Coached Longform Ensemble (Dinner for Six)

About our Curriculum

Our mission is to provide committed performers with a deep interest in comedy and collaboration an opportunity to rehearse and perform with like-minded peers. Our coaches and teachers are working comedians who have trained at Second City, Improv Olympic and Upright Citizen Brigade and beyond.

The coached ensemble format is ideal for players that have taken improv classes and are interested in diving deeper into longform. A minimum of 6 players will be required to enroll and no more than 10 performers will be assigned to the ensemble.

This course is a two hour, ten-week, coached Ensemble and includes three class performances. Dinner for Six is a classic Chicago improv format wherein performers have the space and time to stretch out and explore truthful characters and relationships. Opening on three couples at a dinner party, the show takes its time to establish these character's backstories and relationships before breaking off into a series of slow-burn two person scenes. This class will be perfect for performers looking to learn how to do mono scenes or deeper, more committed character work.This session will combine longform classroom instruction with stage time over a 10-12 week period.

Rehearsal Schedule

The Ensemble class will meet Wednesdays 5:30-7:30, September 24th - November 26th. There will be three class shows.

Student Profile and Info

Prospective troupe members should know the fundamentals of improv and demonstrate good listening and collaboration skills. Students should have previously compleated at least three levels of improv instruction at The Lab.

Coach for this session: Michael Jastroch

Michael Jastroch is an acclaimed comedic actor, writer and improv instructor, formerly based out of Austin, TX and new to Philadelphia!

As one of the founders of ColdTowne Theater and a member of the seminal improv groups ColdTowne and the Frank Mills, Michael has won awards for his work, including “Best Comedy Group ” in the Austin Chronicle and the B. Iden Payne award for “Outstanding Improv Ensemble.” His improv podcast, Victrola! was named one of Austin’s “Best Comedy Podcasts” and nominated by Austin Chronicle readers as one of the city’s best comedy groups.

Michael has taught improv comedy for the last fifteen years, and has been nominated and won “Best Improv Teacher” and “Best Improv Coach” a whole bunch. He’s taught his improv workshops all over the country, including at the Magnet Theater in NYC, the Oberlin College Improv Festival, The Oklahoma Improv Festival, the Phoenix Improv Festival, The Dallas Comedy Fest, The Alaska State Improv Fest, and at the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival in Chapel Hill.

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