SHOWS

Inside the Improviser’s Studio

Presented by DCA Theater & InFusion Theatre Co.

Monday, April 30
7:00 PM — 8:30 PM
Claudia Cassidy Theater
FREE; Doors open at 6:00pm

Showcasing improv teachers from the best training schools in Chicago!
First, listen as they share their stories and methods, then watch them lead an open workshop where you can see up-close how people train to become improv performers! There will even be an opportunity for you to volunteer to try out your improv skills alongside them!

Panelists include: Bill Arnett of iO, Matt Elwell of ComedySportz, & Rebecca Sohn of The Annoyance

Moderator: Jamie Bragg, Dramaturg & actor in InFusion Theatre Company’s The Improv Play

Bill Arnett is the current iO Training Center Director, and has been performing in Chicago for 15 years. Mr. Arnett has been a popular teacher at iO since 2005. He has traveled extensively teaching at improv festivals and in workshops around the country as well as in Canada, Australia and the U.K. As a performer Bill has been at iO for 12 years. He has performed with award-winning sketch group Maximum Party Zone and the iO house team People of Earth. He can currently be seen in the hit shows 3033 and The Armando Diaz Experience. He attended the University of Florida where he wrote and performed with Theatre Strike Force, the theater department’s sketch and improv group. He studied electrical engineering. Check out Bill’s well regarded improv blog: billarnett.com/wordpress

Matt Elwell, CPLP, is the President and CEO of ComedySportz of Chicago, Inc., and has been teaching improvisation to actors, improvisers, business people, educators, and students for over 10 years. As a performer, Matt has appeared with ComedySportz, Second City Theatricals, GayCo, WNEP, iO and Dave & Co, and has taught as an Associate Faculty Member of the Second City Training Center in Chicago. As an instructional designer, Matt has created learning experiences used by AT&T, McDonalds, Astellas Pharma U.S., SRR, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Navy. Matt is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance through the American Society for Training and Development.

Rebecca Sohn has been a member of The Annoyance since 1992 and began teaching in ‘97. She taught for The Second City Training Center for many years and currently teaches workshops all over the country with her 3 woman long-form group, Switchboard. She improvises with Switchboard and Bad Touch and has been TJ’s guest improviser in “TJ and Dave.” Her training and experience began in college in 1987. She then went on to study and perform with Bay Area Theatresports and several long form groups before moving to Chicago to study with Del Close. She performed at iO and was an early member of The Armando Diaz Theatrical Experience and Hootenanny. She studied at The Second City Training Center and was hired to The National Touring Company then the Second City ETC stage where she wrote 2 reviews. She has directed several shows at this theater and for Second City Communications, where she also currently works as a writer and performer. As an actress her credits include Remy Bumppo, About Face, Steppenwolf Theatre and many independent films.

This event is presented in conjunction with the world premiere production of Randall Colburn‘s The Improv Play, which is playing through May 20 at DCA Storefront Theater.