Improv in Berkeley, CA
Full Spectrum Improvisation Classes & Workshops
Full Spectrum training releases powerful creative energy, imagination and natural spontaneity. Beyond comedy “Improv,” FSI activates full emotional and physical range to create Improvisational Theatre of authenticity and substance, as well as joyful, intoxicating play.
Classes include expressive movement and voice, storytelling, acting technique & discovering personal material.
Make peace with your inner critic
Learn to trust your intuition
Develop confidence and ease
Practice connecting/collaborating with others
All classes are ongoing. Join almost any time. Please call or email with questions and to register. Please register at least 48 hours in advance of class. And, feel free to check with us at the last minute if you have a sudden impulse to come to class. Subsidized tuition for low-income and BIPOC folks available.
Classes:
BERKELEY IMPROV and ACTING CLASS – Intermediate / Advanced
Teachers: Joya Cory, Marcia Aguilar, Sidonie Starr
Location: Wildcat Studio – 2525 8th Street, Berkeley CA
3 SATURDAYS per month, 1 pm – 4:30 pm
Jan 4, 11, 18, February 1, 8, 15, March 1, 8, 15.
Try your first class anytime for $20!
4 class series: Sliding Scale: $170-$210. Your tuition for 4 classes must be used within 8 weeks.
Early Bird sign-up,10%off, by December 24
Class Size: 12 max
If you want to go deeper than you have in comedy improv class, this training is for you. Take a deep dive into creative collaboration while developing your skills as an improvising actor. Expand your range of movement and voice and practice techniques to create rich and artful improvised language. You’ll get lots of personal attention to address your strengths and challenges. We’ll have some big fun playing and performing together.
New Berkeley Beginner/ Intermediate class. All welcome.
Taught by Marcia Aguilar. Marcia is a highly skilled improviser, actor and Drama Therapist, who has studied FSI for 13 years. Her teaching style is supportive and gentle.
If you’ve never taken an Improv class but always wanted to or you’re new to Full Spectrum Improvisation but have some experience with other forms of improvisation, or you want help with your fear of public speaking, or you just want to have some deep fun, this class is for you. You'll expand expressiveness with storytelling, games and exercises that engage your full range of movement, voice, and emotion.
Location: Wildcat Studio – 2525 8th Street, Berkeley CA
4 class series: Saturdays, 11 am-1pm, Jan 4 & 18 and Feb 8 & 15.
Early bird sign up: $105, after December, 26: $140 (may join at 2nd class)
Click here for registration.
Learn more about Marcia here.
ONLINE Improv Class (ZOOM Virtual) – All Levels
Teachers: Joya Cory
Location: Zoom Virtual
Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Dates: Every Wednesday
Class Size: 10 max
We focus on 2 person scenes and a variety of storytelling structures.
5 Class Series: sliding scale – $100-$125
Click Here to View Calendar
Teacher Bios
Joya Cory
Master teacher JOYA CORY, has been performing since 1971. She is the creator of numerous original theatre pieces, acts, directs & teaches in a wide variety of venues and founded the Improvisation troupes, MOTION: The Womens’ Performance Collective & LUCKY DOG THEATRE. Her work has been recognized with grants from the California Arts Council, in addition to other grants and awards. Through years of experimenting with many forms & techniques of IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE, Joya has developed FULL SPECTRUM IMPROVISATION drawing on principles & exercises from Physical Theatre, Dramatic & Narrative Improvisation, Movement Viewpoints, Method Acting, Comedy Improv, Creative Play & Drama Therapy. Joya has trained actors, therapists, teachers, public speakers and business people, as well as teaching movement and drama for healing. She is a dedicated and innovative teacher. Reviews of Joya’s classes and performances are on YELP.com and on this site.
Marcia Aguilar
Arriving in San Francisco in 2009, Marcia Aguilar walked into Joya Cory’s Full Spectrum Improvisation class to discover herself. As a bilingual drama therapist, Marcia fuses play, theater, and healing. She specializes in Developmental Transformations, an embodied art practice. Marcia also directs self-revelatory performances, guiding actors towards healing through original theatrical pieces. As a recent recipient of the SF Arts Commission grant, she is devising her third solo show. Marcia teaches Improv for Real Life with Berkeley Improv and hosts an Improv for BIPOC drop-in on Sundays. Visit cocreatetheater.com for more info.
Sidonie Starr
Sidonie Starr has been studying Full Spectrum Improvisation with Joya since 2015. With a background in masks, puppets, and other forms of physical theater, Sid seeks to integrate the abstract, musical, and highly-physical with improv. She is also active in the world of Narrative Improv, currently as faculty at Leela (SF), where she teaches a class nicknamed “emotional literacy for improvisors.” Previously, she was Director of Experimental Programming at Pan Theater (Oakland) where she produced the Lab Show series, which supported improvisors devising their first shows.