IMPROV COMEDY WORKSHOPS

Improv Drop-In Workshops with Norm Holly
Sundays – 10am to Noon. Cost: FREE or Pay-what-you-can on site.

“Form Moves” with Paul Grondy
Thursday, April 9th – 7pm to 10pm.  Cost: $55

Take your long-forms to the next level! Getting an audience to laugh should be pretty easy by now. Walk-ons and Tag Outs mostly serve to heighten a single scene. But what heightens your entire show? If you want to satisfy the more artistic and theatrical side of your improv then you need to experience the techniques that enhance and bring your forms to a higher plane.

In this 3-hour workshop you will learn moves pioneered in the early days of the Golden Era of Chicago long-forms. Improv choices that inspire from outside the scene work.

Paul Grondy is an improv instructor from “back in the day” (ask around). He was taught by Del Close and Charna Halpern, coached by Craig Cackowski and original members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, taught Harolds at iO for 20 years, coached numerous teams (ask around), and was a member of the legendary teams, ‘Frank Booth’ and ‘Carl and the Passions’.

“Audition Workshop” with Norm Holly
Saturday, April 11th – 3pm to 6:30pm.  Cost: $30

Are you auditioning  for Second City soon? Learn the skills and techniques necessary to have a successful touring company audition from former Artistic Director and Conservatory Head at The Second City in Chicago, Norm Holly!

Norm used to run the SC general auditions for several years and was also a Resident Company and Touring Company Director.

“Improv for Commercials” with Jimmy Callahan
Saturday, May 2nd – 1pm to 4pm.  Cost: $150

Do you want to book that commercial? In this workshop you will learn how to transition what you’ve learned as an improviser into making money as a commercial actor from one of the biggest booking commercial actors in the business.

Jimmy Callahan has filmed over 100 national commercials the past 22 years between Chicago, LA, & NYC, and will help demystify the entire experience of booking commercials. You’ll learn how to identify & embrace your “type”, how to get a callback and book the job, and what to do behind the scenes.
Jimmy will reveal some of the secrets to success, as well as what commonly sabotages actors in the room. You will learn how to improvise within commercial copy and how to deliver what the ad agencies are looking for to book the job!

Whether you are a beginner or a veteran who needs a new perspective to hone your technique, there is something for everyone in this workshop!

Jimmy Callahan has been acting professionally for the past 22 years, filming over 100 national commercials in Chicago, LA, & NYC. TV/Film credits include: Come As You Are, Okie, Blue Bloods, CHI Med/PD/Fire, The Jim Gaffigan Show, & Daredevil. He studied/performed at The Second City, iO, & Comedy Sportz in Chicago, and has toured the Midwest as a stand-up comic. He has performed in several scripted & improvised shows, including: Brain Humor,  Starship Improvise!, and the long-running hit, Flanagan’s Wake. Jimmy has taught at The Second City, Beth Melsky Casting (NYC), The PIT (NYC), The Green Room Studios (CHI), The Actors Training Center, Vagabond School, Elmhurst College (IL), and has privately coached actors in CHI, LA & NYC.