BCAF 2017 Workshop: Burn Your Fear with Philip Markle (NYC)

Workshop description:
This class aims to light your improvisation on fire. It will help remind you what you love about improv, slap you out of whatever fear is holding you back, and cut out the naysaying voices in your head that cloud your inspiration. We will look at how we sometimes censor or bail on our choices out of a need to make the “right choice" when improvising. Instead, let's agree that there is no right or wrong choice, only a weak or strong one, and see what happens when we give ourselves the freedom to simply trust and commit to whatever comes up. We will marry a sense of playful abandonment with actionable techniques to start scenes boldly, heighten them via specific and surprising choices, and employ context (who, what, where, when, why, etc.) without getting in our heads about it. This class will move quickly, keep you on your feet, and challenge you with personal feedback. Let's bring the whimsy to your make-em-ups!

Instructor Bios:

Philip Markle moved to NYC in 2013 to launch the theatre and training center of The Annoyance Theater NY, where he taught, performed, and acted as its Executive Director until Fall 2016. Philip graduated Northwestern University and produced, performed and trained in Chicago at comedy theaters such as The Annoyance, iO, and Second City. He has taught and performed internationally, from Berlin to Bali, and currently teaches independent writing and improv classes in NYC, as well as through Tom Todoroff's acting studio. He regularly performs and writes comedy in NYC, as in a company member of BLANK: The Musical, running Off-Broadway. Philip is a member of Baby Wants Candy and the creator of the musical improv show Happy Karaoke Fun Time, which ran for 6+ years in Chicago and Off-Broadway in NY. In Wilmette, IL, Philip launched and taught at The Actors Training Center, an acting studio where he also acted as Associate Director. As a storyteller, he has performed with The Moth and The Paper Machete. He is a proud member of the children’s education theatre companies The Story Pirates and Barrel of Monkeys. He executive produced, wrote, and acted in the digital shorts series The Annoyance Presents on IFC's Comedy Crib. Philip has written two one-man shows - his first solo show, Sparkle Hour, was featured in the 2013 International NY Fringe Festival. He is represented commercially by Stewart Talent NY.