GROTESQUE CHARACTERS
Grotesque comes from greek work cryptos meaning “hidden place.” Grotesque characters are able to expose the ugly hidden nature of society's many archetypes and situations. This satirical form lives in the world of opposition, characters are insecure but at the same time narcissistic, hunchbacked but at the same time trying to achieve perfect posture. Through body stuffing and personality flip-flopping, we will discover characters pushed to the end of their physical and mental limit. For improvisers, sketch writers, and actors who are interested in character work and satire (comedy that provokes and challenges our current socio-political culture).
*Based on Tara's training at Helikos International School of Theatre Creation in Italy.
PREREQUISITE: Improv 101
INSTRUCTOR
Tara Demmy
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Tara Demmy is a Philadelphia-based improviser, actor, and teaching artist. She has trained in comedic improvisation at Second City Chicago, the Upright Citizens Brigade NYC, and Philly Improv Theater where she performs regularly. Tara has performed with the N Crowd, Iron Lung, PHIT’s Story UP!, PHIT house team Dr. Sleepover, and former PHIT house team Hey Rube. She has taken workshops with Jill Bernard, Mark Sutton, Zach Ward, Jet Eveleth, and Armando Diaz. Tara is a graduate of Denison University and Helikos: International School of Theater Creation in Italy. Tara has been teaching for over five years and is currently a teaching artist for Arden Theatre Company ( improv and theater for grades K-12), Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (afterschool theater for grades 5-8), and Philly Improv Theater (improv for adults and through the Kids & Teens program grades 6-8).
WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT TARA
“Tara was super fun, very energetic and inclusive. I can’t imagine someone walking away from her class without being excited about improv” — “It is not easy to get a large group of adults to act silly in front of one another without feeling weird, but Tara made us all super comfortable being creative and open.”
