We learn in Improvisation that “It’s all about Listening”. In this workshop I will offer specific instruction to help your characters more easily see what is happening, both circumstantially and interpersonally, in your scenes. Engaging the way that characters listen to their scene partner toquickly understand the connection between you and the context of what the scene is about is the goal of this workshop. I will show you how to listen through Curiosity and Suspicion, the key “active listening tools” in scenic improvisation, and pay attention to the mix of Circumstantial and Interpersonal cues so that your scene will have the best chance to serve your scene, story, comedy and/or long form to the maximum. This workshop is an expansion on a piece of my bigger teaching philosophy and Intensive weekend, Comedy From Connection.

Joe Bill is widely regarded as one of the finest improv teachers working today. He is a co-founder of Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre, served as Director of Corporate Training at iO Chicago for 15 years, and spent another 15 years as a Teacher and Guest Artist in Residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center. He began improvising in 1977 and studied with the legendary Del Close. A duo specialist himself, Joe is one half of the long-running improvised show BASSPROV (with Mark Sutton) and tours the world performing in duos with celebrated partners including Jill Bernard, Patti Stiles, Stacey Hallal, Heather Urquhart, Lee White, and David Razowsky. Joe’s teaching weaves together scenic craft and an awareness of neuroscience to help improvisers find comedy from connection on stage.