Improvisational Acting Classes

Rumor Has It... runs a full set of improv classes for all levels at Under The Sun Studios in Concord/Walnut Creek, Ca.  Check out Under The Sun Studios' website at for more details about improv classes in the bay area. We have several classes of varying levels and on various topics, so whether you want to get out of your head, get over your shyness, or perform on stage, we are ready to help you out.

Rumor Has It... Improv Troupe is in residence at Under The Sun Studios. Please see Under The Sun Studios' website or call (925) 609-8100 for for scheduling, pricing, and other information.

Overview of Improvisational or Improv Acting

Let's face it: seriousness is overrated. It cuts into our enjoyment of life, the satisfaction we can get out of life and even into our productivity.

Improvisation could be the road for you to rekindle your sense of excitement and mystery, to delve into your toybox of excitement and wonder and return to your natural playground of mischief and mayhem.

Improv is fun. Improv even has lessons that you can use in real life, like agreeing and rolling with the punches.

Just a few things you can do with improv:

• Be whimsical and spontaneous without running up a credit card bill
• Get out of a rut
• Practice being fun at parties
• Practice being anything that you want to be
• Express yourself
• Say those things that you aren't allowed to say anywhere else
• Have a healthy outlet for your road rage
• Get out of your head
• Do something with all the ideas running through your head
• Be up in front of people
• Get in touch with your emotions
• Be a wise-ass and get away with it
• Say goodbye to your shyness
• Say the first thing that comes to your mind
• Fail good-naturedly
• Ignore your fear of looking foolish in front of other people
• Learn to laugh at yourself

Beginning Improv Classes

Beginning Improv classes are geared for anyone of any skill level who is interested in improv. These class is an introduction to the fun and thrill of improvisation.

Come take the opportunity to let go and have fun, to tap into your innate childhood abilities to make up stories and tell outrageous lies.

Whether you are brand new to improv, or have previous performance experience, take this chance to unleash your ability to play and to exercise your natural spontaneity.

In this class, you'll learn improv vocabulary, learn basic improv rules and play improv games in a fun and friendly atmosphere. You'll also experiment with creating characters and scenes.

Beginning Improv is mostly about having fun and exercising your spontaneity. It also begins to address the basic skills of improv, including the following:

• Making offers
• Making up a stories
• Playing with status
• Endowing yourself and your partner
• Creating objects and locations out of thin air

Intermediate Improv Classes

These classes are open to all those who have completed the beginning level improv classes. Keep your sense of play and your spontaneity and begin to learn new improv skills that will take your improv to the next level.

Improv Intensive and other intermediate level programs prepare you for doing improv in front of an audience.

Some of the activities addressed in this class are:

Stage Skills
• Being seen and heard
• Being aware of the stage "picture"
• Practicing with "space objects"
Teamwork
• Being flexible with your fellow players
• Making your partner look good
• Saying yes!
• Failing good-naturedly
Scene Work
• Being aware of the narrative of a scene
• Gettting yourself and your partner in trouble
• Taking your time
Adding Color
• Developing characters
• Playing with status
• Exploring styles and genres

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Serving the San Francisco Bay Area,Contra Costa County and Alameda County, CA