Manila Improv Festival 2015

Shows

Wednesday, July 8th

• 8:00 pm – Opening Show (Impro Mafia, SPIT, Taichung Improv, The Beijing Collective)

Experience a merry mix of “tales” with “Chinese characteristics” as The Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT) officially open the Manila Improv Festival along with ImproMafia of Brisbane, Taichung Improv and the trio from The Beijing Collective.

Thursday, July 9th

• 8:00 pm – Feature 2 (PIP Show, Switch, The Beijing Collective, Bacolod Improv Group)

Catch Manila-based Switch, our Ilonggo cousins Bacolod Improv Group, 2 Slavic minstrels from Warsaw (PIP Show) and brand new troupe The Beijing Collective as they add extra flavor to their own improv formats.

Friday, July 10th

• 2:00 pm – Student Matinee (One and a Half Men, Dulaang Atenista, Taichung Improv, The Beijing Collective)

Spend your afternoon exploring and enjoying improv with student groups One and a Half Men (Manila), Dulaang Atenista (Cagayan de Oro) and international groups Taichung Improv and The Beijing Collective.

• 8:00 pm – Feature 3 (Pirates of Tokyo Bay, Bacolod Improv Group, People’s Republic of Comedy, PIP Show)

2013 Festival favorites Pirates of Tokyo Bay are back, along with Festival first timers Bacolod Improv Group, People’s Republic of Comedy (Shanghai) and PIP Show (Warsaw).

• 10:00 pm – Late Night Show 1 (Switch, Zmack, International Jam)

Not sleepy? Not a problem. Catch the first of two late night Festival shows with Switch (Manila), Zmack (Shanghai) and a whole lot more improv as all groups kick off the weekend with an International Jam!

Saturday, July 11th

• 2:00 pm – Matinee A (ImproMafia, The Improv Company, People’s Liberation Improv, Taichung Improv)

Brisbane’s ImproMafia showcases their own brand of genre-based theater as Asian groups The Improv Company (Singapore), People’s Liberation Improv (Hong Kong) and Taichung Improv bridge cultural divide through scenes and stories that are all fun and all improvised.

• 5:00 pm – Matinee B (Pirates of Tokyo Bay, People’s Republic of Comedy, To Be Continued, PIP Show)

Spend your Saturday afternoon watching unscripted and unrehearsed performances by Pirates of Tokyo Bay, People’s Republic of Comedy (Shanghai), To Be Continued (Hong Kong) and PIP Show (Warsaw).

• 8:00 pm – Feature 4 (ImproMafia, SPIT, 3 Dudes, Zmack)

Let Brisbane’s ImproMafia, Hong Kong’s 3 Dudes and Shanghai’s Zmack entertain you with even more of their signature improv style and make sure to continue on with your suggestions with Manila’s SPIT!

July 12 Sunday

• 2:00 pm – Matinee C (SPIT, The Improv Company, 3 Dudes, Lamb Ink)

Home team SPIT will entertain you this last Festival day, along with Singapore’s The Improv Company, Hong Kong’s 3 Dudes and finally, walk through “The Awakening” by Hong Kong’s Lamb Ink.

• 5:00 pm – Closing Show

Before the Festival ends, crown the “Best Improviser” as players from all groups share the stage to compete against each other through unexpected twists, turns and improvised mayhem in a Micetro – a classic format that ends with just ONE improviser standing.

Workshops

Thursday, July 9th

• 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (4 hours) Studio B

Take It To the Bridge
Intermediate/Advanced workshop on Musical Improv
By: Dave Cooper, The Beijing Collective (Beijing)
Age: Adults
What: This workshop gets improvisers into the groove with key song structures so that they can learn to collaboratively create songs off the cuff. How do you improv a Verse or Chorus? Then take it to the Bridge? Targeting improvisers that are already very comfortable singing known-song games (blues, dooronron, etc) and want to go further.

• 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (4 hours) Studio A

Physical Training for Performance: an Intro to Viewpoints Techniques
Workshop ideal for actors of all level
By: John Maloney, Taichung Improv (Taiwan)
Age: 17 and above
What: Viewpoints Techniques are physical exercises that prepare actors to take fuller advantage of their senses during rehearsal and performance. It aims to enable performers to respond naturally and inhabit the stage with a highly developed awareness of their spatial and temporal relationships to the environment and other performers.

Friday, July 10th (workshops for children and teens)

• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO A

Play – Speak – Action!
Improvisational drama workshop for kids
By: Josh Myers, Taichung Improv (Taiwan)
Age: 8-12 years old
What: A basic introduction to improvisational drama skills through games and exercises that are age appropriate and creates maximum fun, spontaneous involvement and easy to accomplish challenges. The class focuses on stimulating kids’ natural curiosity and desire to explore by guiding their inherent creative energy to discover something new, something exciting and something imaginative.

• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO B

Just Add Some Salt
Basic improvisation workshop for teens
By: Lauren Bening, To Be Continued (Hong Kong)
Age: 13-17 years old
What: This workshop will focus on character development and the integration of character work into all aspects of improv. We will work through different approaches to finding a character, accepting character offers from other players, and the ability to quickly create a strong character on the spot. This is not a workshop on accents; a good character offer is about speech, the physical and status. We will look at giving and accepting offers, finding solutions when you get stuck, and supporting your fellow improviser when they are stuck. Come along for a great laugh, and walk away with a handful of new possibilities for your comedy!

Saturday, July 11th

• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO A

Improv for Japanese Language Students
A basic improvisation workshop for Japanese language students in Manila. In cooperation with The Japan Foundation Manila Office
By: Mike Staffa, Pirates of Tokyo Bay (Tokyo)
Age: 15 – older
What: This bilingually led workshop aims to let participants experience Improv. By using the tricks and tools taught by our multiple teachers, they will be able to understand just how much work can go into something that looks fun and effortless. This workshop also focuses on how the techniques that are useful for performers on stage are also invaluable in everyday interactions anywhere from the home to the school or office.

• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO B

Slow Comedy with PIP
Intermediate workshop for improvisers and actors
By: Piotr and Pawel, PIP Show (Warsaw)
Age: Adults
What: Piotr and Pawel specialize in the art of slow comedy and they invite you to participate in the workshop that will teach the basics of this beautiful form of improv. Exercises will focus on finding the truth of the character, playing close to your self, reading the intentions from someone’s look or voice and honest interaction between improvisers. This workshop will remove from your mindset the burden of “making up the story” and will demonstrate that exposing yourself is the best you can do on the stage.

• 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO A

Long Form Techniques
Intermediate Improv Class
By: Aryn Cristobal, SPIT (Manila)
Age: Adults
What: This workshop deals with the basic principles of improv applied in the long format called the Harold. Participants will learn how to develop interesting scene work, edit, and know the science behind group games for break scenes. Participants must have some short form improv experience.

• 1:00 PM -5:00 PM (4 hours), STUDIO B

Improv Basics
Beginners Improv workshop for adults (non actors)
By: Bacolod Improv Group (Bacolod City)
Age: Adults
What: An introductory course on improvisational theater specifically designed for individuals with little or no theater or acting experience.