Sign up for Our 2026 Workshops!
Join CPC’s expert workshop leaders — these are great opportunities to learn new things, sharpen your theatre skills, and make new friends in a fun, casual environment.
All workshops will be held at the Players Studio, 435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, NH. For directions to the Studio, please CLICK HERE
NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR ACTIVE AUDITORS FOR:
Beyond Superficial — An Intro to Improv’s Deeper Practices (A Multi-Week Improvisation Class With James Readey)
As an active auditor in the class, you could simply observe… but you will also be invited to join us for warm-up activities, and discussions, check-outs, etc. Because of the class’s size limitation, you would usually not be participating in the core exercises with the core group — but there will be ample opportunities to split off into other rooms to practice these exercises with other auditors. (Any of these activities will always be entirely optional — you may decline or accept as we go.)
Who Can Register — Members of the Community Players of Concord, NH who are 18 years of age or older. Registration is FREE!
Not a member? Become one! Membership for an individual is only $20, and you can become a member online! Just CLICK HERE to be taken to our membership page!
Where — All workshop sessions will be held at the Players Studio, 435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, NH.
To register to audit the class, and for any questions, please contact James Readey at [email protected] — A description of the class follows:
Whether you’re an actor, or an improviser looking to drill further down in your scenes, this class will challenge you to play in new (and, ultimately, liberating!) ways. (Note: Akin to, say, a Meisner class, there will be less emphasis on playing out entire scenes – our exercises and explorations may be better characterized as “glimpses“ into scenework.)
In this improv intensive, you will learn how to
- play from a place of calm engagement rather than frenzy
- establish, hold, and shift a point of view
- listen on a deep-tissue level to organically respond to your scene partner’s energy, shape, tempo, etc.
- create and heighten dramatic tension in a way that feels natural and unforced
- recognize and play beats, and know when they’ve changed
- recognize and optimally utilize character status
- go for what is authentic and meaningful – rather than the easy gag – and trust that the humor and entertainment will follow
- “yes, and…” your scene partner (vs. their character)
- fully embrace the collaborative nature of this craft — we cannot play a symphony alone
Where — All workshop sessions will be held at the Players Studio, 435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, NH.
Dates and Times (Subject to change)
May 9, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
May 16, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
May 21 (TBA)
June 6, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
June 11 6:00 – 9:00 pm
June 20 2:00 – 5:00 pm
June 27 2:00 – 5:00 pm
James Readey has been training and teaching both comedic and dramatic improv for over a decade. He has taken completed classes, workshops, and intensives with American improv gurus and teachers such as Jeff Michalski, David Razowsky, and Brian Palermo, as well as popular instructors from England, France, Germany, Belgium, and South America. He has led in-person classes locally, and (online) taught international improvisers (Europe- and Asia-based students).
Notable improv influences: James has been a longtime trainee of David Razowsky (author of A Subversive’s Guide to Improvisation – Moving Beyond “Yes And”), whose highly-refined methodology draws heavily on the 9 Viewpoints to bring actors and their characters quickly iinto dynamic and meaningful connection. (He has Razowsky’s full support and endorsement to teach this methodology.) He has also studied the work of improv pioneer Viola Spolin (under the tutelage of her student, voice actor Gary Schwartz) whose approach James implements for its grounding sensibilities.
Other background: James is also a senior professional-level yoga & meditation instructor and mentor, of 30+ yrs. As a healing arts facilitator, with his emphasis on breath work, body awareness, and mindful presence, James is uniquely equipped to support students ground their scenes by, first, connecting more deeply with themselves. (Prior to commencing this healing work, he was an attorney for a decade of his life.)
For more information, contact James Readey at [email protected]
The following workshops are planned, with dates to be announced soon.
- Diction for the Stage with Wayland Bunnell
- Emotions and Acting 2 with Wayland Bunnell
- Players’ History with Jim Webber
- Workshops on Shakespeare and Beginning Dance
To express interest in the to-be-scheduled workshops, please email Workshop Coordinator Cindy Dickinson at [email protected]
Questions?? Please contact Cindy Dickinson at [email protected]