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Acting Techniques: Improvisation


Improvisation is a valuable tool for actors to use while exploring a role. It allows you to be fully engaged during your performances, which in turn helps create nuanced, authentic performances. Taught by a professional acting coach, this course is designed to make you feel comfortable improvising while strengthening your active listening, adaptability, and ability to imagine.

The course begins by exploring the foundational principles of improvisation and how to apply them within the context of scripted scenes. You'll then work on how to develop the character you are portraying, using improvisation to inform your character's identity, motivations, and tactics. Through analysis, guidance, and exercises, you'll learn to apply improvisation to help develop character relationships, discern script tone, and craft your emotional and physical interpretation of your character. You'll also learn to take advantage of moments before your scenes and use the spaces between dialogues effectively in your performance.

Improvisation encourages actors to embrace the unknown without a predefined plan. The goal of this course is to practice risk-taking in a safe space, so that you'll have the confidence and courage to do so in auditions and in life.

What you will learn:

✔ Use improvisational techniques to add depth to your acting 
✔ Enhance scripted scenes by improvising the moments before them and infusing dialogue with spontaneity 
✔ Strengthen your character development skills 
✔ Improve your acting skills by learning to embrace mistakes, listen actively, and react authentically 

Next Session

Jan. 13 - Feb. 9, 2025 

Teen and adult sections

VIEW ALL DATES

Tuition

$299

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: 18+

Receive expert guidance
Learn from world-class faculty who provide personalized feedback
Learn at your own pace
Explore engaging video content and meaningful instruction
Meet your instructor and classmates
Join an optional weekly class to connect with other artists in real-time
Practice and create
Strengthen your craft over four weeks as you develop creative projects
Find collaborators
Collaborate on your projects—or just for fun—in direct messages and group chats
  • Computer or mobile device with Internet. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Interlochen Online certificateThis is one of three courses needed to complete the Acting Techniques certificate program.

Our online arts certificate programs are perfect for...

Adults looking to boost their creative résumé and LinkedIn profile

Teens who want to earn high school credit for their passion 

Upon completion of the program, you will receive a physical certificate and a shareable digital certificate. Certificates for students under 18 are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS); high school-age students will also receive an official transcript to share with their current school for consideration for high school credit.

Interlochen Online's Learning Experience

World-class. Inspiring. Flexible.

Meet the Faculty

Lori Pearlstein

Instructor of Theatre

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

Access From Resources from Interlochen Online

Experience Interlochen Online with free guides that teach you practical skills in the arts.

Acting Basics PDF thumbnail