The first IMPROV THEATRE WORKSHOP with John Manley
It has long been a goal of NEAT to attempt IMPROV THEATRE and with John Manley, we have found a highly experienced, affable instructor. The first workshop, on Saturday, July 13, was a fun afternoon spent learning the rudiments of this deceptively easy looking form of entertainment. Although everyone involved has a lot of stage experience, the improve exercises proved to be quite challenging. The first workshop focused on Short Form Improv, which consists of short scenes, constructed from a “game” structure or idea, usually triggered by an audience suggestion.
Improv Theatre, for the most part, is unplanned and unscripted: created spontaneously by the performers on the spur of the moment. All the elements of theatre; story, action, characters and dialogue are created as the improvisation unfolds in real time.
John stresses the importance of listening and maintaining a continuous, conscious awareness of the other actors on stage. It is the collaborative aspect of improvisation that makes a story successful. Each actor involved in the improvised story should be trusting and supportive of the team effort and help fellow participants in furthering the plot and telling the story realistically. No matter where the story is set; whether in familiar circumstances or on a foreign planet in the depths of the universe, it must be believable. That’s why John stresses the truth and authenticity of the situation as a further essential
With the help of John Manley, we will continue to hone our Improve skills, finding ways to access free flow of thought and storytelling intuition to eventually offer this popular form of entertainment to the Stuttgart audience in English!
Aspiring Improvisers at the First Workshop were –
Elena Gallego, Sylvia Owens, Helen Khorrami, Kirsten Schulze, Nadia Duran, Monica von Radowitz, Susan Schwartz, Erica Applezweig, Joerg Witzsch, Derrick Jenkins, Tobias Constien, Ravi Kanth, Bryan Groenjes, Mohammad Yazan Sabouni, Max Oisin, Charles C. Urban
John Manley is a graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and arrived in Stuttgart in June 2018. He made his NEAT debut as Karl Lindner, in Brittany Mbuyamba’s 2019 staging of A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Karl Lindner) by Lorraine Hansberry.
John is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with, a BS in Radio / TV / Film. During his time at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting he appeared in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Charlie) and THE HOT L BALTIMORE (Morse). Other NYC performances included 7 years with THE YES SHOW Improve Troupe; PHILOCTETES (Chorus) with the Warrior Chorus; THE TELLLING PROJECT: NYC (Veteran); MODERN DAY and on television MR. ROBOT (Businessman). He has also appeared in the Stuttgart Theatre Centre production of AVENUE Q (Nicky).
New English American Theater Stuttgart 
this looks so exciting! fun pix!
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