Adult Workshops

It’s not about you, it’s not about me, it’s about us. It’s about the relationship! Through games, exercises and scenework, we can learn how to get the most out of our improv relationships.

During this 6-week course students will learn the fundamentals of improv comedy, including “yes and,” creating characters, relationships and developing their spacework. Building on the fundamentals, students will begin to remove their improv training wheels while exploring ways to strengthen their scenes including finding games and developing deeper characters and relationships. Students will also begin to explore various longforms including finding games, editing and group scenes. They will also learn how to listen to each other, build on ideas and work together as a team. But most of all, they will learn how to have FUN. The Louisville Improvisors believe that improv is not just for improvisers.

Chris Anger, instructor. Read Chris’s bio ›

Each session covers one of the plays in the season. Sign up for all 4 to immerse yourself in the Bard until it’s time for the summer season! Plus, you’ll save $40 by booking all four in advance.

I mean, of COURSE the best way to experience Shakespeare is seeing a live performance, but that’s not always an easy possibility. And reading Shakespeare brings back your nightmares of that one nun/former field hockey coach who taught Freshman English.

But digging into these plays and treating them like the playscripts they are can be a lot of grown-up fun once you unlock some of the tricky bits in a casual, snack’n’chat, no-test-on-the-reading setting. So resident Kentucky Shakespeare actor/dramaturg (pronounced: professional nerd) Gregory Maupin will lead a group through three sessions that will help you get the most out of reading Shakespeare on your own, before a show, or with a group of other weirdos who enjoy this kind of thing, too. The final session will happen before and after a performance of the show in focus, so you’ll be ready to get the most out of the performance.

(This is primarily a series aimed at normal, decent people, but actors are not unwelcome.)

Here’s what some past participants had to say:

“Greg knows WAY too much to fit into 3 or 4 sessions, but…I am jazzed about further DIY exploration.”

“Greg’s workshop is great for Shakespeare nerds and newbies alike. I’m more of a newbie and ended up reading Richard II just for kicks–and understanding it. It’s the most unpretentious Shakespeare group you’ll ever be a part of, and so much better than 10th-grade English class (sorry, Mrs. Range).”

Gregory Maupin, facilitator. Read Gregory’s bio ›

Full Schedule

SESSION ONE: Saturday January 20 and February 3, 1:00 – 4:00 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Kentucky Shakespeare’s spring tour of this best-known comedy begins in early March. The group will choose a mutually agreeable date to attend the performance and talk about the production.

SESSION TWO:  Saturday February 17 and 24, 1:00 – 4:00 – The Comedy of Errors; Saturday, June 2, 6:00 meet before the 8:00 performance

SESSION THREE: Saturday, March 24 and 31, 1:00 – 4:00 – Henry IV, Part One; Saturday, June 16, 6:00 meet before the 8:00 performance

SESSION FOUR: Saturday, April 21 and 28, 1:00 – 4:00 – Othello; Saturday, June 30, 6:00 meet before the 8:00 performance

Sword and Hand-To-Hand Combat Workshop
Saturday, March 3, 2018
1:00-5:00PM
$40 for 4 hour session

Dagger and Hand-To-Hand Combat Workshop
Saturday, March 17, 2018
1:00-5:00PM
$40 for 4 hour session

Rapier Stage Combat Workshop
Saturday, April 14, 2018
1:00-5:00PM
$40 for 4 hour session plus $20 equipment rental free.