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Improv 401 — Harold Workshop

Wednesdays 7-10pm starting May 21, 2008
Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 301
Cost: $325

This course offers students the chance to strengthen their own individual skills while simultaneously allowing them more practice with the long form improvisation performance known as the Harold.

One goal of the course is to help students perform stronger scenes. The instructor will use the first half of the course to identify and troubleshoot any weaknesses that the individual players may be demonstrating.

The other goal of the course is to allow students to continue to perform full Harolds. The instructor will use “side-coaching,” or feedback given during an improvised piece as it is happening, in order to facilitate success in the students’ improvised scenes. The instructor will also give notes after each performance in order to enhance and improve the quality of future performances.

This course meets for three hours a week for eight weeks. Students will perform in two class performances at the UCB Theatre – once halfway through the course and once at the end. Graduation is also contingent upon students seeing at least two improvised shows at the UCB Theater before the end of the course.

Class Size: 16 Students

Admission to 501 after the completion of this course is not guaranteed. Students will be judged on their application of concepts that they have learned in previous levels.

Will Hines

hines, will
Will Hines has studied and performed improv at UCBT since 1999, current on the improv team The Stepfathers. Among his teachers: Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser, Armando Diaz, and Sean Conroy. He's co-written, starred in and directed many sketch shows. He makes short videos and dabbles in stand-up like an arrogant swaggering dilettante. He's appeared in a few commercials as well as bit parts on Comedy Central, Conan O'Brien and Best Week Ever. He's taught at UCBT since spring of 2003.

Student Feedback

"Will is a great teacher - he's very direct and encouraging. I felt he was with me/us at every moment and had constructive feedback."

"Will is an excellent teacher. He was prepared, articulate, supportive, and challenging."

"Will had great suggestions and encouraged people to push themselves."