Improv from the Heart

Take your acting skills and talent to a new place. You’ll learn to listen fully and respond truthfully on stage. This is an improv class for those serious about acting.

Most of the class will focus on:
Meisner Technique, Spolin mirror and spacework , and scene-work with feedback.

Throughout the class you will be asked, pushed, and encouraged to listen fully. You will be asked to give up your internal judge.

We ask that you not judge yourself or your partner.

We will work on responding from a place of emotional truth. Your acting will become more grounded and you will become a more confident performer and person.

The class will hone two of the most important on stage skills (and life skills) listening and responding truthfully. We'll explore exercises that will sharpen your listening skills and help you explore your feelings and the emotions of the scene. People will love performing with you.

You’ll become a more confident and giving performer.

This is not a class in quick wit, fast theater games or competing for attention. You’ll be pushed throughout the class with exercises that explore vulnerability, emotion and connection.

We ask that your heart be open and your ego on hold during the class.

The beginning sessions will focus on creating a safe space free of judgement where the work can be explored without attachment. The self critic and judge will be asked to step out of the room so we can work at getting to the truth of the individual moments.

This class isn’t for everyone

This class is for those that want to experience the depth and range of their characters. It is for performers that want to live truthfully in the given circumstances of the scene. The scenes explored will be organically dramatic or comedic (or both). It is for performers that want to grow emotionally and feel more alive both on stage and off. The class focuses on improvising emotionally.

*You will learn to read the emotion more

*Focus more on your partner for greater freedom on stage

*Get out of your head and respond with less thought

*Embrace the emotion rather than indicating

*Become comfortable with silence

*Listen more both on stage and off

If you need to be funny or the star this class won’t be for you - unless you are willing to let go of these needs and learn to work from the heart rather than the head (ego).

Explore improvising from a place of emotional truth.

There will be outside work required. You must also be willing to meet with a practice partner at least once per week to sharpen the work we do in class.

Develop focus and comfort on stage.

Throughout the class we will be listening for the message our partner gives us rather than just the words they use. Think about it as improvising from the heart rather than the head.

The exercises will make it easy to make your partner "look like a poet, artist or genius" on stage and help your partner do the same for you. You will learn to be a team player on stage or as we say at Pan, a humble star.

All Improv from the Heart classes are taught directly by me (David Alger - the Founder of Pan Theater).

Class is offered 2 twice per year, once in January and once in September.

CLASS REVIEWS
Read here:
Daniel | Gladys | Emil | Tim | Jeff | Lisa | Rahel | Scott | Kufikiri | Ravinder | Sarah

Sarah’s Class Journal (A Weekly Review)
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 8

Class Details
Day & Time: Saturdays 2pm to 4:30pm
Dates: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28,10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26 & 11/2
18 Class Spots | 3 Open

Where: Pan Theater - 120 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland (12th Street BART - Ogawa Exit)
Cost: $359

Class Bonus: 8 class punch ticket to Improv Dojo (a $160 value) - up to ten dojo classes. Good for any Sunday. Can be given to another performer if desired. No time limit on use.

This class sells out. Register early.

FAQ
Class refund policy?
Class fee is non-refundable.
In the event the class is canceled, all class fees will be refunded. If you are unable to continue the class, the class fee is non-refundable but you may retake the class at a later point or give a full class cycle credit to a friend or family member.

Class make up policy?
If you miss a class, there are no make up classes, but if you are going to miss more than two or three classes, we would suggest retaking a later class session. If you prefer to take a future session, let us know. We ask that you plan on attending the entire class cycle when you re-register.

How long is my class credit good for?

Class credits can be used for up to one year.

How much outside time do I need to put in?

It is up to you, but meeting with a partner once or twice a week to practice will help.

Will we be working with a script?
No, the class focuses on exercises and techniques that do not require a script. There will be guided improvised scene work.

How do I know if this class is right for me?
Check out the testimonials and videos and see if they resonate.
CLASS REVIEWS
Read here:
Daniel | Gladys | Emil | Tim | Jeff

How does this class differ from Improv Basics / Improv 101

While there is some overlap, this class includes work from Meisner Technique that focuses on listening and responding in the moment. While the exercise is simple, it takes practice. Read the class reviews for more detail. Note many IFH alumni were new to improv and acting or had previously had taken Improv 101.

Why is the class so expensive?
This class is priced at an average price point for professional improv classes but at a lower price point for Meisner based training. Meisner training typically runs $250 per month.

IMPROV FROM THE HEART