessions". That's all.

my creative genius can finally flourish

EDITED TO ADD: PLEASE READ THIS

PLEASE DON'T READ THIS you will die in seven days if you don't post this comment on 10 videos in the next hour. if you do, tomorrow will be the best day of your life


I accidentally read this and so I had to post it again--is it okay that I put it in a blog and not a video?