We’ve got surprise guest instructor Jeff Gladstone in town for SXSW, so we’re putting him to work on Saturday for a couple of unmissable improv workshops. He was in the very first Maestro ever at the Loose Moose theater in Calgary. And he’s done a ton of stuff with our favorite improv guru Keith Johnstone.
Keith Johnstone according to Jeff Gladstone
Saturday, March 16, 3-5:30pm
Using techniques from years of improv theatre and work with Keith Johnstone, Jeff will give you new skills that can help engage audiences in a more meaningful and playful way. Participants will learn ways to gather truthful stories from audience members in context of an improv show, and use them to inspire scenes and performances that honor their experience while creating mischievous, dynamic, heart wrenching, hilarious theatre.
2.5 hours / Pay what you can $25-$59 / **Class held at the Hideout Annex (5555 N Lamar Blvd B103)
Maestro Bootcamp
Saturday, March 16, 7-9:30pm
Jeff has been performing and directing Maestro since its inception at Loose Moose Theatre in 1996. Whether you are new to the format or a Maestro maestro, this workshop will give you a deeper understanding of the game within the format, and skills to find more variety and heart in the content. Topics include how to love losing, moving beyond games, directing and being directed, honoring the audience, and finding truthfulness.
2.5 hours / Pay what you can $25-$59 / **Class held at the Hideout Annex (5555 N Lamar Blvd B103)
Jeff Gladstone is an actor, producer and teacher with 30 years experience in improvisation. He was Artistic Director of the International Theatresports Institute from 2019 to 2024, and is the co-founder and director of Education for Tightrope Theatre in Vancouver BC. He started at the Loose Moose Theatre learning from Keith Johnstone, where he was a part of the very first
Maestro Impro shows, and was the first to develop musical improv games and formats there. He was Co-Artistic Director with Veena Sood of The Life Game, producing nearly 100 shows, as well as a live recorded podcast for CBC Radio. His new show, F*ck Marry Kill: The Improv Show, has been running to sold out houses at Tightrope since September, and will start touring this summer. Jeff has taught improvisation to actors, writers, children, seniors, doctors, lawyers, at Tightrope, Arts Club Theatre, and the National Theatre School of Canada. As an actor, Jeff has appeared in 4 seasons at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vancouver, as well as feature films She Talks To Stranger & Kingsway by Bruce Sweeney, and the upcoming KRYPTIC
directed by Kourtney Roy.