Do you enjoy musical comedy? This class is for you! We already know that improv is about supporting and building off of each other's ideas. In this introduction to musical improv, you will do the same, working as an ensemble with your classmates to build scenes, songs, and even harmonies. Now, that may sound difficult. But trust us! There are song-building tools and techniques you will learn to make your improvised songs intrinsically easier (and just as catchy as a song you’d hear on Spotify). Working with both an improv instructor and a musical accompanist, you’ll be introduced to 2 different types of improvised song structures so that your on-the-spot lyrics will have a strong framework in place beneath them. By the end of 6 weeks, you’ll be able to start with an improv scene — and launch right into a fully made-up song on the spot. Come to class prepared to sing out loud — and laugh out loud as well. If you thought improv was fun, this takes it to a whole new level.

INSTRUCTORS: Rachel Rosenthal & Johann Wagner
DAY / TIME: Mondays 6:30 - 8:30 PM (2 hours)
DATE RANGE: 6 weeks. 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30
LOCATION: 911 SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97214 (some stairs)
PREREQUISITE: Level 1 Improv at Kickstand or elsewhere

ABOUT RACHEL ROSENTHAL
She/Her
Rachel Rosenthal is a performer, comedian, and improv instructor with over 24 years of experience. A recent transplant to Portland from NYC, she has taught at numerous comedy theaters throughout the USA, including ImprovBoston, Reckless Theatre, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, & The Peoples Improv Theatre (The PIT) in NYC, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year for her work with 101 improv students. Hailed as an "improv whirlwind" (by Huffington Post), Rachel is an esteemed performer who has toured all over the world, from New York and Hawaii to London and Iceland! She is an 11+ year cast member of both free-form improv team, Big Bang, and free-style rapping Hip Hop comedy group, North Coast (“Top 10 Comedy Show” -- Time Out NY). She also performed Off-Broadway in Blank! The Musical. Today, she performs in Portland with Love, Shakespeare, Cliffbanger (Musical Improv), and Sam & Rachel Comedy — the duo she shares with her husband. They also have a podcast together called “Sam & Rachel’s Generation Gap.” As an Applied Improv Instructor, Rachel also teaches improv to corporate teams with a client list that includes Microsoft, Meta/Facebook, and HBO. Her story, "Identity Thief," has been featured on the “This American Life” and “Risk!” podcasts and was later published as a book with Amazon. More at www.theraeroshow.com.

ABOUT JOHANN WAGNER
He Him
Johann Wagner has spent over 30 years bringing music and play together on stage with his signature blend of musicianship and quick wit. A trained classical pianist and longtime fixture of the improv world, Johann served as Musical Director for SAK Comedy Lab in Florida (1995–2003), toured as Musical Director for the Emmy-winning entertainer and improv legend, Wayne Brady (1999–2002); and performed with other Whose Line Is It Anyway? alumni, Jeff Davis, Brad Sherwood and Colin Mochrie. Helping shape the next generation of comedy improvisers, Johann co-created a workshop with improv pioneer, Jeff Wirth (founder of Interactive Theater International) and taught musical improv at SAK Comedy Lab. Wagner currently serves as a Musical Director at Portland's Curious Comedy Theater (2017—present), as well as for the improv supergroup, J Names.

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Thanks again for your interest in classes at Kickstand! We cannot wait to meet you!