IMPROV CLASSES
BAD DOG THEATRE COMPANY -FOUNDATION SERIES
At the core of Bad Dog’s improv training program is our three-level Foundation Series. These classes are where we tackle the basics… the meat and potatoes of improvising… the bricks and mortar of building scenes. Our Foundation Series sets the table for our intermediate, advanced and performance-oriented workshops & classes – everything from shortform & competitive improvisation (featured in our flagship show: Theatresports) to longform genre pieces (like our critically acclaimed Dreadwood and BattleAwesome Awesomestar) to musical improvisation (like Troubadour!) to more experimental formats (like Toronto Secrets)…
You won’t be a master of improvisation after taking the Foundation Series… but you should have just that: a foundation. A basic vocabulary. Something to build on, whether you are looking to become a more confident performer or just find a greater comfort level thinking creatively or speaking in public.
FOUNDATION 1: BEGINNINGS
Saturdays from 2pm-5pm starting January 28
How long it runs: 7 weeks
How much it costs: $245 (HST included)
FOUNDATION 2: MIDDLES
Saturdays from 11am-2pm starting January 28
How long it runs: 7 weeks
How much it costs: $245 (HST included)
FOUNDATION 3: (ODDS &) ENDS
not running this term, expected start date is May 2012
How long it runs: 7 weeks
How much it costs: $245 (HST included)
ADVANCED PLACEMENT WORKSHOPS
Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm starting January 25 OR Saturdays from 2-4pm starting January 28
How long it runs: 4 weeks
How much it costs: $100 (HST included)
To register visit www.baddogtheatre.com/bdt/classes/upcoming-schedule-adult-classes
STAND-UP CLASSES
COMEDY GIRL WEEKLY CLASSES
Beginning the week of January 16, 2012
Comedy Girl (Wednesdays 6-8PM)
Girls with no standup experience learn how to use their personal narratives and work them into jokes. This course focuses on the art of writing a joke. Students can expect to finish with 3-5 minutes of standup material, and a righteous class performance at Comedy Bar.
Comedy Big Girl (Mondays 6-8PM)
For female comedians who want to develop material specifically for standup. This class is aimed at girls who already have experience performing, to develop standup material with peers on a weekly basis, working toward a tight/tighter five.
Contact jen@comedybar.ca to register now! Space is limited!
Dawn Whitwell
Dawn Whitwell has taught standup comedy since 2002, and over the past seven years has honed her own style of shaping her students personal narratives into jokes. Since serving as a juror for the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund in 2006, Dawn has actively advocated for an increased presence of women in Toronto’s Standup community. In 2007 Dawn began co-producing Girls School, an all-girl comedy tour, and ever since has aimed at developing a standup class specifically for Girls. The name Comedy Girl is inspired by Guitar Girl, an all female class lead by professional musicians. Dawn is excited and inspired to teach Comedy Girl and Comedy Baby Girl at the rousing phenomenon of Toronto's comedy landscape, The Comedy Bar.
Some things Dawn’s students have said:
"Wow!!! What a feeling. People laughed!!!"
"I just wanted to say that your course is truly awesome, and that you have a great talent for helping us find our own angle on jokes, and for seeing how to polish the stones into gems:)"
"you’ve given me more ability and confidence in this field than I ever suspected"
SKETCH CLASSES
Norm Sousa
Norm Sousa is the founder of the sketch comedy duo punch DRYSDALE and
is currently head writer and producer of Canadian Comedy Award winning sketch troupe The Sketchersons and Sunday Night Live! Writing and
producing over 50 sketch revues a year, Norm has still found time to perform at the Toronto, Chicago and LA sketch comedy festivals.
Norm has also appeared on The Jon Dore Show, Canadian Idol: All Access, Much Music’s Video On Trial, 2008’s Toronto Just for Laughs
and many commercials nationwide. Norm is also featured on the Comedy Network series HOTBOX.
SKETCHERSONS SKETCH WRITING & PERFORMANCE CLASS!
NEW START DATE - May 4, 2011
Ever wonder what it’ll like to write a full sketch comedy revue in a week? Experience the excitement and learn what it takes to write a revue the same way The Sketchersons perform their weekly, award winning show Sunday Night Live!
This is a 7 week sketch comedy course where students will explore the complexities of writing a sketch show, a step by step class that starts with learning the types of sketches, specific writing and ...sketch selection to picking running orders and casting. As well as touching on directing and producing. The class will conclude by performing the show we construct. If you are in a sketch troupe or starting a sketch troupe this class is a must.
- The writing component to this class will require students to write outside of class time, as well as having sketches printed and ready to read.
- Classes will run 2 hours with the exception of the performance day which will run 6 hours including breaks.
Wednesday 6 - 8 PM
Tuition: $160
Instructor: Norm Sousa
SCRIPT SUPERIVISION 101
Script Supervision 101 - Saturday Feb 12th 12-5PM
Have you ever wondered who that person with the clipboard and the stopwatch beside the director on a film set is? Why do they care if you're matching your actions as an actor, or if you're getting all your shots as a director, and how can they make your work shine through as a screenwriter, editor or producer? If you've ever wondered about any of this, or have actually done some script supervision or continuity on a film of any size but want some real training, then this course is for you.
Script Supervision 101 is a primer course in doing continuity for feature film, television and commercials. It's a five hour workshop designed to cover all the basic knowledge you should have before you book your first continuity job and will fill in any gaps in training you may have. If you're a director or other film technician who'd like to know how to work more effectively with your script supervisor, you will also find this course useful.
Topics covered include: the role and responsibilities of the script supervisor during prep and production, how to time and break down a script, set protocol, continuity paperwork, how to "see" like a continuity person, the axis of action, basic editing and directing theory, and more.
Cost is $75 including 100-page workbook (receipts provided by instructor).
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Daniela Saioni has been a professional script supervisor since 1992 and is a proud member of IATSE 873 and ACTRA. She has worked in nine countries on feature films (Casino Jack, Traitor, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Boondock Saints) and TV series (Soul Food, Traders), miniseries (The Path to 9/11), MOW's (The Day Reagan Was Shot) and commercials in all budget levels and genres.
She is also a professional actress and independent filmmaker who brings a thorough knowledge of the filmmaking process to her teaching and her work. She has been training script supervisors since 1995 for organizations like WIFT, IATSE 873, LIFT, CrewCall Saskatchewan, BigSoul Productions, NIFCO and Film Training Manitoba. She has also been a guest lecturer at ACTRA, York University, and Humber College.
To register email jen@comedybar.ca
