Training Center
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The Training Center is open to the general public and introduces the scope of improv. Starting from the foundational skills of listening, accepting and adding, our curriculum’s five levels will help you build confidence. The Training Center inspires in the students a love for improv encourages them to play with joy.
Level 1
This is a general education for those who have not taken an improv class and those looking to revisit the fundamentals. All students will be taught improv vocabulary and focus on developing and refining their basic tools for improv.
Week 1: Orientation
Introduce you to OTRimprov, the training center, each other, and improv. We will cover expectations, familiarize the students with the classroom, and discuss respecting your fellow students and the space.
Week 2: Group Mentality
Instill the idea that group creation is more important than individual flourish. You will see why it is important to build with all minds rather than write with one.
Week 3: Object Work
Make you comfortable with the make-believe. Ground your reality in the imaginary and show you how to have us see what you are imagining in our reality.
Week 4: Pattern
Introduce the key concept of pattern. Demonstrate how support of the initial offer establishes pattern.
Week 5: Story
Establish the narrative the group is forming.
Week 6: Character
Let’s pretend to be someone different. Learn character vs characteristic, and person vs. caricature.
Week 7: Commitment
You made a choice and it is right. Now, let’s support it and your scene partner’s choice.
Week 8: Slow, Simple, Specific
Instill the idea that less is more. Simple is better than complex. Small moves make big movements. Surveys by students will be filled out this week.
Level 2
Introduce short form, group games, guessing games, scenic issue basics.
Week 1: Open Scenes
Introduce students to the idea of reality building and working with their scene partner.
Week 2: Games
Play some basic short form. Learn why playing within the game is a gift to the performer.
Week 3: Replay Games
Introduce players on how to play games which repeat. Learn about setting scene posts, simplifying lines and game play.
Week 4: More Game Play
Keep introducing students to classic improv games.
Week 5: Guessing Games
Learn the rhythm of guessing games and how to be a clue giver and confident guesser.
Week 6: Group Games
Building off the idea of give and take and how to share the stage. Make players approach the scenes based on agreement.
Week 7: Scenic Games
Play the games that building with your scene partner are emphasized.
Week 8: Hosting
Let students practice hosting games. First half of class is teaching students to be positive, confident, and efficient when hosting games. Second half is they develop a set list for a show and put it on in class. No outside audience.
Level 3
Introduction to montage and connecting scenes. Also, at the end of this semester will be a show open to the public.
Week 1: Editing
Intro sweeping, tag outs, and revolving doors. Practice with open scenes and a montage.
Week 2: Base Reality
Work scene focused on creating reality together with specifics.
Week 3 Base Reality Continued
Work scene focused on creating reality together with specifics.
Week 4: Game and Pattern
Recognizing pattern within what the players establish and initiated
Week 5: Game and Pattern Continued
Recognizing pattern within what the players establish and initiated
Week 6: What’s Next
Learn about connecting your lines and offers to the previous lines and offers from your scene partner.
Week 7: Reintegrate Short Form
Apply the lessons of scene work from previous week to short form. The students will rehearse their favorite games.
Week 8: Prep for External Show
Students make set list and practice hosting and playing games.
Level 4
This level will help the students establish their personal sensibility and voice. This semester is also more instructor driven. This semester will also focus on player reference level.
Week 1: Montage
Students practice editing open scenes with side coaching. Homework is set for historical reference. Callbacks are examined.
Week 2: Historical Presentations
Students share historical homework and use for play in open scenes and Decades. Homework is set for theatre reference.
Week 3: Theatre Presentations
Students present theatre genres and play open scenes and genres using information. Homework set for TV and movies.
Week 4: TV and Movie Presentations
Students present research and play open scenes and genres with suggestions from them. Shakespeare homework set.
Week 5: Shakespeare Presentations
Students present Shakespeare and play scenes and montage with Shakespeare tropes.
Week 6: La Ronde and Montage
Students are introduced to La Ronde. They also play Montage and La Ronde using their genre knowledge.
Week 7: La Ronde and Montage Continued
Students practice these two forms. Teacher also focuses on needs of class.
Week 8: Rehearsal for External Show
Class decides what form they want to perform and rehearses for their show.
Level 5
This level will introduce the Harold and let the students explore form that they enjoy.
Week 1: Harold
Harold structure taught and group games rehearsed.
Week 2: Harold Scenes
Students play scenes without the games. Each beat of the Harold explained and explored.
Week 3: Harold Assemble
Students play a full Harold and get coached through it.
Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 Explore!
Students gone the form they like, be it games, La Ronde, Montage, or Harold.
Week 7 & Week 8 External Show Rehearsal
Students choose form and structure of external show and rehearse it.