We’re four minutes into a shaky improv scene. We’re getting some laughs, sort of, but the longer the scene goes on the more obvious it becomes - we don’t know who the hell we are to each other. My character’s name is Diane, I think, and yours is something like Steve…or Stan. But are we married? Roommates? Co-workers? Like…who the hell are we? And if we don’t know, why should the audience care?

Sound familiar?

Yeah. It happens to all of us. Sometimes a lot. So let’s break that cycle. Let’s work on making strong, clear choices about our characters and relationships. Relationships that will drive the scene, create compelling theater, and make our jobs up there so. much. SIMPLER.

See you there!

Prerequisite: You need to have taken one level of improv classes anywhere and know the basics

Cost: $60.00

Length: 3 hours

All proceeds are donated to Snow Day’s fundraising goal.

NANCY HAYDEN

Nancy Hayden began as a writer/performer in the Mainstage cast of The Second City in Detroit. After co-writing and appearing in five revues, Nancy went on to become a director of several Second City productions, including the first ever national touring Theatricals production, “My Cousin’s Wedding.” Other directing titles include “Blah-Blah Sista’hood” and the Second City Detroit Mainstage revue “Jihad It Up to Here.”

In her television career, Nancy has worked as a staff writer for “Detroiters” on Comedy Central, as well as several productions for Bravo, including “Bravo After Hours” and the digital series, “Ex-Housewife.” She also wrote shorts for DreamWorksTV and AwesomenessTV and co-wrote “Love, Factually,” the hit holiday parody that ran at The Kennedy Center.

Nancy has taught improvisation, acting, directing, and writing at The Second City and improv/sketch creation at Michigan State University and California Institute of the Arts. She served as Producer of The Second City Detroit before becoming Associate Artistic Director of The Second City Hollywood. She was then named Artistic Director of the Second City Training Center in Chicago. Most recently Nancy was thrilled to return to her beloved hometown of Detroit when she was named Executive Director of the Detroit Creativity Project, a non-profit that provides improv training as a crucial life skill to the students of the Detroit public schools.