Emotions and How to Show Them

Completion of Intro to Long Form or equivalent encouraged, but not required!

Improv Secret: Improv is not method acting. You do not have to have the emotions your character is feeling in a scene. In fact, it can be super-unhelpful to do so.

But you do have to convincingly look like like you feel a certain way, because emotions are some of the most powerful tools in your improv toolkit.

Another Improv Secret: You have more than your face and voice to work with—like your body, object-work props, and the spatial relationships you create on stage.

In this session, we’ll learn and practice techniques to look like you’re having real feelings on stage. There will be handouts.

Part of The Long Form Toolkit Workshop Series with Trish Berrong

• Edits We Forget Exist and When to Use Them | 6/21/25 at 10:00am
• Emotions and How to Show Them | 7/12/25 at 10:00am
• Finding Relationships with Your Scene Partners | 8/16/25 at 10:00am

About The Teacher

Trish Berrong has been improvising non-stop since 1990 and loves short-form with long-form smarts and long-form with short-form playfulness.

She’s taken workshops and intensives with The Second City (including Michael Gellman, Dave Razowsky, and Nick Johne), Del Close and at least a dozen iO (ImprovOlympic) teachers; The Annoyance Theater’s Mick Napier, Susan Messing, Rebecca Sohn, Joe Bill, and Mark Sutton; TJ Jagodowski, Dan Izzo, and Artistic New Directions in NYC.

Trish currently is in the cast of The Bird Musical Comedy Show and performs with the indie teams Explosive Group Chat, Ham Kitty, Tantrum/Spite and Brownies Don’t Lie, a duo with Minneapolis improviser Jill Bernard.

Only at The Bird.

The Bird Comedy Theater is Kansas City's Best Comedy Theater. Featuring Improv, Sketch, Stand-Up, and more every week in the Crossroads Arts District. Voted KC's Best Comedy Club & Improv/Sketch Troupe since 2023; Best Theater Company & Open Mic since 2024 in The Pitch Best of KC. Give Your Week The Bird.

Full Bar, Soft Drinks, & Popcorn available at our in house bar!

Street parking available! Located a block and a half from the 19th Street Street Car stop!

Recommended for ages 17+

103 W. 19th St. STE B Kansas City, MO 64108 | 816-929-4383 | www.TheBirdKC.com

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