What we're about
Looking to learn about improv? You've come to the right place! This workshop is for beginners and intermediate improvisors. Now, if you're reading this, you're thinking of taking the plunge and trying out this workshop. But I bet you're worried that you're going to have to be hilarious right off the bat. Happily, nothing could further from the truth. Actually, our main rule for the class is "Don't try to be funny- it comes later on its own."
What do we do? We focus on listening, accepting offers, and creating a story with a beginning, middle, and end, in a low-pressure environment. You’ll work in small groups and pairs to gain the skills you need, and when you're ready in scenes in front of the class with side-coaching. The work on recognizing negativity and the blocking of other's offers will change your life.
Why improvisation? You will be better, stronger, faster than before! No, seriously, you will. I'm not saying you'll hit enlightenment right off the bat, mind you... But it will help you be a more positive person, and one who listens to others before speaking. And that's gotta be a good thing, right?
*Note* Please use at least your REAL first name when you sign up to help us with organizing the workshop and learning your name. And a real photo helps, too. Thanks!
Where? Classes are held near Yoyogi-Koen and Hatsudai at our blackbox studio/theatre, called Studio Gokko. ("Gokko" means “make believe” in Japanese.) After taking six classes, improvisors have the opportunity to perform in Student Showcases at the studio every few months.
Who? Anyone interested in learning improvisation. Classes are taught by TCS Director Chris Wells and other members of the Improvazilla Show cast substituting when necessary.
What if you’re an experienced actor or improvisor? The invitation-only Advanced Scenic Improv Workshop is for higher-level improvisors and actors. It focuses on long-form improv with open scene work and narrative storytelling, though we also do some games each week because they're fun and instructive. We focus on genre work and narrative structure, characters, acting skills, space work, and finding the funny in the truth of a scene. If you have improv experience and would like to apply for an experience exemption, head over to the L2 Workshop Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/TCSlevel2improv/
More info on TCS and the Improvazilla Show can be found here: www.improvazilla.com
Participation English Fluency Requirement - All native-level English speakers are welcome! And don't worry about your improv experience level- this is a class for all levels- from beginners to experienced players. But if you aren't fluent in English this is NOT the class for you.
I don't mean you have to be a native speaker, though! We always have several non-native speakers in the class who have no problem communicating in English and we love them. I just mean that if you want to take this class to "practice" your English, you should try something else. We want people genuinely interested in improv here.
日本語を話す人々のために！Another option if you speak fluent Japanese would be to check out http://junimai-impro.com for excellent classes in Japanese taught by TCSj founder Jun Imai, author of several books on improv, and Japan's pre-eminent teacher of improv and acting. There you can find workshops in improv, acting, mask work, and more.
Who takes this workshop? Anyone interested in unleashing their creativity, or getting over a fear of public speaking, or just people looking for a good way to de-stress after work and have fun. We get people from all walks of life: teachers, stock brokers, computer engineers, students, musicians, you name it!
Workshop Cost
Workshops are ¥2,000 paid on the night for the 2-hour classes, ¥3,000 for 3-hour workshops, or ¥4,000 for a 4-hour intensive. Be sure to check the schedule here before coming, and RSVP if you can. After the class, we sometimes head over to a nearby restaurant, the Hoff, for a drink and some conversation.
Student Theatresports™ and Maestro™ Showcase Shows
We have a spacious black box theatre in which to perform intimate and relaxed student shows, every few months. These are for students who have taken at least six classes to can get up and show what they've learned in front of a friendly audience of invited friends and family.
A different mix of randomly chosen players join together for each scene in Maestro™, invented by Keith Johnstone, author of Impro for Storytellers, and one of our mentors. Or teams are decided on the night for Theatresports™, a faux competition show. It's a fun, relaxed atmosphere and everyone learns a lot while having a good time. For more details, check out the description on the show night!
Weekend Intensives
We sometimes have 3 to 4-hour weekend intensives for those who can't come on weeknights, or simply want to get more training in during the month. Check the schedule each month to see when they are, as the days vary depending on other program content.
Improv Jams
On occasion we have a 4-hour jam in which students can really burn through a bunch of scenes. This isn't a regular workshop, and it's 90% performance, so it's required that new improvisors to have at least 16 hours of instruction under their belts before they participate. (That's two months of lessons.) It's a lot of fun and a great way to gain improv experience!
Facebook Group for students:
We have a FB group for Studio Gokko improvisors where we post articles of interest, homework, and chat about the world of improv. Request to join here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSCStudioGokkoImprovisors
Upcoming events (4+)
Here's where you begin your improv journey! In English, in Tokyo!
Come and join other beginners and intermediate improvisors in exploring improvisational theater for this one-year program, which you can join at any time during the year. Designed to take you through all the fundamental improv skills, after taking each unit, you will have a thorough grasp of the art of improvisation.
Our Short-form Impro Dojo Program has weekly two-hour classes on Wednesday nights. Workshops are taught by TCS Improvazilla Director Chris Wells, who has 25+ years experience in improv and has taught on at improv festivals and schools on five different continents. When he's not in town, the workshops are taught by talented members of the professional Improvazilla Show cast.
Workshops are held at Studio Gokko near Yoyogi-Koen and Hatagaya, close to the restaurant Hoff, and cost ¥2,000. Bring exact change if you can, please. And careful with the map here on Meetup! Some report it leads them to the next street over. Use this Google location if you have any problems: https://goo.gl/maps/w4f6GgXbYG5u2YvW7
Thanks,
Chris
More Details
What we do:
We work on improv techniques, from the fundamentals of character creation to the complexities of scene work in a one-year program you can join at any time.
You’ll learn some of the games you’ve seen on TV or stage and how to play them well and tell great stories at the same time, as well as open scene work that leads to long form improv. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate improvisor, you'll find the classes challenging and fun!
The Short-form Improv Dojo Program Calendar
January - Initiations
February - Relationships
March - Status & Archetypes
April - Space-objects & Environments
May - Story and Plot
June - Characters
July - Games & Game-like Scenes
August - Formats and Edits
September - Themes and Open Scenes
October - Justification
November - Genres
December - Stagecraft and Performance
Apres-improv Socializing
After the workshop, students can walk across the street to Hoff, a great restaurant for food, drink and conversation, so it's educational and social!
***
The Improv Foundation Workshops are open workshops, so any native-level English speaker is free to come and give it a try.
Diversity Policy
We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, regardless of minority status. Continued participation is at the discretion of the instructors. So be positive and nice to your fellow improvisors! Also, we're all adults here, but hitting on people isn't cool in a workshop. Just saying.
Improvisor Resources
Check the Improv Resources page on our website, www.improvazilla.com, for lots of information on terminology, games, and more!
Our Private Studio Gokko Improvisors Facebook Group
Here we post articles of interest, homework, and chat about the world of improv. Request to join here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSCStudioGokkoImprovisors
Our Public Facebook Group
And you can also join us on our public group: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tokyo-Comedy-Store-In-The-Moment-Improv-Program/176438395757922
Hope to see you soon at Studio Gokko!
Chris Wells,
TCS Improvazilla School of Improv Artistic Director
PS: Studio Gokko is about a ten-minute walk from the following stations: Hatsudai, Hatagaya, Yoyogi-koen, and Yoyogi-hachiman.
The GPS should take you right there, but just in case, we are very close to a restaurant called Hoff: http://hoff-restaurant.com
TCS Studio Gokko is in the basement of an orange-tiled building with a cleaners and glass shop on the first floor, and our door is on the very left-hand side, next to the glass shop, which has グラス written on its shutter. Look for the Studio Gokko logo on the door!
- Chris W.
- Becky
- Yuriy
- 9 attendees
Here's where you begin your improv journey! In English, in Tokyo!
Come and join other beginners and intermediate improvisors in exploring improvisational theater for this one-year program, which you can join at any time during the year. Designed to take you through all the fundamental improv skills, after taking each unit, you will have a thorough grasp of the art of improvisation.
Our Short-form Impro Dojo Program has weekly two-hour classes on Wednesday nights. Workshops are taught by TCS Improvazilla Director Chris Wells, who has 25+ years experience in improv and has taught on at improv festivals and schools on five different continents. When he's not in town, the workshops are taught by talented members of the professional Improvazilla Show cast.
Workshops are held at Studio Gokko near Yoyogi-Koen and Hatagaya, close to the restaurant Hoff, and cost ¥2,000. Bring exact change if you can, please. And careful with the map here on Meetup! Some report it leads them to the next street over. Use this Google location if you have any problems: https://goo.gl/maps/w4f6GgXbYG5u2YvW7
Thanks,
Chris
More Details
What we do:
We work on improv techniques, from the fundamentals of character creation to the complexities of scene work in a one-year program you can join at any time.
You’ll learn some of the games you’ve seen on TV or stage and how to play them well and tell great stories at the same time, as well as open scene work that leads to long form improv. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate improvisor, you'll find the classes challenging and fun!
The Short-form Improv Dojo Program Calendar
January - Initiations
February - Relationships
March - Status & Archetypes
April - Space-objects & Environments
May - Story and Plot
June - Characters
July - Games & Game-like Scenes
August - Formats and Edits
September - Themes and Open Scenes
October - Justification
November - Genres
December - Stagecraft and Performance
Apres-improv Socializing
After the workshop, students can walk across the street to Hoff, a great restaurant for food, drink and conversation, so it's educational and social!
***
The Improv Foundation Workshops are open workshops, so any native-level English speaker is free to come and give it a try.
Diversity Policy
We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, regardless of minority status. Continued participation is at the discretion of the instructors. So be positive and nice to your fellow improvisors! Also, we're all adults here, but hitting on people isn't cool in a workshop. Just saying.
Improvisor Resources
Check the Improv Resources page on our website, www.improvazilla.com, for lots of information on terminology, games, and more!
Our Private Studio Gokko Improvisors Facebook Group
Here we post articles of interest, homework, and chat about the world of improv. Request to join here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TSCStudioGokkoImprovisors
Our Public Facebook Group
And you can also join us on our public group: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tokyo-Comedy-Store-In-The-Moment-Improv-Program/176438395757922
Hope to see you soon at Studio Gokko!
Chris Wells,
TCS Improvazilla School of Improv Artistic Director
PS: Studio Gokko is about a ten-minute walk from the following stations: Hatsudai, Hatagaya, Yoyogi-koen, and Yoyogi-hachiman.
The GPS should take you right there, but just in case, we are very close to a restaurant called Hoff: http://hoff-restaurant.com
TCS Studio Gokko is in the basement of an orange-tiled building with a cleaners and glass shop on the first floor, and our door is on the very left-hand side, next to the glass shop, which has グラス written on its shutter. Look for the Studio Gokko logo on the door!
- Chris W.
- Tustan
- Christian H.
- 3 attendees
Come and see the show with your fellow students and we'll save a table for you! More information here: http://www.improvazilla.com
(You can make a reservation up until Thursday at 9pm. After that, you can still come to the show, but you won't have a seat at the student table.)
- Chris W.
- 1 attendee
Intro to Hip Hop Improv Workshop
Description: In this workshop, students will learn the basics of creating a hip hop improv scene. We will dive into various styles of flow and find one that fits each student. There will be exercises to introduce students to rhyming structure, story progression through rapping, and staying in character while rapping. The workshop will end with students performing scenes that lead into rapping and feature hook support from their classmates!
A short bio from the teacher: I've been performing since 2012 and trained at The Peoples Improv Theater. I've been on house teams, headlined festivals around the US (including The Boom Chicago Comedy Festival in Amsterdam) and taught workshops in multiple countries.
I'm currently performing with North Coast Hip Hop Improv and the musical super group Baby Wants Candy. I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year with the show "Shamilton" and currently co-host a podcast with North Coast found on major platforms.
More details to come!
- Chris W.
- Jeremy E.
- Christiane
- 7 attendees
Past events (1,003)
- Chris W.
- Ayano
- Becky
- 15 attendees
