Workshops
We wanted to do something different than what is already being done well in the greater San Diego Improv community. We offer short term, 2-4 week improv workshops. These workshops will focus on a subject the instructor(s) are passionate about. Whether that is a style of play, an improv theory, a specific form or any number of things, we think this will create a space where creativity and learning thrive.
Welcome to Cornerstone Improv.
Workshops Open for Registration:
“The Collage” with Jonathan Pitts
In this 4 hour Collage workshop, the students will learn the power of zig-zag, meaning to go back and forth and between every kind of improv style, tone, and tempo. To do group work and then contrast it with solo scenes or monologues; to go from a serious scene to a physically based comedic one; to incorporate short form games into long form ideals. Every student will gain improvisational artistic flexibility and a better ability to create and discover patterns on the fly.
Jonathan Pitts is an award-winning international improv theatre artist from Chicago with over 30 years’ experience. He’s a creator, director, improviser, producer, and teacher, and he’s also the Founder and Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions. He co-founded the Chicago Improv Festival and produced it for 20 years. He created and produced the College Improv Tournament for 10 years. He was Teen Comedy Fest’s executive producer for 7 years. He’s also the founder and producer of Chicago Podcast Festival for the past 2 years. He has taught and performed internationally in 29 countries, as well as all over America. He’s performed in over 1,250 improvised shows. He has created the improv shows, “The Make ‘Em Ups”, "The Oracle", "The Silent Movie", “Solo Plus One”, “Stopwatch”, and "Storybox Unscripted Theatre". He taught at The Second City for 16 years and he’s a contributing writer to their book on improvisation. He taught story-based improv at Piven Theatre Workshop. He’s also taught at 25+ American cities at regional improv fests and improv theatres. For 3 consecutive years he was selected by New City magazine as one of "Chicago's Top 50 Theatre Players" and he’s been interviewed about improvisation in books, newspapers, online posts, podcasts, radio, and TV.
When: Saturday 5/3 1PM - 5PM
Location: North Park (specific location will be emailed to participants)
Cost: $70
Spots: 14 participants total including 2 spot for our Inclusion Scholarship. To apply for the Inclusion Scholarship, please click here.
REGISTER HERE. Tickets go on sale Wednesday 4/23 at 12PM.
Note: Due to safety and liability concerns, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this workshop. You will be asked to email a photo of your vaccine card for verification.
“Taking Care of the Now” with Jonathan Pitts
If you take care of the "now" in any improv scene, the future always shows up as a great scene. If you don't take care of the "now", the future never shows up and the scene spins into quicksand. Using a deeply intuitive scenic process learned from the late Martin DeMatt, one that focuses on listening and responding, the students learn how to take care of the "now" by becoming fully invested in it. They also learn how to let go of worries about where the scene is going and instead learn to understand where the scene is right now.
Jonathan Pitts is an award-winning international improv theatre artist from Chicago with over 30 years’ experience. He’s a creator, director, improviser, producer, and teacher, and he’s also the Founder and Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions. He co-founded the Chicago Improv Festival and produced it for 20 years. He created and produced the College Improv Tournament for 10 years. He was Teen Comedy Fest’s executive producer for 7 years. He’s also the founder and producer of Chicago Podcast Festival for the past 2 years. He has taught and performed internationally in 29 countries, as well as all over America. He’s performed in over 1,250 improvised shows. He has created the improv shows, “The Make ‘Em Ups”, "The Oracle", "The Silent Movie", “Solo Plus One”, “Stopwatch”, and "Storybox Unscripted Theatre". He taught at The Second City for 16 years and he’s a contributing writer to their book on improvisation. He taught story-based improv at Piven Theatre Workshop. He’s also taught at 25+ American cities at regional improv fests and improv theatres. For 3 consecutive years he was selected by New City magazine as one of "Chicago's Top 50 Theatre Players" and he’s been interviewed about improvisation in books, newspapers, online posts, podcasts, radio, and TV.
When: Sunday 5/4 10AM - 1PM
Location: East Village (specific location will be emailed to participants)
Cost: $50
Spots: 14 participants total including 2 spot for our Inclusion Scholarship. To apply for the Inclusion Scholarship, please click here.
REGISTER HERE. Tickets go on sale Wednesday 4/23 at 12PM.
Note: Due to safety and liability concerns, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this workshop. You will be asked to email a photo of your vaccine card for verification.
“Initiation Station” with JillAnne Aden
Express yourself and fill that space with your big, bold choices! In this workshop we will focus on good ol’ fashioned goofball silliness, intentionality of our words, and making whimsical and wild choices to initiate our scenes. We will be using various creative scene starters, some physicality and many unique perspectives to help ourselves make these types of daring decisions in our every day improv. Set your scenes up for success by focusing on the many ways a suggestion can inspire! Harness the power of “yes…and’ing” your scene partners’ wild choices and let’s see where it can go! Lots of quick, fun games, short form exercises and tons of positive play in this 3 hour workshop!
Prerequisites: Suitable for Intermediate to Advanced improvisers.
JillAnne Aden is an improviser/instructor and the owner of Heirloom Improv in Eureka, CA. She is happy to be returning to teach with Cornerstone Improv. She is formerly of San Diego as an instructor with Finest City Improv where she was a founding member of former FCI House Team Sunset Cleffs Musical Improv Hour, an advanced musical improv instructor, and a performer on indie teams Family Dinner, Big Shoes, and Happy Hour Power Hour, among others.
JillAnne is a voiceover artist with credits including Microsoft, Venus-Gillette, Wells Fargo, Capital One and ForceField Games. She has also led team building workshops with companies such as Intuit, ClickUp and non-profits Layla’s Kitchen and Global Communities. She is proud to have taught and coached hundreds of improvisers in the San Diego area and is excited for her future visits back! JillAnne plans to brunch a LOT while here. Keep up with her in the Redwoods at www.jillanneaden.com
When: Saturday 4/26 10AM - 1PM
Location: East Village (specific location will be emailed to participants)
Cost: $50
Spots: 14 participants total including 2 spot for our Inclusion Scholarship. To apply for the Inclusion Scholarship, please click here.
REGISTER HERE. Tickets go on sale Tuesday 4/1 at 12PM.
Note: Due to safety and liability concerns, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this workshop. You will be asked to email a photo of your vaccine card for verification.
Hey! Have a great workshop idea you want to teach? We’d love to hear from you!
Past Workshops
