PLAYING WITH CHARACTER

About this Class

Prerequisite: Level 201 (completing 101/201 meets this requirement) Great characters are more than just a a funny voice or a wacky hat—they are people with a distinct, playable Point of View. In this 4-week Special Topics class, we will use theatrical techniques to build three-dimensional characters who feel authentic enough to inhabit a play, but flexible enough to fuel an improv scene. We will explore how physicality, vocal expression, and emotional stakes create a lens through which your character sees the world. When you fully commit to a character’s truth you can start discovering the comedy that naturally emerges from that unique perspective. Come find out how much easier improv feels when you know exactly who you are. Key Class Takeaways: * POV as the Engine: Learn how a strong, specific Point of View (POV) serves as a filter for your reactions. * Physicality & Voice: Explore outside-in techniques to let changes in posture and vocal resonance inform your emotional reality. * Total Conviction: Practice the interdependence of acting and comedy by treating your character’s absurd wants with absolute seriousness. * The "Why" Behind the "What": Move beyond what a character does to understand why they do it, unlocking a deeper level of connection and justification. Instructor: Kate McGroarty Kate McGroarty is a writer, performer, and director who has enjoyed over a decade of involvement with the performing arts in Chicago, Boston, and Rhode Island. Some of her favorite performances include sold-out runs with her Chicago-based sketch group Shanna’s Mom, music improv with groups Hidden Falls and One Night Only, and tenures on ImprovBoston’s Mainstage and National Touring Company. She is a graduate of the theater program at Northwestern University and the Music Improv Conservatory and Improv Conservatory programs at The Second City Training Center in Chicago.