Carla and Craig teach workshops individually and collectively and are happy to send you some options from our arsenal if you’re interested in bringing us to your improv community. Go to our CONTACT page on the site and fill out our form to reach us. Thank you!
HOW TO IMPROVISE LIKE A MARRIED COUPLE – Up to 18 people, 2 or 3 hour workshop, co-taught by Craig & Carla
The same communication skills that make for a successful relationship make for a successful improvised scene. Real-life married couple Craig and Carla Cackowski (from the duo Orange Tuxedo) share their favorite exercises that foster open communication between scene partners! Learn how to read each other’s minds, express your ideas clearly and shape your duo’s comedic voice.
CLOSE QUARTERS FOR DUOS – Up to 8 duos (16 people), 2 or 3 hour workshop, co-taught by Craig & Carla)
Carla and Craig will give you and your duo partner a crash course on how they’ve modified the improv form, “Close Quarters”, over the last decade of performing it together all over the world. All of the scenes in “Close Quarters” take place in the same (general location), at the same (general) time.
CRAIG’S WORKSHOP OFFERINGS
SUSTAINING A SCENE – This is for advanced improvisors who want to learn “slow play”. Best with 12 people.
Sure, your scenework’s pretty good. But can you do a 10-minute scene? A 20-minute scene? An hourlong scene? Craig Cackowski shares some of the techniques he’s learned about long. slow, patient scenework from his years working with such groups as Orange Tuxedo and Quartet.
SELL IT! – This is good for newbies, and all skill levels. Best for 16-18 people.
Energy, confidence and decisiveness are 90% of the battle in improv, i.e. it’s not so much what you say as when you say it and how you say it. How comfortable you are on stage will have a huge impact on how you’re perceived by the audience. Whether you’re a veteran improvisor or new to the artform, this is the perfect workshop for the performer who needs to practice owning their impulses and delivering them with confidence right away.
DR. CACKY’S IMPROV CLEANSING – Recommend at least 6 months experience. Best with 12 people.
Is your scene work tired and sluggish? Are you falling back on the same tired choices and characters you always make? Do you need to get back to basics and be playful and strong again? If so, Dr. Cacky’s Improv Cleansing is for you. He’ll give you the improv equivalent of a high colonic, flushing the toxins of insecurity and indecision out of your system. You’ll also receive some personalized feedback via e-mail!
EXPANDING YOUR RANGE: A CHARACTER WORKSHOP – Good for all skill levels. Max. 16 people.
Character in sketch comedy might mean funny wigs and glasses, but how do we create character in improvised scenes? And how do we develop and heighten those characters over the course of a scene, while still working with our partner? Craig will share a number of character-developing exercises, from the subtle to “over the top”, and you’ll never be accused of “always playing yourself” again!!
FORMS!
Craig has been a part of developing and advancing many different longform improv formats, and is always happy to do form-specific workshops on La Ronde, Close Quarters, The Party, JTS Brown, Armando, Harold, and more!
CARLA’S WORKSHOP OFFERINGS
THE “I” IN IMPROVISATION – Up to 16 students, best for improvisers with some experience.
The thing that sets improv apart from most other performing arts is how much of ourselves we bring to our shows. We are performer, writer, and director each time we hit the stage. In this workshop we’ll explore different ways you can tap into your authentic self while living under imaginary circumstances. We’ll examine your own opinions as the performer in the scene and experiment with ways to funnel your unique POV into the character you are playing. We will work on finding the balance between performer/writer/director and how you can be truthful to yourself in the scene, while also making space for your scene partners to honor their own authenticity.
YOUR PROMISE TO THE AUDIENCE – Up to 18 students, good for improvisers of all levels.
A character’s point of view is the funnel through which they view the world. Your first character’s choice of point of view is what you promise the audience and following through on that promise is your objective.This workshop focuses on initiating, exploring, and heightening point of view so you can relax and let your character’s voice do all the heavy lifting.
BE YOUR OWN ACTION HERO! – Up to 18 students, good for improvisers of all levels.
Saying yes isn’t just agreeing to the reality your partner is creating in the scene. It’s also saying yes to actively moving the scene forward. This workshop focuses on making active, fun choices so you can avoid talking about what you’re doing and pursue tackling what you’re doing instead. If you have been in a rut or recently found yourself standing around onstage with nothing more to offer than being a talking head, this workshop is for you!
BE REAL – Up to 16 students, best for improvisers with some experience.
Every improviser at one time or another has gotten the note, “Be more grounded.” But what does that really mean and how do I do it onstage? If the audience can recognize where your characters are coming from, then they can relax and connect to the heart of what you’re doing up there. This workshop is all about discovering ways to help you slow down and create recognizable human behavior, even if the circumstances of your scene out of this world!
WRITING SKETCH COMEDY FOR STAGE & SCREEN – Up to 20 students, good for all levels.
In this sketch comedy workshop, you will learn how to take your comedic ideas from premise to fully fleshed out script. Students will brainstorm ideas with the group and then learn a seven beat structure Carla has used while writing sketch shows for stage and television. Each participant will walk away with new techniques for pitching, outlining, and writing dialogue for the hilarious sketches that they can then go off and produce themselves!
Orange Tuxedo 