ST. LOUIS OPPORTUNITIES
The St. Louis region offers several opportunities to take improv classes and workshops. Some of the classes are taught by local performers while others are facilitated by outside Chicago, Los Angeles or New York professional improv actors and directors. From time to time, St. Louis Improv Dot Com offers special workshops that can enrich the improv community.

Some of our past workshops have included topics: Paul Sills founder of The Second City; Physical Comedy lead by Jackie Wildau of Pistache Inc.; Power Improvisation lead by Mark Sutton and Joe Bill of Annoyance Productions Chicago; Musical Improvisation lead by Bill Chott from SNL; Improv basics from Mission Improvable, Chicago; and the BARE style of improv from Fuzzy Gerdes and Shaun Himmerick. St. Louis Improv Dot Com also promotes other St. Louis area workshops that can help improv performers with their craft. Some of those workshops have been with Hydeware Theatre, Augusto Boal and HotHouse Theatre's ongoing Scene Study workshops.

Here is a list of current St. Louis learning opportunities:

Bill Chott - St. Louis (314) 314-922-1998

John Krewson - North County (314) 731-JAZZ

Katie Gillis - West County (314) 415-7004

Ed Reggi - University City (314) 725-6555

COCA IMPROV WITH ED REGGI
Several new Improv classes start at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in University City, St. Louis. For specific information or registration please call 314-726-6555 - class descriptions below:

Improvisation for Teens
Grades 6-12. Jump into the world of live comedy improvisation! Using ComedySportz, Theatersports and a variety of other improv styles, this class coaches teens to act quickly, create funny characters and become strong stage performers. Whether you are in a school improvisation league or just looking to focus your comedy skills, this course is perfect for you.
Starts this Spring and Summer 2006.

Improvisation for Adults
Ages 18-Adult. Learn the fundamentals of improvisational theatre and theatre games. This class instructs adults on the techniques that allow the act of quick thinking, the invention of characters, and the ability to instantly create stories without scripting, writing or memorizing. All the skills exercised in this course will help adults on and off the stage.
Starts Tuesday March 2006 call 314-725-1834 x 214 for details.

Improvisation II
Ages 18-Adult. Develop new methods and add to your improvisational skills! Drawing upon Viola Spolin's Theatre Games and the improvisation techniques taught by Paul Sills of Second City, students will explore character viewpoint, emerging location and interdependent relationships on stage in COCA's Founders Theatre. Skills mastered in this studio are invaluable to actors on stage or in film.
Starts Tuesday March 2006 call 314-725-1834 x 214 for details.


Sketch Writing
Ages 18-Adult. Create a new world of people and their stories. In this class students learn the beginning process of writing sketch comedy. Using improvisation techniques, the class discovers the basics of character, genres and scene structure. During the course, short scenes are developed into a comedy revue structure similar to Second City and Monty Python.
Stares Summer 2006 call 314-725-1834 x 214 for details.


All the above classes are taught by Ed Reggi. Reggi has been a member of the COCA Theatre department for the past 5 years and now serves as the head for the Theatre Program. He is the founder of the Saint Louis Improv Project (produces the St. Louis Improv Festival, and other improv work locally) and directs St. Louis' only professional Spontaneous and Improvisational based theatre compnay, Paper Slip Theatre, Inc. Reggi tours improv festivals with his two person fully improvised show, dubbed the "Marty." Locally, Reggi is one of the original cast members of CITY Improv and Reggi served as its' Artistic Director. At CITY Improv, Reggi trained many of their cast members and developed it's training program.

LAUGH MASTERS CAN MAKE YOU A FUNNY MASTER

Improv & Acting
Our classes help prepare you for better stage and camera work. Improv skills are a must for actors who need to "think on their feet". Our class instructors have been personally taught by Tony and Oscar winning Director/Producer Mike Nichols and his partner the original director of Second City, Paul Sills at their school The New Actors Workshop in NYC.

Auditioning
The job of the actor is to audition. Mastering this critical aspect of your work gets you the parts. Our instructors have trained extensively with Michael Shurtleff, the author "Audition", and Jane Brody at the Acting Studio in Chicago. We share audition techniques with you to get you noticed and hired for the job!

Movement
Feeling comfortable on stage or in front of a camera is mandatory. If you don't feel it, your audience doesn't either. Our movement classes help you better understand your body and prepare you for the transformation of your characters.

Stand Up
Learn how to make them laugh like the pros! Our stand-up comedy class is structured to help you write and perform your material with proper pacing and form. In class we address all aspects from basic timing to off the cuff interaction to handling the tough crowds. Our instructors have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy and can help get you there too!

For details see their website at www.thelaughmasters.com