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Improv 201 — Game of the Scene

Thursdays 7-10pm starting May 01, 2008
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 101
Cost: $325

The UCB Theatre Training Center bases their curriculum around the idea that all quality individual comedic scenes focus in on one central comedic idea – this idea is referred to as “The Game” of the scene.

This course will focus on teaching students how to use the idea of “The Game” to create their improvised scenes. Students will be taught how to identify “games” within their scenes, and how to use the concept of heightening to properly play out their scenes once they have them. (Heightening is finding new ways to make your scenes get funnier from start to finish.) The class will heavily focus on learning how to use patterns to fill out comedic scenes based around one central “game.”

Students will also be introduced to the idea of “second beats,” or returning to scenes, characters, and concepts from earlier in an improvised piece.

This course meets for 8 sessions that are each 3 hours long. At the end of the course, students will take part in a class performance at the UCB Theatre. Graduation is also contingent upon students seeing at least two improvised shows at the UCB Theater before the end of the course.

Class Size: 14 Students

Anthony Atamanuik

atamanuik, anthony
Anthony Atamanuik has been performing, directing and writing for over 25 years, receiving his Bachelor's of Science in Film Theory from Emerson College in 1997. Anthony has also trained at Second City Toronto, Gotham City Improv and since 2002 and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. Anthony has studied under legendary acting and vocal coach Kristen Linklater during his Emerson College years. He has also had the opportunity to study improvisation with, UCB founders Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Matt Besser. Anthony has also taken classes and been directed by, Seth Morris, Billy Merritt, Owen Burke, Kevin Mullaney, Dyna Moe, and Brian Huskey. Anthony has been a teaching improvisation at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Training Center for over a year. He has directed UCB house team Reuben Williams and UCB Harold teams, Creep, 1985, fwand, Kill Your Darlings, Raynard, DeCoster, Beverly Hills, and Tantrum. He wrote the film short “The Incredible Drunk” which won the Channel 102 Film Festival. Anthony also wrote web content for Jim Henson Interactive from 1996-1998. Anthony performed the with the Gotham City Improv Main Company from 2000 to 2002. He has performed improv at he UCB theatre since 2003 with a variety of ensembles, “Creep”, “Grenade vs. Washing Machine” and “Trillion”. He currently performs with the house team “Death By Roo Roo”. Anthony is also a regular monologist at UCB’s flagship Sunday night show Assscat His Television credits include appearances on Conan O'Brian, The Caroline Rhea Show, and The Tony Danza Show. He has a recurring role as a Girly Show staff writer "Anthony Yannetti" on the Emmy Award winning NBC Sitcom "30 Rock" and plays various roles in the Adult Swim's "Fat Guy Stuck In Internet". Anthony lives in Astoria with his girlfriend Flossie and their turtle, Turtle.

Student Feedback

"Anthony is a great teacher. He is extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter, and extremely supportive and never talks down or belittles anyone." "Anthony was great! I was timid and scared of taking this class, but after the first day I knew it was the best choice I've made in a long time. He makes it so fun and is encouraging."