Meet the teacher

Shawn Westfall

Shawn Westfall
Born and raised in Indiana, Shawn Westfall has performed improvisational comedy for over 10 years with a number of professional improv troupes, including Loose Screws in Honolulu, Hawaii and The Oxymorons, a nationally recognized improv troupe in San Antonio.
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LEARN IMPROV AT THE IMPROV

Anyone who enjoys laughing and having a good time can benefit from the collaborative art of improv comedy. Instructor Shawn Westfall resumes his wildly popular 4-6 week Improv courses (as seen in the Washington Post). Featuring beginning-level courses, advanced courses with graduation performances plus intensive improv comedy workshops.

Beginning Improv Level 1 (6 Weeks):
*Sold Out* Mondays, Sept 13 - Oct 18, 2010 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
*Sold Out* Thursdays, Sept 23 - Oct 28, 2010 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Does "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" make you laugh? More importantly, does it look like something you'd like to try? Not only is improvisational comedy fun to watch, it's both fun - and easy - to do. And improv isn't just for actors: anyone - from teachers to corporate trainers to anyone wanting to build stronger teams - can benefit from the collaborative art of improv comedy. All it takes is an understanding of the basics of improv - and in this course you'll learn them. You'll also learn a number of games you can play just about anywhere, learn how to develop scenes and create characters within seconds, and learn exercises to help create "group mind" to better work and act together. But more importantly, you'll have fun! Register
Tuition: $215.00

Short Form Improv Level 2 (6 Weeks):
*Currently Available* Tuesdays, Sept 14 - Oct 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm (off 10/5) plus performance showcase on Tuesday October 26th at 8:15 pm
Picking up where the Level I class left off, the Short Form Level 2 Improv comedy class continues to focus on "cabaret style" improv games. You'll learn the difference between "strong focus" and "weak focus" improv games, as well as new ways and strategies for developing scenes, adding information, and making new and different character choices. You'll also be exposed to some less structured abstract styles. In addition, you'll discover new ways to develop group mind and trust - integral for any successful improv scene. Register
Prerequisite: Improv Level I or permission of the instructor & principal.
Tuition: $215.00

Improv Boot Camp (10 Weeks):
*Sold Out* Thursdays, June 17 - Aug 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm plus performance showcase on Saturday August 21, 2010 at 12:15 pm
You've talked, we've listened. You wanted classes that were longer, that gave you an opportunity to build more cohesion -- "group mind" - with your fellow students, or that gave your improv troupe an opportunity to explore, together, some of the key components of successful improv scenes. Improv Boot Camp combines all the workshops offered by the DC Improv - Character; Advanced Long Form; Genre, Parody and Narrative; and Breaking the Rules - into one long ten week class ideal for those wanting a lengthier improv experience. It also provides established improv troupes with the opportunity to work together to further enhance group mind and as well as expose them to other options where long form and character are concerned. Register
Prerequisite: Improv Level I or permission of the instructor & principal.
Tuition: $400.00

Harold Long Form Improv (6 Weeks):
*Sold Out* Tuesdays July 20 - Aug 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm plus performance showcase on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Picking up where the Level I class left off, the Harold Long Form Improv comedy class focuses on more advanced, abstract improv structures, specifically the Harold, a game technique created and popularized by Del Close, founder of Second City. Less emphasis on cabaret style games (although they are integral to the class, and you will learn a number of new ones) and more emphasis on understanding good scene work, building trust, listening, creating "group mind", and surrendering yourself to the moment in order to create improv scenes by performers functioning as an integrated whole. It's improv without a safety net -- specifically the safety net of a game structure. In fact, the last class will involve doing nothing but performing lengthy improv scenes based only on one-word suggestions. Register
Prerequisite: Improv Level I or permission of the instructor & principal.
Tuition: $215.00

Character/Scene 4 Week Workshop:
Date TBD
The best Improvers are character driven and you are well on your way. So why not enhance your skills with this brand new course, "Super 2nd Level Character/Scene Improv". This workshop will focus primarily on exploring new dimensions of characters and utilizing these discoveries in short form Improv scenes. Now's your chance to be someone else...it's like your day job except a hell of a lot more fun! This workshop runs 4 weeks, for duration of 2 1/2 hours per class. There is no performance showcase at the end of this course. Register
Prerequisite: Improv Level I or permission of the Instructor & Principal.
Tuition: $180.00

Long Form 4 Week Workshop:
Date TBD
This course will be an intensive workshop focused on the Harold format in addition to other long form Improv techniques. This workshop runs 4 weeks, for duration of 2 1/2 hours per class. There is no performance showcase at the end of this course.
Prerequisite: Harold Long Form with Shawn Westfall or permission of the Instructor & Principal. Register
Tuition: $180.00

Breaking the Rules 4 Week Workshop:
Date TBD
As an experienced improviser, you know "The Rules": Don't deny. Don't say "no." Don't narrate. Establish the "who, what, and where." Don't do teaching scenes or dance instructor scenes. Show, don't tell. And so on and so on. But does improv always work that way? Are "the rules" the rules? Do unsuccessful improv scenes occur when a rule has been broken? Does identifying that a rule has been broken and moving on guarantee successful scenes in the future? Is simply not breaking the rules enough for a successful improv scene? In this workshop, based on Mick Napier's informative and illuminating book, "Improvisation," you'll learn that "the rules" of improv aren't necessarily *the rules,* that, like most rules, were meant to be broken, and you'll learn how and when to do precisely that. Register
Prerequisite: Improv Level II or permission of the instructor.
Tuition: $180.00

To enroll, please download the registration form or pick-up one up at The DC Improv.

Registration forms can be handed in personally, mailed or faxed with payment directly to:

The DC Improv Comedy Club
c/o Allyson Jaffe, Principal of Comedy School
1140 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

f 202.466.7282 | p 202.296.7008 ext.11

Any questions please e-mail allyson@dcimprov.com.