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Improv 101 at UCB NYC

Well, I’ve done it! I’ve gone and signed myself up for Improv classes, and I’ve chosen the most illustrious of schools, Upright Citizens Brigade.

I don’t know why I chose the one-week intensive - where they cram eight, three hour classes into five days - though. I’ve been through Days 1, 2 & 3, and I’m having a blast.

I’ve learned many technical lessons that I’ve read about in books, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned so far, is that every choice is correct, every choice is terrible, and every choice is hilarious!

It doesn’t matter. No one is going to be stellar on their first day (or week) so we’ve taken the pressure off each other (and ourselves) and just enjoy being.

We are encouraged to use stories from our lives to inspire our scenes and I’ve learned more about the people in my class in three days, and they’ve learned more about me, than most people do in a year.

But, I guess that’s showing my heart and there’s truth in comedy and comedy in truth. It’s also private moments made public.

Ill write more after the week is over!

Xx Danielle

1 year ago

April 25, 2012
ucb improv intensive acting nyc 101
video

The Tom Todoroff Week Long Summer Intensive is July 30th - August 5th!

1 year ago

March 6, 2012
acting intensive tom todoroff studio summer 2011 classes
photo GPOY: Ready for my close up.  Just a close up of the Dreamer pic. So, I have been planning a week-long Summer Intensive for actors since March.  I did this last year too, but I came in on the tail end of it last year.  This year, I helped plan from the beginning.  It was amazing to work on this from it’s inception. Tom Todoroff has Studios all over the world, and we had actors come from all over the globe to attend the intensive in NYC for a week.  An acting Intensive will always be an amazing experience, but this one was special because I helped create it. Monday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Masks with Kathleen McNenny and Stage Combat with Eugene Solfanelli & assistant Mervin.  Then, we went on to the NYC weekly class with Tom Todoroff. Tuesday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Masks with Kathleen McNenny and Chekhov with Janice Orlandi.  Wednesday, we had a scene and monologue study day with Tom Todoroff.  That’s when I performed Alice in Wonderland with Madison MaCleer.  Then, we had a group trip to see HAIR on Broadway (I went up on the stage at the end!) and the cast came out afterwards and spoke with our group. Thursday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Alexander Technique with Belinda Mello and Viewpoints with Janice Orlandi. Friday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Alexander Technique with Belinda Mello, Stage Combat with Eugene Solfanelli and Masks with Kathleen McNenny. Saturday and Sunday were scene and monologue study days with Tom Todoroff again.  I performed Dreamer Examines His Pillow with Vince Benvenuto (above) on Saturday.   Sunday, we had our farewell party at the Houndstooth Pub.   This is just what we did.  What we learned is a whole different bag of tricks.   If you’re not in an acting class, get thee into one!   xx Danielle

GPOY: Ready for my close up. 

Just a close up of the Dreamer pic.

So, I have been planning a week-long Summer Intensive for actors since March.  I did this last year too, but I came in on the tail end of it last year.  This year, I helped plan from the beginning.  It was amazing to work on this from it’s inception.

Tom Todoroff has Studios all over the world, and we had actors come from all over the globe to attend the intensive in NYC for a week.  An acting Intensive will always be an amazing experience, but this one was special because I helped create it.

Monday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Masks with Kathleen McNenny and Stage Combat with Eugene Solfanelli & assistant Mervin.  Then, we went on to the NYC weekly class with Tom Todoroff.

Tuesday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Masks with Kathleen McNenny and Chekhov with Janice Orlandi. 

Wednesday, we had a scene and monologue study day with Tom Todoroff.  That’s when I performed Alice in Wonderland with Madison MaCleer.  Then, we had a group trip to see HAIR on Broadway (I went up on the stage at the end!) and the cast came out afterwards and spoke with our group.

Thursday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Alexander Technique with Belinda Mello and Viewpoints with Janice Orlandi.

Friday, we had Voice with Paul Valley, Alexander Technique with Belinda Mello, Stage Combat with Eugene Solfanelli and Masks with Kathleen McNenny.

Saturday and Sunday were scene and monologue study days with Tom Todoroff again.  I performed Dreamer Examines His Pillow with Vince Benvenuto (above) on Saturday.  

Sunday, we had our farewell party at the Houndstooth Pub.  

This is just what we did.  What we learned is a whole different bag of tricks.  

If you’re not in an acting class, get thee into one!  

xx Danielle

1 year ago

August 22, 2011
gpoy gpoyw dreamer examines his pillow john patrick shanley alice in wonderland acting performing classes intense intensive picture photo