It's All There! Observation in Improv Drop-In

This series of stand-alone workshops will focus on building blocks that help create effortless, authentic, discovery based improv. Improv where we discover the scene and the story rather than struggling to make it up. What are the “engines” that can help us naturally create an improv scene without conscious effort? What happens when we stop looking for games, jokes, for story spines and heroes’ journeys? What happens when we drop all them fancy rules and focus on being, looking, and listening?

Magic, that’s what. Magic that makes you feel giddy with how transcendent improv can be when you find the natural engines that give you that effortless flow. But don’t take my word for it, come practice your magic skills. You’ll be surprised what you(r unconscious) come(s) up with when you aren’t even trying.

This session focuses on Observation!

Observation: what we need in improv is typically right there before us – all we need to do is look. What can we see when we really look? At our partner, our space, at ourselves? This workshop will work on deepening our observation skills to promote effortless, discovery-based improv.

About the Facilitator:

Aner Tal (he/him) has been improvising since 2007 or 8 (he forgets). He started improvising in Durham, NC, and has since committed acts of improv wherever he lived, including Ithaca, NY, Tel-Aviv, IL, and, soon, Baltimore, MD (that's here! OMG). He's been lucky enough to learn Improv in some of the best and brightest theatres (Impro Theater, The Nursery, Improv Theater, Comedy Worx, and Momentum Theater, etc.), as well as some the best and brightest teachers (Patti Stiles, Inbal Lori, Mike Rock, Amir Atzmon, and Jules Munns, to name a few). He's performed with intermittent groups as well as the global/online ensembles Professional Weirdos, Dream Factory, Something in the Water (RIP), and M**der Cats (meow!). Some day he will start/join a stable live improvised theater ensemble.
Teaching wise, Aner has taught improv as well as a variety of other things since 2010. In addition to improvising, Aner is a Professor of Behavioral Economics, a writer, dancer, and a retired Acro-Yogi. His life long love is stories, and he's spent most of his life trying to make those stories repay his love, in improv, in creative writing, and in the current book he is working, which loosely revolves around the psychology of stories. He enjoys writing about himself in the third person.

Key Logisitics - Please Read for Ease!

All participants are required to follow the Highwire Improv Code of Conduct and arrive on-time to make sure that we can align on how we'll hold space for one another.

The drop-in is free, but registration is requested, and donations are accepted so that we know how many people are planning to attend and can ensure we stay within the room capacity.

As detailed previously, in-person events at Highwire Improv are only recommended for those individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Parking is available for free in the parking lot at the intersection of St. Paul Street and 20th Street. St. Mark's Lutheran Church is an accessible space - for any detailed questions, please reach out to [email protected]

About Highwire Improv:

Highwire Improv’s mission is to steward a community of artists committed to growth, collaboration, joy, and justice — in Baltimore and around the world — through improvisational theater. Learn more at https://www.highwireimprov.com

Host or Publisher Highwire Improv