Workshops: Position Play & The Ladder Form

Join Brian James O'Connell for a day of improv.

POSITION PLAY

10:00am - 1:00pm

Brian James O'Connell teaches you the skills you need to find your "position" in the scene and then play it to the hilt.

Position Play was invented by Miles Stroth (Del Close's "Warchief", Founder, Owner & Operator of The Pack Theater in Los Angeles) as a way to understand and execute the "scene dynamics" of the Four Basic Scene Types: Logical/Absurd, Character Driven, Alternate Reality and Realistic. If you are able to understand the few tools & techniques needed to play these individual scenes, every other choice you make on stage will be from a place of renewed confidence and successful fun!

Topics include: "Thing. Concept. Idea.", "The Five Scenes Everyone Tells You *NOT* To Do But Darn It They Come Up On Stage Anyway", "Playing Archetypes", "Mapping Characters" and many, many more.

This workshop is dedicated to giving the student “practical applications of improv” and providing replicable good habits/behavior on stage. The goal is to be able to take this workshop during the day and be able to execute the practice immediately on stage that night!

THE LADDER

2:00pm - 5:00pm

3 worlds. 12 characters. 21 scenes. This is The Ladder.

Improvisers must learn to be efficient with their use of character and relationship to tell a story. Whether in use as a class/rehearsal exercise, an improvised show format or structure for a scripted one act play, The Ladder is a wonderful tool to hone an improviser’s focus to a razor sharp edge on what are the most important parts of a staged theatrical piece: character, relationship & story.

3 worlds. 12 characters. 21 scenes. Thousands of possibilities.

No matter what form your team is doing, it is important that you learn the basics of being able to appear to be performing a piece on purpose.

Workshop Length: 3 hours

Prerequisite: Some previous improv experience.

What Should I Bring? Comfy clothes for movement and a notebook to take notes. Please bring a full water bottle.

Please read our and before signing up for a class or workshop.

Instructor:
Brian James O’Connell is a filmmaker and teacher based in Los Angeles. His directing credits include: KILLER VIEW, ANGRY WHITE MAN starring Matt Berry, and BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS starring Pedro Pascal (*and was the Opening Night Premiere at Slamdance). BOC (as his friends call him) also co-wrote BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS with his comedy collective Dr. God and wrote KILLER VIEW. His other writing credits include: the SYFY animated series Hell Den (Maria Bamford, Matthew Lillard), MOCKpockalypse (Sam Richardson, Brendan Hunt) and Pitchslap (Joel McHale). With multiple projects in development, BOC is most excited about pitching a dark sci-fi comedy TV series based on THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK. Brian is proud to be a Co-Founder of The Pack Theater, LA Weekly’s BEST OF LA Pick for “Best Theater Company” two years in a row, a Founding Board Member for Camp Improv Utopia & a current board member for Highwire Improv in Baltimore, MD.

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