307 W. 26th Street New York, NY 10001 (212) 366-9176

Join Our Mailing List
Switch to LA Site

Improv 600 — Advanced Performance Workshop

Sundays 6:30-9:30pm starting Feb 10, 2008
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 501, Application Only
Cost: $325

In this character intensive performance workshop, students will work on building up their character repertoire; stretch their range of character possibilities and work on creating grounded characters rather than caricatures. Students will learn easy techniques for building characters, how to initiate with strong characters, and how to feel confident when called on to play a specific character type. Exercises will include overall pointers as well as individual attention.

This class meets for eight weeks and involves four class performances at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Class size is 16 students

ONLY STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THIS CLASS CAN REGISTER AND PAY. THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAS CLOSED. WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

Improv 600 - Performance Workshop

The Documentary


Taught by Porter Mason

Have you ever watched "Waiting for Guffman", "American Movie" or "March of the Penguins" and thought, "Oh, I could do that"? Well, you were right. Developed by the UCBT's Billy Merritt, this form uses the structure of the documentary movie in a long form improv context. In this class, we'll learn to use the basic techniques of interview,narration and detailed character creation, and we'll put it all together to explore a subculture or an overarching theme. More than anything, we'll give scenes a documentary feel by focusing on making our improv as truthful as possible. Our shows will have scenes so real, you'll want to Netflix them.

This class will perform at the theatre for 4 weeks.

No Class March 23rd.

If you are interested in taking this class, send an email to classes@ucbt.net with the subject "Documentary", by 12pm on Wednesday January 23rd. We will review the applicants and send a notice to those who have been accepted by Wednesday , January 30th.

Prerequisite: Completion of a 500 level Improv Class.

Maximum class size is 16.

Porter Mason

mason, porter
Porter Mason has been performing improv since 1997 and has been performing at the UCBT since 2000. He was a founding member of Duke University Improv, and went on to teach beginner and advanced level improv classes at the DSI Theater in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as well as workshops at Duke University.

Porter began performing and directing at the UCBT in 2000, and has been involved in a variety of shows and groups, including My Kickass Van, Arsenal, B-Roll, and Anydayville. He currently performs with the Harold team, 1985, and a three-man group, T.J. Monkey's. Over the years, he's trained with a variety of great teachers, including Kevin Mullaney, Armando Diaz, Miles Stroth, Mick Napier and T.J. Jagodowski.

Porter's comic strip, "Bassist Wanted", appears in weekly newspapers across the country and online at http://bassistwanted.com. Porter is happy to have made your acquaintance.

Student Feedback

"Porter was an excellent teacher and was very helpful in explaining ideas and concepts."

"Porter was great at making difficult scenarios easy to understand."