Workshop Description
Improv relies on the unexpected — unexpected scenarios, unexpected ideas, unexpected responses to these ideas, and…very important...characters with unexpected perspectives. In improv, the unexpected begets the unexpected. Sometimes we tend to limit or recycle characters’ perspectives, and that’s normal...but over time, this trend will constrain discoveries. Therefore, it’s essential we push ourselves to find new and unexpected perspectives outside of our known comfort zone. This is one way to ensure lively improv. In this workshop, Liz encourages avenues for creating new characters and demonstrates the payoff of unexpected perspectives. Ages 16+.
 
Instructor Bio
 
Liz Allen
For the past 3 decades, Liz has coached, directed and performed improv. In 1995, her improv troupe performed the first-ever improv show at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For 3 years, Liz was iO’s Training Center Director. She has coached many teams, including Valhalla, Judgement Free Tailor Shop, and Mission Improvable, founders of the Westside Comedy Theater in Los Angeles.
 
In 1999, 2000 & 2001 Liz won iO Theater’s Coach of the Year Award, renamed the Liz Allen Excellence in Teaching Award.
 
In 2004, Liz directed a main stage revue for The Second City at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Vegas Theater Hub awarded Liz as Guest Speaker of the Year and Best Workshop of the Year 2015.
 
Liz was honored to coach The Commune, the improv ensemble in Mike Birbiglia’s 2016 feature film Don’t Think Twice.
 
Before discovering improv, Liz worked for ten years as a consulting engineer. After receiving a BS Mechanical Engineering from NC State, Liz worked with United Engineers-Raytheon. In 1990, after moving to Chicago for a pharmaceutical construction project with Abbott Laboratories, Liz attended a show at The Second City, got bit by improv, eventually shifted careers.