Improvisation & Spontaneity: Exploring the Unscripted Brilliance in You

In the words of Disney Executive Producer, Michael Feldman, improvisation is the actor’s most important class. He’s correct. Life is all improvisation. Reacting to everything that comes your way. You’re a human emotional pin ball machine. Explore and observe and let’s see how you improvise during scene work. If you’re in your head, you’re getting in your own way. This class is about collaboration, adaptability and creativity. We’ll accept all things coming to us and add to it. This enhances listening skills, teamwork and leads to stronger audition choices. Our enhancement exercises avoid competitiveness or stressfulness. We encourage quick thinking and teamwork in a safe and inclusive environment.

Confidence, Spontaneity, and the power of YOU! As we transition from child to teenage actors, our feelings of self-consciousness and fear of being embarrassed tend to activate every defense mechanism in the mind, body, and voice. Consequently, the walls come up and we turn into safe versions of ourselves, suppressing every natural and instinctual urge to be funny, silly, and real, at the risk of appearing flawed or simply (gasp!) human. But, if you’re taking the craft seriously and/or currently auditioning, this must not come into play. You must be able to take big chances and leave it all in the audition room.

Our Teens Improv class is the safest environment to take the biggest risks! It is one of our most popular classes because it’s less about doing (performing, acting, forcing) and more about being. Strengthen your auditions by being comfortable in your own skin! Get out of your head and trust yourself, as you learn to make solid choices and go with your gut. This will lead to wonderful moments in your acting, as some of the best lines and choices in movie history came from the willingness to improv in the moment.

*Please Note: ATNY reserves the right to combine age groups on Saturdays, as Sundays are our busier days.