A Few Words On Our Long Form Class
Fanz!
For the past 4 months, ComedySportz Philly has been going through a growth spurt. We’ve added new shows, new players and new programming. This is all part of our plan to turn Philly’s longest-running comedy show into Philly’s longest-running comedy company.
This month we are expanding our improv classes to include Introduction to Long Form Improv taught by our own Kelly Jennings*. Kelly has been doing Long Form improv for over 10 years with Philadelphia favorites LunchLady Doris and Cecily and Gwendolyn’s Fantastical… and is considered by many, both inside and outside of ComedySportz, to be one of the best improvisers in the city. We are fortunate to have her leading the charge into this new area of improv training.
What is this Long Form you speak of?
Long Form improv was developed by Del Close and Charna Halpern in Chicago. The players take a suggestion from the audience and build a number of intertwining comedic scenes in a format called “The Harold.” ImprovOlympic and The Upright Citizens Brigade are the most popular examples of Long Form improv but there are many others including the People’s Improv Theater and The Annoyance Theater. You can read more on him and it here and here.
In a nutshell: ComedySportz’s format is game-based, Long Form’s format is scene and character based.
ComedySportz’s approach to Long Form
Introduction to Long Form Improv builds on the basics of improv and focuses on longer and stronger scene work as defined by the creation and development of characters and the relationships between those characters as a primary focus. Please note, you must have taken CSz Improv 201 or equivalent training to take this class.
Is Intro to Long Form for me?
Maybe.
If you have gone as far as you can go in our improv classes, Intro to Long Form may be for you.
If you just completed Level 201 and decided you want to focus more on characters and scene work, Intro to Long Form may be for you.
If you have taken Long Form classes in college or another Training Center and are interested in ComedySportz’s approach, Intro to Long Form may be for you. (Or maybe not, but the next level is…we’ll let you know when that is going to run.)
This is just the beginning!
ComedySportz has BIG plans for our Comedy Classes in 2012 and we’d love you to join us on that adventure. If Long Form is not your thing, not big whoop. ComedySportz still offers classes in our signature Short Form game format, as well as Musical Improv and in the Spring: Sketch Comedy.
If you have any questions about our classes, feel free to contact us.
As always, thanks for being a Loyal…Fan!
Register for Intro to Long Form Improv
*Kelly Jennings has been member of ComedySportz Philadelphia since 1992 she has taught improv and acting workshops for The University of The Arts, C.W. Post Long Island University, and other local schools. Kelly studied acting at Syracuse University and her improv training includes classes and workshops with Mike Young, Jill Bernard, Joe Bill, Jeff Wirth, Mick Napier, Miles Stroth, Paul Grondy and others. Beyond ComedySportz, Kelly is a founding member of LunchLady Doris. Kelly works as an actor, director, and sometimes corporate trainer. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
