John Gebretatose is an instructor, Co-Executive Director, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at HUGE Theater in Minneapolis. 

We’re hosting John during our November BIPOC improv celebration for three public workshops on Saturday and Sunday and a free BIPOC Jam on Sunday afternoon.

Characters on Characters on Characters
Nov 2nd Saturday Morning Workshop (2.5 hrs total)

This workshop will explore the challenge of one improviser playing multiple characters within one scene or show. We will look at ways to help you remember all those lovely characters in your brain while having fun. You will leave with a handle on what systems work best for you when remembering details and juggling all of your improv characters and their wants and needs, your improv plot points and more. We you’ll leave with tools to help you add more layers to your improv.

10am-12:30pm on Saturday, Nov 2 (pay what you can $45/55/75)
**This workshop is open to all experience levels.

Hard Topics
Nov 2nd Saturday Afternoon Workshop (2.5 hrs total)

This workshop will highlight what happens to us as performers when a scene becomes scary, offensive, or insensitive, and we freeze or lose ourselves. We explore some approaches to get the agency back when we find ourselves somewhere uncomfortable, tools for improvising mindfully, and finding a proactive voice for you and your show. We will learn the SwagHat format. A living room-style discussion, and then we perform scenes inspired by the conversation.

TRIGGER AND CONTENT WARNING: this is a class on scenes when you find yourself dealing with topics of race or socially and politically charged situations – which means it will include discussions and scenes dealing with race, gender* and other very personally sensitive areas and how to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and meaningfully when you find yourself there.

2-4:30pm on Saturday, Nov 2 (pay what you can $45/55/75)
**Six months improv experience required (or Hideout graduates of Level 3)

Felt Tips
Nov 3rd Sunday Workshop (2.5 hrs)

This improv workshop focuses on emotions as a focal tool to help free your brain from stressing out over what to do or say. We will use emotions as a compass to start scenes and also as a way to create momentum and energy to move your scenes along with direction. Emotions are a universal language, use them to add truthfulness, clarity, power and depth.

10am-12:30pm on Sunday, Nov 3 (pay what you can $45/55/75)
**Six months improv experience required (or Hideout graduates of Level 3)

Nov 3rd Sunday Jam (2.5 hrs)
A Very Special BIPOC Jam *FREE*
with John Gebretatose

This is a supercharged version of the BIPOC Jam, basically a free workshop with John Gebretatose for BIPOC improvisers. Come play!

2:30-5pm on Sunday, Nov 3 (FREE, with the option to donate $0/15/35)
**This workshop is open to all experience levels. 

More BIO:

John Gebretatose has been performing stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy in Minnesota’s Twin Cities for over 10 years. He is an instructor, Co-Executive Director, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at HUGE Theater in Minneapolis, MN, and has taught improv workshops in theaters, hospitals, corporate workspaces, K-12 schools, and colleges. He has also led and facilitated diversity and inclusion programming for improv theaters worldwide through his mission to uplift all voices. John trained and worked at the Brave New Workshop and is a founding member of Blackout Improv, Late Nights Minneapolis (a sketch comedy show), and co-founder of the Black and Funny Improv Festival. He has traveled the world performing, teaching, and directing improv.