So, you’ve had a taste of that sweet, delicious improvised comedy, and you’re ready for more. Good news, you little sugar fiend: we’ve got your fix. Join us for our Intermediate Improv Weekend Intensive on November 9th and 10th, where we take a deeper dive into scene work from a short-form lens and learn the skills it takes to build the perfect scene.
Class Session: November 9th & 10th
During this class, students will learn to:
- Review foundational/basic improv skills learned in Basic Improv
- Understand best practices regarding boundaries and consent when improvising onstage and observe “ouch, oops”
- Incorporate storytelling tools and story structure into scenes from a short form lens
- Practice radical listening and staying present in scenes to provide support
- Implement different types of support onstage during scenes
- Create specific scenes by identifying the “who, what, where, and why” of each scene
- Do basic pantomime/space work in scenes
- Establish and raise the stakes on scenes to keep the audience engaged
- Prepare for our next class level, Advanced Improv: Short Form
When:
Classes take place November 9th and 10th, 2024. Please see the schedule below.
Where:
WJ Geery Theatre
2130 L St, Sacramento, CA 95816
November 9th:
10 AM – 1 PM: Part 1
1 PM – 2 PM: Lunch
2 PM – 5 PM: Part 2
There will 5 minute breaks every hour and fifteen minute breaks every 90 minutes
November 10th:
10 AM – 1 PM: Part 3
1 PM – 2 PM: Lunch
2 PM – 5 PM: Part 4
There will 5 minute breaks every hour and fifteen minute breaks every 90 minutes
We are happy to accommodate any requests to sit or take additional breaks for those who need them. You are encouraged to take care of yourself and your body’s needs! Students are welcome and encouraged to bring snacks and water and should bring their own lunches. Students may make their own lunch plans or join us for lunch at Kupros (1217 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95811) which is a 1 minute walk from the venue.
Important Details:
Tuition is nonrefundable. You must be at least 18 to register.
About the instructor:
Jessilee Windhaus (she/they) brings over two decades of expertise in improv education and leadership to empower individuals across diverse spheres. Rooted in Sacramento, Jessilee has honed her craft as an improv instructor and facilitator, guiding professionals in corporate team-building exercises, adults in dynamic improv classes, and children in engaging and transformative improv summer camps. Her approach blends the power of improvisation with effective communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. With a foundation laid in theatre and dance from CSU Sacramento, Jessilee's journey encompasses a rich tapestry of experience. She co-founded the Empire Arts Collective, fostering original arts projects and mentoring aspiring artists, underscoring her commitment to nurturing creative talent.
Jessilee's dynamic career includes roles directing the High School League at ComedySportz Sacramento and mentoring young actors nationwide as a Tour Actor/Director with Missoula Children's Theatre. These experiences have uniquely equipped her to craft tailored improv programs that resonate with various age groups and skill levels. Jessilee's training with esteemed instructors and her performances at local comedy hubs like Sacramento Comedy Spot, STAB! Comedy, ComedySportz Sacramento, and Sutter Street Theatre underscore her expertise in the field. Her expertise extends beyond the stage to encompass project management, finance, and leadership roles, exemplified by her tenure in the mortgage industry and as a Project Manager at UC Davis Health's Early Psychosis Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTA), a $27+ million dollar project serving 42 California counties through a collaboration with UC Davis, Stanford, and UC San Francisco.
Now, Jessilee channels her passion for improvisation into transformative experiences, offering corporate team-building workshops, engaging adult improv classes, and vibrant improv summer camps for children. Her approach fosters creativity, communication, and teamwork, tailored to elevate professional growth and personal development in diverse settings. Jessilee's extensive training includes courses with Upright Citizen's Brigade and The Groundlings. She has trained with numerous accomplished instructors in the field, including Carla Cackowski, Brian James O'Connell, Alrinthea Carter, Guy Stevenson, Kimberly Condict, Slater Penny, Chris Alvarado, Diana Brown, Aman Adumer, Cory Willis, and Jet Eveleth, among others. Her local comedy credits encompass Sacramento Comedy Spot, Sutter Street Theatre, Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, Dangerous Men/Dangerous Women, The Dinner Detective, CSU Sacramento, Bike City Theatre Company (where she served as the Director of Sketch), and improv at Empire Arts Collective (where she served as improv program director and coach).