April Improv Show at Oddfellows

The Great Make Believe Society is excited to welcome Hartford’s Tick Tick BOOM! to Oddfellows Playhouse on April 19th. Tick Tick BOOM! Are the current champs of the Connecticut Improv Cage Match series. They bring a hilarious intensity to the stage that’s contagious. You see both troupes on Oddfellows Playhouse’s stage at 8PM. Tickets $10.

Working with nothing but audience suggestions and imagination, professionally trained improvisers create a never-before-seen production right before your eyes. In this unique show, the sparks will fly, and so will the laughs. And, the audience will influence the evening’s stories and scenes.

Where: 128 Washington Street
When: 8PM Sharp!
Reservations Recommended.
Call (860) 347-6143
www.gmbsimprov.com

Theater Master Class Series Announced

 Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater announces a Master Class series that will take place beginning in February for middle school, high school students and adults.   Additional Master Classes will also be announced shortly for the spring. 

The series begins with The Art of the Monologue on Saturday February 2 from 11am-2pm, with guest artist Emily Hope Webster.  This class will allow middle and high school students to explore opportunities for storytelling and character development in this classic theatrical device.  The class will cover aspects of the monologue from selection of the piece to analyzing text to performance.  Participants should prepare a classic or contemporary monologue to work with.  The cost of the master class is $50.

 Emily Hope Webster is a thirty-year veteran of the entertinament world, finding her earliest success in front of the camera.  As a child actress her television credits include a five year run on the FOX hit Small Wonder, starring roles in such films as Troop Beverly Hills and Caddie Woodlawn and the Emmy-award winning series Christy.  She also worked on the New York City stage at WPA and with playwright John Guare at Lincoln Center. 

The series will continue with Improv Bootcamp on Saturday February 16 and Sunday February 17 from 12-4pm.  This two day bootcamp is led by Sam Shaw, founder of the San Francisco Improv Festival.  A alumnus of Middletown High School, Wesleyan University, and Oddfellows Playhouse, Sam has a 25+ year career in improvisational theater, performing and leading dozens of comedy troupes. 

In this two day multi-generational improv boot camp, actors will throw the script out the window, set the improve games aside, and teach students how to improvise truthful scenes from their own experiences and to collaborate effectively as an ensemble.  Learn how to say “yes-and”, “play to the top of your intelligence” and most importantly, “play hard!”.   The cost of the workshop is $90, and it will end with a performance for friends and families at 7pm on Sunday February 17, joined by some of central CT and Wesleyan’s finest improv groups. 

Interested students should visit www.oddfellows.org to sign up for the Master Class.  The Master Classes are limited to 20 students.  Call 860-347-6143 to register or to find out more information. 

Great night of comedy happened last night

We want to thank the great audience who came out to First Church's Parish Hall for a night of improv comedy last night.

Thanks go out to Sea Tea Improv and BenTopher and Friends for pouring their hearts out with some great comedy made up on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Special thanks to NoRA Cupcake and Klekolo World Coffee for offering up some terrific treats to the audience.

The improv comedy shows will return in 2013 with more fun and laughter. Keep your eye on the Middletown Eye for more details.