HUGE Improv Master Class Series presents Matt Donnelly

Joined: 20 Dec 2001
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Location: Uptown sometimes, Edina other times

New postPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:22 am Post subject: HUGE MASTER CLASS SERIES presents MATT DONNELLY! Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post
Matt Donnelly is back for two classes only! Saturday January 31, 2009 at Grace Trinity Church, 1430 W. 28th Street, only $50 each.


MATT DONNELLY'S GROUP SCENES WORKSHOP 11AM-1PM Borden Room
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2418201
Some of the best scenes on stage are when a group treats one another's work as their own. Scenes that utilize the whole group are either group scenes, two person scenes with entrances and exits, two person scenes with tagouts. This workshop focuses on finding patterns as a team, "starting in the middle" initiation techniques that encourages group play, how to strengthen and simplify groups scenes where everyone gets to participate and enjoy, how to make your walk ons kick ass and encourage other to follow, how to create stronger patterned tag outs, and how to mix it all up so that your two steps ahead of the audience while staying on the same page on stage.


MATT DONNELLY'S OPEN/CLOSE 2PM-5PM Robinson Room
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2418214
Open/Close is Matt Donnelly's signature improv scene technique that encourages scene partners to mutually accomplish the scene together. The technique gets performers out of their heads by reacting to body language rather than over thinking about the dialogue. Comedy and tension are maintained in the scene by one (closed) character exploiting the emotional vulnerability of the other (open) character and learning how to switch the role within the scene without changing the characters or circumstances. Performers will learn how to comically and theatrically enjoy the scene as the (Open) emotionally vulnerable, voice of reality. Performers will also learn how to enjoy the scene comically and theatrically as the (closed) exploiting character of another character's emotional vulnerability, while maintaining sympathy and likeability. Does this workshop sounds a little crazy to you? Matt will make it remarkably simple.



Matt Donnelly, a favorite instructor at the 2008 TCIF, is currently the Advanced Improv instructor for Improv Vegas in Las Vegas, NV. In 2008, he recieved the Instructor of The Year Award from the People's Improv Theatre in New York City where he taught level 3- Intro to performance improvisation as well as Master Classes in the Speed Harold, La Ronde, Deconstruction, and Mosaic. He co-created the Neutrino Video Projects, which appeared at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival and has been franchised to 12 other cities around the world. Previously, he taught improv in the acting program at the New York Film Academy, and is a guest instructor at Columbia University Business School with Business Improvisation. He has coached house teams at the PIT, UCB, and Magnet Theatre in New York and is a BFA Acting Alumni of Montclair State University. His former teachers and mentors include Amy Poehler, Armando Diaz, Joe Bill, Miles Stroth, and John Cameron Telfer