Baltimore Improv Festival

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Instructor: Bridget Cavaiola
Saturday August 13th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WORKSHOP SOLD OUT! - There is an additional workshop on Sunday morning at 10 am for those interested in trying out improv. Scroll down for more information.

You've been watching, you've been laughing, now, it's your turn. Learn the basics of improvisation, meet great folks, have a ball. It's time to start laughing at yourself.

Bridget Cavaiola is a member of the BIG troupe 'Gus'. She is a teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools, and the former Executive Director of the Baltimore Improv Group. Bridget has been performing with BIG for 6 years, and has taught at the BIG Summer Camp for 3 years. She co-wrote a selective course in "Improving Communication with Improvisation" for Johns Hopkins Medical Students. Bridget has performed at national improv festivals in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago.

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Instructor: Greg Maughan
Saturday August 13th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Learn to get through a scene without relying on your smart-aleck mouth by doing shit the audience actually wants to watch (instead of just making them listen to you babble desperately until something witty falls out). This workshop will limit, then completely take away your words - and teach you how to communicate non-verbally, show instead of tell, and double-down on your commitment to the reality of spaces you create and the things you do in them. Your scenes will stop taking place on park benches of excessive length and vaguely defined diner tables, and get this: the things you say will ring truer and hit funnier than before.

Greg Maughan is the founder of Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) - a nationally recognized comedy theatre producing & presenting "alternative comedy" (improv, sketch and stand-up) in the metro-Philadelphia area most nights of the year. Through the PHIT Training Center the theatre has also created the most comprehensive improv and sketch comedy training program between New York and Chicago and taught thousands of students since 2006. Greg has been acting and directing improv and sketch comedy since 1999. He has toured along the east coast and performed in numerous comedy festivals with various improv groups, (including Industrial, Holmes/Maughan, and The Moops), and made guest appearances with many more - incuding guest performances with House Teams at NYC's Magnet Theatre and UCB Theatre Harold Team members. In 2010 he appeared in the hit Philly Fringe show "Punchline!" and performed with Matt Besser, a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

As a director, he lead Everything Must Go - an original House Team at PHIT, and has lent advice and support to a list of improv and sketch groups in the city longer than he can remember. In addition to his work with performers Greg is a sought after corporate trainer, having worked with clients ranging from Bank of America to JEVS Human Services, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art to Wawa.

Greg has studied improv & sketch comedy with over 20 teachers, including: founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, & Matt Walsh; Impro author Keith Johnstone, Magnet Theatre founder Armando Diaz; Peoples' Improv Theater owner Ali Farahnakian; Susan Messing, Joe Bill, and Mark Sutton.

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Instructor: Rick Andrews
Saturday August 13th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Master class for intermediate and advanced improvisers. This workshop features individually-focused feedback and exercises designed to take skilled improvisers to the next level. This workshop is all about challenging yourself, about working on your weaknesses to become a better, more well-rounded improviser. Moderate experience required.

Rick Andrews is an instructor, performer, and Associate Artistic Director at The Magnet Theater in New York City, and has been studying, performing, and teaching improvisation since 1999. He began with Improv Boston, and continued with a stint in Saint Louis, MO. He has been fortunate to learn from many improv greats, including Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Will Luera, Jill Bernard, and more. He performs around the country with the Magnet Theater Touring Company, The Cascade (Official Selection, CIF 2011), and is a producer of Duofest, an annual festival in Philly, PA devoted to improv duos.

Rick has taught workshops at improv festivals across the country, including the Boston Improv Festival, Baltimore Improv Festival, Black Box Atlanta, and many more. He has taught improvisation to people as old as 70 and as young as 6, and has done workshops for Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and zoos.

He enjoys running, putting words on pages, thinking about the brain, and he loves improv more than anything.

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Instructor: Michael McFarland
Saturday August 13th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Everyone needs to stop trying so hard. Don't contrive your improv, just build a strong foundation and watch the scene build itself. This workshop will increase the probability that you have the fundamental tools to make your improv work for you. This is a back to basics approach to scene work. In a step by step process players will focus on simple things that every good improv scene must have. Workshop is excellent for newer players looking to take things to a new level or experienced players looking to get grounded again.

Michael is a founder of the Philadelphia Improv Festival and Duofest, and continues to co-produce Duofest. He also serves on the Board of Directors of PHIT, is currently a 5 year resident at NYC's Magnet Theater, and coaches one of Magnet's Circuit Teams. Michael is a member of the Magnet house team The Imposters and the PHIT Duo Michael Loves Greg, the creator and a cast member of Self Image which has been performed most recently in a 4 month run at Magnet, and has been at PHIT, The PIT and PHIF. Past improv highlights include being a member and Assistant Director of 30,000 Khz of Sound (Improv in the dark) at both the Magnet and The PIT, The People vs. Milk Milk McGinty, Failed Family Sitcom, To Be Continued..., Gimme the Loot, Self Image, Joel A. Gingras Fund - Improv Fundraiser, and Evente .

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Instructor: Rick Andrews
Saturday August 13th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The two person scene is the heart and soul of most improvisation. We'll attack two person scenes from a variety of angles, finding ways to make great what we've already created. A mixture of dynamic exercises and individual challenges will help you take your scenework to the next level. This class is appropriate for less experienced improvisers.

Rick Andrews is an instructor, performer, and Associate Artistic Director at The Magnet Theater in New York City, and has been studying, performing, and teaching improvisation since 1999. He began with Improv Boston, and continued with a stint in Saint Louis, MO. He has been fortunate to learn from many improv greats, including Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Will Luera, Jill Bernard, and more. He performs around the country with the Magnet Theater Touring Company, The Cascade (Official Selection, CIF 2011), and is a producer of Duofest, an annual festival in Philly, PA devoted to improv duos.

Rick has taught workshops at improv festivals across the country, including the Boston Improv Festival, Baltimore Improv Festival, Black Box Atlanta, and many more. He has taught improvisation to people as old as 70 and as young as 6, and has done workshops for Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and zoos.

He enjoys running, putting words on pages, thinking about the brain, and he loves improv more than anything.

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Instructor: Lauren Withhart
Saturday August 13th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

This workshop will move through basic yoga-based, dance contact, and partnering exercises, preparing the body to move more fully with partners. No formal dance experience is required. Contact improvisation is a dance form based in improvisational performance that incorporates weight-sharing and movement awareness with another body. All you need is a willingness to touch another body and a sense of humor! The workshop will conclude with an improvisation jam. Come in clothes comfortable enough to move in.

Lauren Withhart is a performance artist based in the Baltimore/Metro DC area since 2005. She received her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Maryland and her BFA in Dance from Florida State University. Known for her unique collaborations, her original works have been seen at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (NYC), WAXworks at Triskelion Arts (Brooklyn), Green Space (Queens), Baltimore Theatre Project, Baltimore Museum of Art, AREA 405, The Creative Alliance, The LOF/t, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Lauren has performed and toured with VTDance/Vincent Thomas, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, and PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER in venues including Dance Theater Workshop and The Kennedy Center. As an educator, Lauren has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Community College of Baltimore County and received a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at University of Maryland. (http://withhartdanceprojects.com)

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Instructor: Mike Harris
Sunday August 14th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

You've been watching, you've been laughing, now, it's your turn. Learn the basics of improvisation, meet great folks, have a ball. It's time to start laughing at yourself.

Mike Harris is the Artistic/Excutive Director for BIG. In addition to teaching and directing for BIG, he is a faculty member at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Washington D.C.

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Instructor: Mary Carpenter
Sunday August 14th, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Times have changed, but it can sometimes still be hard to let your inner comic Amazon warrior free. This workshop is designed for women improvisers to find their strength and confidence on stage. We will work on strong initiations, how to trust in and act on your instincts, and discovering how a woman's approach to improv may be different... and, isn't that awesome?

Mary Carpenter has worked in Philadelphia Theatre for the last eighteen years as an actress, director, teacher and writer. She holds Theatre degrees from Northwestern University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She has also had formal improvisation training with Second City, Keith Johnstone, Mick Napier, Jeff Wirth, and Todd Stashwick. Mary has been a performing and teaching member of ComedySportz, Philadelphia's longest running improv show, for nineteen years where she has also served as Artistic Director twice and currently serves as Education Director. She has taught at Villanova University, University of the Arts, Abington Friends School, Germantown Academy, Arden Theatre Company, Interact Theatre Company, the Philadelphia Improv Festival and for 17 years with ComedySportz.

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Instructor: Patricia Tamarez
Sunday August 14th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Learn to paint on the body! Joint the master painter from 'Skinesthesia: Body Painted Improv' Patricia Tamarez for a workshop in basic skills. There will be practice paints available to participants and full kits will be available for purchase. Patricia will cover paint types, colors, using the body as canvas, curves and full composition. Models will be provided.

Patricia is the artist in residence at Bryn Mawr School for Girls, and a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design. She is a fixture in the Baltimore underground arts scene, and a player in the city's arts renaissance. She has been doing live body painting at events in several cities on the East Coast, including several stints as the live painter in "Skinesthesia - Body Painted Improv."

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Instructors: Prescott Gaylord and Lauren Withhart
Sunday August 14th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The collaborative process resulted in such projects as Skinesthesia and The Movement: exploring the meeting point of dance, art, theater, characters and performance. This workshop will focus on how moving the bodies through space can create characters, environments, props, and relationships in play with improvisers. Come in clothes comfortable enough to move in.

Prescott Gaylord has been a fixture of the Baltimore Improv scene for the past 7 years, and has directed Gus, The Moving Walkways, and many special projects. He has served the Baltimore Improv Group and Artistic Director and Board President. He has produced and directed improv collaborations with dancers, painters, a political cartoonist, theater actors, puppeteers, models, untrained audience members, and confessors. Special projects include "The Movement - dance inspired improv and improv inspired dance," "Skinesthesia - Body Painted Improv," and "Unscripted - an improvised play in two acts." He can be seen performing with Lekker and Evan the Loyal.

Lauren Withhart is a performance artist based in the Baltimore/Metro DC area since 2005. She received her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Maryland and her BFA in Dance from Florida State University. Known for her unique collaborations, her original works have been seen at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (NYC), WAXworks at Triskelion Arts (Brooklyn), Green Space (Queens), Baltimore Theatre Project, Baltimore Museum of Art, AREA 405, The Creative Alliance, The LOF/t, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Lauren has performed and toured with VTDance/Vincent Thomas, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, and PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER in venues including Dance Theater Workshop and The Kennedy Center. As an educator, Lauren has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Community College of Baltimore County and received a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at University of Maryland. (http://withhartdanceprojects.com)

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Instructor: Matt Nelson
Sunday August 14th, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The focus of this workshop will be developing and engaging the filter of perspective within the characters we create. Students will learn the five point SLANT approach: Source, Latitude, Attitude, Negation & Trust... Applying these techniques in targeted exercises and group scenework, students will strengthen their ability to quickly accept and honestly react within the realities of their character's point of view, enriching each new choice and giving them and their scene partners definitive and reliable platforms for establishing status, game and relationship. Ideal for those having difficulty in executing strong offers, struggle with dropped momentum or simply want to gain additional confidence in their regular character choices.

Matt Nelson has studied comedy and improvisational theater since 1994 under acclaimed instructors and alumni of institutions such as The Groundlings, iO, iO West, Second City, Annoyance, Upright Citizens Brigade, DSI, ImprovBoston and Philly Improv Theater. He is Executive Producer of the Philadelphia Improv Festival and founder of the Philadelphia Comedy Collective. He has taught improvisation to students of all ages and varying backgrounds in a variety of settings, ranging from classrooms to corporate environments.

Matt just completed direction on Stage Fright: An Improvised Homage to Hitchcock. He is the creator and cast member of Adrift, an unscripted touring production comprised of comedians from various cities across the continent, most recently and notably featuring Emo Philips at the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival. Beyond NCCAF and his own festival, his comedy projects have been official selections at the Del Close Marathon, Baltimore Improv Festival, Boston Improv Festival and the Toronto International Improv Festival. In addition to hosting and performing weekly with shortform group the N Crowd, he can be seen throughout Philadelphia performing, hosting and producing comedy shows.