AND Summer Retreats

2008 Summer Improv Retreat Video Highlights



			Held annually at the Full Moon Mountain Resort Big Indian, New York

Surrounded by the Catskill Mountains, the Artistic New Directions Summer Retreats provide a protective environment for creative growth in and through improvisation, acting, voice, movement, and scene construction.

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

Summer Improv Retreat

Sunday July 13 through Friday July 18, 2008

A balanced immersion into the craft of performing primarily through the skills of improvisation. At the Improv Retreat, participants work daily in small group sessions with improv instructors Gary Austin (founder of L.A.’s The Groundlings) and Larry Rosen (faculty, Second City); playwright/author Jeffrey Sweet; L.A. vocal coach Wenndy MacKenzie; New York actor, director and performance coach Carol Fox Prescott, actor/physical comedian Kenny Raskin (Cirque du Soleil, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) and Michael J. Gellman (senior faculty & director, The Second City). Evening sessions include Song Improvisation with Noel Katz (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 lay people (teachers, lawyers, health care professionals, et al) looking to improve their life skills with the creative power of improv.

To register for the Summer Improv Retreat, forward your name, address, phone, and e-mail to:
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

Performance Improv Retreat

Sunday August 17 through Friday August 22 2008

For experienced improvisors and actors. 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), 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 Performance 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

Sunday August 17 through Friday August 22

Spend five days in the beautiful Catskills Mountains writing that play or movie. Bring something you are working on, or just bring a desire to learn the craft of turning your ideas into script. You may choose to spend your week writing on your own with minimal mentoring, or Jeffrey will be offering a daily intro class for those new to the field or looking for brushup on their technique. Additionally, he will schedule group sessions and individual time for those at more advanced stages or in the middle of projects. The majority of your day is open for writing in the splendor of mountains and trees.

Tuition for Playwright’s Retreat: $500 - Lodging fees as for Improv and Performance Retreats

To register for the Summer Improv Retreat, forward your name, address, phone, and e-mail to:
summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org
Please note your 1st and 2nd choice for lodging.

Learn more about the AND Summer Retreat award-winning faculty

Summer Retreats Tuition

Cost Info: WORKSHOP FEE $550 $480 - paid in full by 2/15/08 $500 - paid in full by 3/15/08 $515 - paid in full by 4/15/08 $530 - paid in full by 5/15/08 Additional Group & Troupe discounts available - contact: summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org
Payment Information: By check, made out to Artistic New Directions and mailed to Artistic New Directions, 250 West 90th Street, New York, NY 10024 By credit card, via Paypal (Please Note, ArtNewDir@aol.com as the payee)
LODGING: (5 nights, includes 3 meals per day)
	Single Occupancy	Double Occupancy	Triple Occupancy
Shared Bath	$750	$445
Private Bath		$540	$455
Uses camping bath facilities:
Yurt Hut: $380 Camping (BYO Tent): $320
Room requests are honored based on receipt of registration and deposit. For registration and further information, contact Kristine Niven at summer-retreat@artisticnewdirections.org or (212) 875-1857.