Michael Robinson, an actor, improviser, and director from Vancouver B.C., is returning to Seattle the weekend of April 15th & 16th to teach his fascinating and popular workshop on Complementarity, an improv method developed in France by Jean Louis Barrault. Michael has taught several times in Seattle, including twice at the Seattle Festival of Improv Theater.
This time, Michael is teaching the introductory workshop and an advanced one, too. These are those kinds of workshops you can take over and over, and they always have something to offer.
"Michael is a great teacher. The unique acting tool he presents in this workshop is both fascinating and incredibly useful for developing character skills."
-- Ian Gerrard, SeattleAbout the Workshops"The Art of the Complimentary Offer"
Good improv is like a good soup, a variety of complementary ingredients that combine to make something tasty, and nutritious. Learn the art of "soup making" the French way, based on the technique of complementary offers -- offers that 'go with' the place, the scene, the characters, the previous offer. We'll study what complementary offers are and practice making them in a variety of exercises and scene work. A workshop for anyone who wants to improve, who wonders why they're hot one night and not the next, or who thinks that maybe there are too many 'don't do that's' in the improv rule book.
Saturday, April 15, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., $79
"Le Jeu du Cinema (The Cinema Game)"For improvisers who have already worked with Michael and/or have taken the Saturday workshop. A more intensive day working mostly on 'Le Jeu du Cinema' ('The Cinema Game'), Jean Louis Barrault's signature exercise that is the K2 of Improv Games. Challenging, compelling, and always illuminating, 'The Cinema Game' teaches improvisational skills at the most detailed and profound level possible. The exercise teaches improvisers to be hyper attentive to any offer, and then uses the techniques of 'Complimentarity' and 'The Absurdity Curve' to build great scenes, all without words.
Sunday, April 16, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., $49
About MichaelMichael Robinson is has been improvising professionally for 25 years, and has given over 4000 performances. He has helped create and/or taught several major improv groups, including the VTSL (
www.vtsl.com), one of the world's largest and most successful companies, 'The Improv Bandits', winners of the Super Cage Match at the Chicago Improv Fest in 2002, and 'Scared Scriptless' in both Christchurch and Sydney - the longest running improv shows in both New Zealand and Australia. He teaches improvisers and actors in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, in London at the prestigious 'Actor's Centre', (where his students include actors from The National Theatre and the RSC), and at the National Theatre Schools of both New Zealand, and Australia - where his students included Oscar winner Cate Blanchett. He is currently head Improvisation Instructor at the world renowned Vancouver Film School. He has won two world Theatresports championships and for several years he performed weekly with Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles of 'Whose Line is it Anyway'. He has created and directed many improv shows, including recently 'The Hero', 'Improv Dominator', 'Improv Ahoy', and 'Breaking News', the current headline show at VTSL. Outside of improv he has nine international awards for directing television, most recently a BAFTA for the BBC series 'Serious Arctic', has studied with famed sitcom director James Burrows on 'Frasier', has directed over 60 sitcom episodes, and has written and directed his own sitcom, which was broadcast nationally in New Zealand. He has over 40 film and television acting credits.
"... passion for both craft and authenticity."
-- student, Seattle Festival of Improv Theater 2006LocationFreehold Theatre
1529 - 10th Ave.
Capitol Hill, Seattle
To Registerwww.janeyappleseed.com/registrationregistration@janeyappleseed.com(206) 748-0698
