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Improv 401 — Harold Workshop

Tuesdays 6-9pm starting Jun 03, 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

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

Zach Woods

woods, zach
Zach Woods is a regular performer and director at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Trained in improvisation at the UCB Theater, he has also studied at the Atlantic Theater Company. Zach has been featured in numerous improv and sketch shows at the UCB and is a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company. He has appeared on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and has been featured in a number of national commercials. A popular improv coach/director in New York, Zach has also conducted workshops at Columbia University, Duke University, New York University, and Lincoln Center. He currently performs every Friday night with UCB team The Stepfathers.

Student Feedback

"Zach excels at maintaining a relaxed, fun environment while keeping the day's lesson fresh in the minds of the students. He has a gift for teaching improv and helping students new to improv in avoiding bad habits."

"Zach was the perfect teacher, patient and encouraging, but able to clearly identify what we needed work on. From da one, the entire class had fun and most importantly felt comfortable."

"Zach was an amazing person to learn from. He has so many ideas that push you to think beyond the customary, drab cliches. He made us all very comfrotable and set a great, professional tone right from the start."

"Zach's feedback was always helpful and he doesn't move on until the recipient fully understands the point he is making. He is supportive and encouraging."

"Zach created a comfortable environment for learning improv. He was also very knowledgeable regarding improv and always willing to answer our questions even outside of classtime."