2024 Workshops – Northwest Improv Fest

Improv workshops sold separately.
100% of proceeds go directly to the instructor.

All workshops will be held on Saturday, May 18 between 10AM-5PM.

‘No!’ for ‘Yes!’

When, Where, and How to Use ‘No’ for Good Instead of Evil

by Aden & Eric Nepom

Length: 2 Hours
Time: 3 PM
Max Class Size: 16
Cost: $30

“Yes! And…” is our improv mantra isn’t it?? Look, we all know that ‘No’ is a strong, powerful word, but can ‘No’ still lead to building something great on stage? This workshop will dive into using ‘No’ as a launch pad to progress scenes forward and break the habits of relying on ‘No’ as a shield that guards us from making choices that scare us. Embrace your character’s honest reactions and understand your fellow players better! Using skills improvisers have worked on for years, this workshop aims to bring out all the good ‘No’ can has to offer your improv, your mental health and the world!. Learn to harness ‘No’ for the power of ‘Yes!’

Instructor Bio:

Real life couple Aden and Eric Nepom have been improvising for over 50 years between the two of them. They have been playing together for roughly nine years, and have only been married for seven blissful years. Recognized for outstanding skills in theatre, speech, communication and development, these two share a passion for committed character work, grounded platform building and that moment where one realizes that anything can happen in improv! Individually they’ve created programming, won awards and traveled the world as improv teachers, stage performers and educators. Together, they’ve taught and performed on stages from as close as 20 minutes from their house, to as far away as Tel Aviv. Their festival appearances include the Fertile Ground Festival in Portland, OR, the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, the Alaska State Improv Festival in Juneau, AK, the Seattle Festival of Improvised Theatre in Seattle, WA, New York Musical Improv Fest in NY, and Mount Olymprov Greek International Improv Festival in Athens, Greece and many more.

Show Me -
Don't Tell Me

by Nelson Velazquez

Length: 3 Hours
Time: 10 AM
Max Class Size: 15
Cost: $50

Words – they can get in the way of delivering excellent scenes. So throw them away! This unique workshop uses physical theatre improvisation and speechless scenes along with mask work and music to discover communication through body language and silent interactions. Develop new characters & initiations and sustain deeper interactions with players of all skill levels using these techniques.

Instructor Bio:

Nelson Velazquez has been involved in improvisational theatre since 2004. His current teaching duties include serving as faculty at Second City Chicago, as an instructor with Improductions, LLC, and a guest instructor at various theatres across the world. He is the former Artistic Director & current board member of Salsation Theatre Company, a 20+ year old Latino theatre company specializing in sketch and improv comedy. He currently serves as head musical director for Los Improviachis, an improvised musical mariachi band. He has trained and performed at Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and ComedySportz Chicago and has performed with various groups across the country. He’s also a former associate producer for the Chicago Improv Festival. Nelson was also the founder of the improv program at Crown Point Community Theatre and is currently the CEO for Improductions, LLC. He’s taught workshops across the country including The Baltimore Improv Festival, The Chicago Improv Festival, The San Jose Improv Festival, The San Diego Improv Festival The Trill Comedy Festival, Melanin LatinX Comedy Festival, and The Grand Rapids Improv Festival.

Unlocking The Power of Storytelling

by Sean Hancock

Length: 2 Hours
Time: 1 PM
Max Class Size: 30
Cost: $30

Are you ready to unlock the power of storytelling and discover the stories that live within you? Join us for a fun and interactive workshop led by Sean Hancock, the co-owner of Recycled Minds Comedy, author and an award-winning actor and storyteller.

Drawing from his expertise in improv and comedy, Sean will guide you through a series of exercises designed to help you uncover the stories you may have forgotten you had in you, and learn how to captivate your audience from the very beginning.

Sean is also the creator of the popular online course "The Story Starter Kit", which provides valuable insights and techniques for becoming a better storyteller.

Instructor Bio:

Sean Hancock is the co-owner of Recycled Minds Comedy and an award-winning actor and storyteller. With years of experience in improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy, as well as filmmaking, Sean has developed a unique approach to storytelling that has helped countless performers elevate their craft, and get on more stages.

Musical Improv For Non-Musicians

by Dartanion London

Length: 2 Hours
Time: 3 PM
Max Class Size: 16
Cost: $30

How to approach musical improv from an improv-first perspective. All levels of musical experience are welcome!

Instructor Bio:

Dartanion London has a wealth of improv experience, having graduated from the Upright Citizens Brigade training program, and been a mainstage cast member at both Jet City Improv and The Upfront Theatre.

Initiate It Different: Premise-Based Initiations

by Victoria Koenitzer

Length: 2 Hours
Time: 1 PM
Max Class Size: 12
Cost: $30

Have you ever started scenes wondering who you are and what is going on? Let’s start scenes with a clear first line that contains a reality and a funny idea. Learn to pull ideas effectively from monologues, living room openings, and more in order to get on the same page at the beginning of the scene so that you can have fun playing with and exploring the funny thing for the rest of the scene. Let’s learn to start with a clear idea and empower ourselves from the second we step off the backline

Instructor Bio:

Victoria Koenitzer is an improviser and instructor based in San Diego, California. She currently teaches core-curriculum classes and her own curriculum electives at Finest City Improv and Mockingbird Improv. She has also taught at Cornerstone Improv and currently independently teaches workshops. She currently performs on a resident Armando house team at Finest City Improv, as well as with numerous indie teams.

Victoria is a graduate of the Upright Citizens Brigade who has also trained at World's Greatest Improv School, the Pack Theater, Camp Improv Utopia, and more. Victoria has performed in improv festivals across four states and three countries.

Create Stronger Characters in 4 Easy Steps

by Noah Johnson

Length: 2 Hours
Time: 10 AM
Max Class Size: 16
Cost: $30

Want to learn how to create stronger characters in your scenework? In this 2-hour workshop, I will equip you with tools to be able to create strong characters from nothing. This is great for intermediate improvisers who have been doing improv for about a year, or want to expand their range with character work!

Instructor Bio:

Noah Johnson is the founder of Levity Theatre in Coeur D'Alene, ID. He has been improvising since 2018, and teaching since 2019, and has created several lesson plans from intro to improv to intermediate long form.