Improv from the Heart

Takes 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, and Spolin Mirror and Spacework , and improvised scenes.

Throughout the class you will be asked, pushed, and encouraged to listen fully.

You will be asked to give up the 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 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. Reviews of Improv from the Heart(read them all for different perspectives)

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Video reviews of the class:

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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. 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).

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.

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.

Students of this class will be able to participate in our drop in class for free while taking Improv from the Heart.  We suggest registering early. This sells out.

We are limiting enrollment in this class to 20 performers.

While taking this class, you may also attend the Pan Theater Improv Dojo free of charge.

Class Review from Gladys

I had heard a lot about this class and I was both excited and scared to take this class.

I was excited to learn how to be more mindful and respond in a more honest, truthful manner in my improvisational acting, based on what was happening to me emotionally and physically given the moment.

In the outside world we are taught to censor a lot of our feelings and to respond appropriately, or generically given the situation.

I was scared because I was afraid what emotions might surface that I was not ready to embrace.

David, uses the Meisner Technique to help the actor, improviser respond to the moment.

The Meisner Technique is based on a repetition exercise that focuses on responding to the underlying emotion, allowing you to rely on your organic instincts.

It is these authentic instincts as provoked by another person in the live moment, that capture realistic human behavior.

Everything is more natural and dialogue is not a problem. Everything flows naturally.

After taking Improv From The Heart I am a better improviser and human being. I still have a long way to go but I now have another tool in my toolbox to use.

I highly recommend this class to anyone who just wants to get out of their head to allow the creative process to flourish.

I look forward to taking this class again in the future.

I need to continue to work this muscle.

Gladys Zarazua, retired ICU Nurse, Oakland

Host or Publisher Pan Theater