One Day Musical Improv Workshop with Rick and Laura Hall
Saturday, April 28th
10:00 am - 4:00 pm with a one-hour lunch break.
$85 / $75 for currently registered Institution Theater students
(Use Discount Code InstitutionStudent)
This day-long intensive will be accessible for people who have never done song improv before, even if the thought of it terrifies them. It will move on to more advanced concepts as the day goes on, so be ready to stretch yourself.
No matter how comfortable you are with singing, you should also have some improv background, at least a year of training or live shows under your belt.
We will explore:
1. Warming up and why it’s important
2. Building vocal confidence: exploring melody, rhythm, discovering your natural voice
3. Finding your own way of approaching a musical accompaniment
4. Music improv as a natural extension of scenic work: using character, location, story, etc. to create a rich and interesting song
5. Group singing: coming to a chorus, finding harmonies, call and response
6. Homework and work you can do together to improve your music improv skills, including resources
This workshop is limited to 18 students
RICK and LAURA HALL met in Chicago, driving around in a smelly van with the touring company of THE SECOND CITY. Laura broke all her dating rules by going out with an actor (worse yet, an improviser!), but since then they have gotten married, had two kids, and moved to Los Angeles. There they continue to perform, both separately and together.
Rick and Laura have taught improv workshops at camps, colleges and theaters around the country. Laura especially likes helping people who are scared out of their minds at the thought of doing music improv find out that it’s actually really fun and something they can do.
Laura Hall is best known as the improvisational pianist on television’s WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY. She was also on the DREW CAREY SHOW live episodes, and has toured the country doing live performances with DREW CAREY AND THE IMPROV ALLSTARS.
Laura has sat in and played with tons of improv groups in Chicago and L.A., including The Second City, The Annoyance Theatre, Theatre-A-Go-Go!, The Groundlings, Improv Olympic, ComedySportz, Theatresports, The Improv Institute, Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!, and Totally Looped.
Rick Hall was a founding member of Chicago’s IMPROV INSTITUTE. After touring with THE SECOND CITY, Rick opened two main stage shows, JOHN PAUL SARTRE & RINGO and CATCH 27. Rick often works as a host/presenter at meetings and corporate events, where his improv skills help him handle whatever gets thrown at him.
Rick has used his improv background on the improv based television shows CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and as a series regular in THE FACTORY. He’s been seen on many other television shows as well, including SAVING GRACE, 24, THE MIDDLE, ACCORDING TO JIM, and SEINFELD. He’s also been in films, such as MY FELLOW AMERICANS, THE THING CALLED LOVE, and THREE FUGITIVES. In recent years, Rick has returned to Chicago to perform on stage in Chicago Shakespeare productions of THE SECOND CITY’S ROMEO AND JULIET and the lead role in A FLEA IN HER EAR.
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