An Improvisational Woodstock - an account of the AND Summer Retreats origins by palywright Jeffrey Sweet as published in Backstage 1995.

Summer Improv Intensive

Monday August 16 through Friday August 20, 2010

A balanced immersion into the craft of performing primarily through the skills of improvisation. At the Improv Intensive, you will work daily in small group sessions with improv instructors Gary Austin (founder of L.A.’s The Groundlings) and Michael J. Gellman (senior faculty & director, The Second City); playwright/author Jeffrey Sweet; L.A. vocal coach Wenndy MacKenzie; and New York actor, director and performance coach Carol Fox Prescott with additional sessions with actor/physical comedian Kenny Raskin (Cirque du Soleil, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) and Scotty Watson (Toronto Second City).  Evening sessions include Song Improvisation with Noel Katz and Larry Rosen (faculty, Second City), as well as lecture/demonstrations, round table discussions, and an improvisational extravaganza for the whole group.

Participants include performers (actors, improvisors, etc) who are looking for a focused week to learn or re-learn creative skills, as well as drama teachers & other educators, lawyers, doctors, business leaders, et al, who are looking to stretch their creative sides as well as become more comfortable speaking/working in front of groups or simply to improve their life skills with the creative power of improv.

NEW: KIDS IMPROV RETREAT - Our Kids Improv Retreat runs parallel to the Intensive and is designed to allow parents to fully participate in the Intensive while Kids learn foundational skills that will help them be more creative, more confident and have fun. Only Kids accompanying a parent participating in the Intensive are eligible. Ages: 6-12

To register for the Summer Improv Intensive go to

www.regonline.com/2010ANDintensive

For further information, contact
summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org
Please note your 1st and 2nd choice for lodging.

Learn more about the AND Summer Retreat award-winning faculty

"In an industry where the actor is not always valued, it was wonderful to come away from a community where the objective seemed to be to make the actor the most valued we could be."
- M. Anderson, Seattle, WA

Read more student testimonials

“I learned so much -- part of what I learned is that I already know the material, but needed to find out how to get it out of myself!!!” 
- D. Squire, New York, NY

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Master Improv Retreat

Monday July 19 through Friday July 23, 2010

  For experienced actors and actor/improvisers. If you want to spend 10 hours a day improvising; learn new skills to take back to your troupe; learn how to put your body back into your work (the 80% you don't usually commit to); and participate in a workshop experience where you will work on your craft with brilliant improvisational artists, this Retreat is it.

Working in ensemble and with master Improv faculty, participants are immersed in daily sessions focusing on specific improv disciplines (e.g., transformations, character development, environmental scenes, scenic development, long and short forms).  Teachers include Gary Austin (founder of L.A.’s The Groundlings), Michael J. Gellman (senior faculty & director, The Second City), Ali Farahnakian (Founder, The People’s Improv Theater, NY), David Razowsky (Artistic Director, The Second City Training Center/LA), Scotty Watson (Toronto Second City), Hilary Chaplain (Big Apple Circus), Jeffrey Sweet (author/playwright) and guest artists.  Each evening, participants present an improv performance highlighting skills and techniques worked on that day.

To apply to the Master Improv Retreat, forward your resume to summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org along with a note about your goals for participating in the retreat.

Learn more about the AND Summer Retreat award-winning faculty

"Carol, Gary, Michael, Wenndy and Jeffrey were all amazing. I couldn't figure out which class I looked forward to most! Kenny and Noel & Larry were also amazing!”
 - J. Wilton, New York, NY

Read more student testimonials

Playwright’s Retreat with Jeffrey Sweet

Monday July 19 through Friday July 23, 2010

Spend five days in the beautiful Catskills Mountains writing for play or movie. Bring something you are working on, or just bring a desire to learn the craft of turning your ideas into script. We can't cope with full drafts, but this is a chance to bring a scene or an outline that is giving you trouble and pool from the collective wisdom.  Jeffrey will lead a daily workshop and will be available for private consultation.
In addition to sessions with Jeffrey and discussions of craft there will be a special session on using improv as a tool for playwriting. The majority of your day is open for writing in the splendor of mountains and trees.

To register for the Playwright's Retreat go to

https://www.regonline.com/2010andplaywrights

For further information, contact:
summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org

Learn more about the AND Summer Retreat award-winning faculty

Summer Retreats Tuition