Workshops

Arcade Comedy Theater offers workshops for beginner and advanced improvisers on a variety of subjects, inspiring performers to continue their education and approach the art of improv from different directions. Workshops have been taught by nationally-known improvisers and instructors, including Kevin McDonald, Laura Hall, Rick Hall, Jimmy Carrane, Paul Grondy, Maribeth Monroe, Jaime Moyer, Rob Belushi, Tim Stoltenberg, Susan Messing, Rachel Mason and more.

RICH TALARICO

The Secret Weapon of Improv: Object Work

A picture is worth 1,000 words –so why don’t you want 1,000 words worth of information streaming into your scenes every time you deal with the objects and spaces around you. “Rolling visualization” brings you fully into the skin of your character, in present tense engagement with the world around you. Object work makes call backs easier, engages your audience, kills “talking heads” scenes, and creates opportunities for every other player on stage. Join Rich Talarico a 25+ year improv vet and Alumnus of The Second City and Improv Olympic as he leads this object work workshop that will teach you the myriad benefits of Object Work.

Prerequisite: Improv 101

RICH TALARICO

Character/POV

Character = choice. Learn how to line up your own choices with gifts from your teammates as you create each other’s characters instantly on stage. Feel the power of POV – the choice that guides all choices. See how easy it is to discover your character’s world view, the filter through which only you look, and how to keep “playing the game” of your character throughout a scene and a show. Join Rich Talarico a 25+ year improv vet and Alumnus of The Second City and Improv Olympic as he leads this character workshop that will leave you with many tools to create and develop characters instantly.

Prerequisite: Improv 101

RICH TALARICO

All Day Sketch Workshop: Brainstorm to First Draft

Learn how the most simple ideas and random wonderings can be turned into undeniable sketch comedy scenes. This class will show you how to wring the most out of that first flash of an idea so you are able to explore possibilities you didn’t know were there. You’ll also learn how to contribute to other’s ideas in a writers room. The morning session will teach you how to brainstorm, how to cultivate and store your ideas and the afternoon session will teach you how to take your crafted idea and share it with others in a sketch context. Learn to find ideas anywhere and never fear pitching again. We’ll also look at how to layout the first draft of your idea.

Prerequisite: none

ABOUT RICH TALARICO

Rich Talarico is an Emmy nominated and Peabody Award winning writer and producer best known for his work on Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele.“ Additionally, Rich has written/produced “The Key & Peele Superbowl Special”, “Review” for Comedy Central, FOX’s “Mad TV,” NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show w. Jay Leno”, and the 2-hour TV Special “Must See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows.” “ NBC New Year’s Eve Special” and “Red Nose Day” Rich also produced and wrote “Frank TV“ for TBS, “The Sketch Pad” for HBO and co-produced The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show for Comedy Central. Rich also served as an improv coach on the first “Anchorman” and did punch-ups on “Mean Girls” and the Oscar-winning “Get Out.”

Rich took his first improv class from Stephen Colbert at Chicago’s Second City Theater back in the 1900s. Rich went on to tour with Second City’s National Touring Company and later co-created five original sketch comedy revues with SC’s Etc., and Main Stage Companies. While in Chicago, Rich was also involved at Improv Olympic (Now iO) under the direction of Charna Halpern and the late, Del Close. Rich played on the Improv Olympic house teams “Mr. Blonde” and “Faulty Wiring” – co-created the long-form improv shows “Strap Heads”, “Trio”, “Close Quarters” and “Dasariski“ and played with the early casts of Chicago’s longest running improv show: “The Armando Diaz Experience, Theatrical Movement and Hootenanny.” Rich has also studied with renowned writing teacher Robert McKee.

On camera, Rich has appeared in a number of TV commercials, most notably A&W Rootbeer’s— “Mr. Dumass.” Rich also appeared in small roles on “Review”, “SNL”, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien”, “Early Edition”, “What About Joan?” and the feature film “High Fidelity”. Rich runs comedy writing and improv work-shops in Los Angeles and around the US. Rich can juggle, plays chess and drums.

KRISTY NOLEN

Play’n the Mainstage

Would you like to play on the Arcade downstairs theater and discover its secrets? Then join us for Play’n on the Mainstage. In this two hour workshop, participants identify challenges of the space and develop ways to use it to their advantage. Through active participation and audience observation, students will gain confidence and increase their enjoyment during performance. Although the focus is primarily on the creative use of our beautiful new stage, veteran improv teacher Kristy Nolen provides insightful and instructive improv notes throughout. Ready? Let’s Play… on the Mainstage!

Prerequisite: Improv 102