Workshop limited to 18 students.

For festival tickets, please click here!

Your life is fabulous and unique and let’s find a way to share that as a source for improv. This workshop starts with a deep dive into first person monologues with Susan that are followed by John’s direction into an immersive reality, where monologues can support and punctuate your scenes. All levels welcome

Workshop: Thursday, July 9th, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Where: BCC Dog House, Studio 2 (137 Montrose Ave)

Teacher: Susan & John

Susan’s Bio:

Susan Messing graduated from Northwestern University with a theatre degree in 1986. She has been improvising ever since, creating curriculums, teaching and performing for the iO, The Annoyance, The Second City, DePaul University, The University of Chicago, and around the globe. Her critically acclaimed show, Messing With A Friend, which ran for eleven + years, is currently on hiatus as she wouldn't want anyone to potentially die simply from watching long form improvisational comedy. Now that she is fifty seven years old and in the middle of an international pandemic, she is questioning everything she has ever previously and fervently believed. Susan lives in Chicago with her fiercely smart, talented, and kind newly 18 year old daughter and their two stupid dogs and one moronic and whorish cat. She hopes you are doing ok and likes you tremendously.

John’s Bio:

John Lehr is a comedic performer, writer and producer working in television, film and theater.

Lehr starred as Leslie Pool in “10 Items or Less, ” from Sony on TBS for three seasons and recently starred as Sheriff Hoyle on Hulu’s original comedy western “Quickdraw” for two seasons. Lehr also co-created, wrote and executive produced both series.

Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial campaign. He appeared in dozens of spots, including the first commercial as a caveman boom operator, the caveman in therapy with Talia Shire, the tennis spot with Billy Jean King, Superbowl spots with Phil Simms and many more.

Under their banner Howler Monkey Productions, Lehr and producing partner Nancy Hower have created multiple projects, most involving their unique improvisationally-based “hybrid” style found in “ QuickDraw” (Hulu) “10 Items ” (TBS) “Jailbait (Crackle) and “Memron ” (Slamdance award-winner). With Lehr starring and Howler directing, the team completed comedy pilots “Let It Ride,” (Comedy Central), “Retreat!” (NBC), “Team McPhearson (Fox) and “King of Beers” (EUE/Sokolow). The team’s script/development deals include “The Loop” (HBO), “Troubadour” (MTV), “Life on Mars” (Sony/BBC), and “LARP” (Echo Lake), Tommy Chong’s Pipe Dreams (TBS).

If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.