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Meet
the Cast
ACTORS: take your work to the next level
Nothing stretches your acting muscles
like improvisational theater. If you’ve always wanted to try improv,
here’s your opportunity....
PAN
Theater Improvisational Troupe, the East Bay’s
only acting studio dedicated to the study, practice, and performance of
improvisational theater, is pleased to announce its annual open audition
schedule.
Join us
in Oakland. We are looking for both
beginning (some prior improv / or theater training suggested) and
experienced (two or more years of theater / improv experience suggested)
performers to join our troupes.
Improv is great for enhancing and
refining your acting skills. Pan Theater brings together dedicated
instructors and actors at every level of experience in a supportive and
creative environment.
New to
improv? You’ll learn alot about acting that
you never knew existed, and you’ll also have a lot of fun! nt.
It all starts with
our open auditions.
Audition
spots are limited –
register
soon !
Meet
the Cast
Audition applicants will be
prescreened based on audition registration forms. Audition spots are
limited. Register soon to reserve your spot.
To register for
your audition spot:
1) Please fill out the
audition form and email
it to us prior to the audition, or bring it filled out to the audition
(prior is preferred). Use either link below to email us the completed
audition form.
Link to mail audition form (word
format)
Email Audition Form Link
2) Email us a headshot or current
photo (be sure to bring to the audition)
Email
Headshot Link
3) We email audition invitations to
those selected to audition. The invitation is based on current audition
openings- hint, hint, submit your application early to insure the the
audition time of your choice.
Please bring a headshot or picture with you to the audition and a copy
of your audition form.
Headshots and the audition form can
also be mailed to:
Join our email list to be
informed of our next audition, Pan Theater shows, and
related info. Enter your email address in the box below and
click submit.
The Audition:
The audition will include
warm-up games, and performing improvised scenes with
others auditioning or with current Pan Theater troupe
members.
Please anticipate staying
through the entire audition process.
The auditions are for
all of our performing troupes including our
director's/advanced performer's troupe and our beginning
East Bay performing troupe.
Training Troupe
Levels:
Level I,
Level
II,
Level III, Level IV
Current Troupe Focus:
Level I, and Level II
Audition Process: open
audition
Commitment: Three
Months (once per week) / optional improv jams
Rehearsal: Oakland
Openings: Sundays from 7:30pm to 10pm.
Dues (paid quarterly):
$225 paid in advance- dues are paid quarterly and are due
before the first practice
Dues for
level three and four are $250 per quarter
Troupe Level I is for
those new to Pan Theater. Most members of our beginning Troupe Level I have
less than a year of improv training, or may have theater
training and no formal improv training. We also have members
audition that have significant improv and theater training but they are
looking to join the Pan Theater and be part of the troupe ensemble
process. We do take members
that have no prior training but are open to learning, and
taking direction. Each beginning troupe goes through
extensive training before performing. There are four
performance cycles in each beginning troupe: Group Games,
Scene Games, Beginning Long Form and the Harold/Meisner
Practice.
Many performers returning
to improv or theater start with a beginning troupe to get
experience and to have a chance to get a feel for Pan
Theater before auditioning for an advanced group.
Those that have completed
Troupe Level IV are eligible to audition for our ongoing
troupes.
Thursday Troupes
Commitment: Ongoing
Audition Process: open
audition or invitation
Rehearsal: Oakland
Openings: no current
openings
Thursday Troupe:
Dues:
$75 per month or $202.50
per quarter
Our advanced troupes
rehearse once per week. Members are expected to attend three
rehearsals a month on average. Members of these troupes
usually have started with a Pan Theater beginning troupe or
have at least one or more years of improv/theater training.
This troupe is designed for those serious about being part
of Pan Theater, but unable to commit consistently to a more
frequent rehearsal schedule. Many of the members of these
troupes are performers that focus on scripted work while
also practicing improv with Pan Theater. Those asked to join
our advanced troupes are considered understudy members and
will participate in performances when their troupe director
feels they are ready. Most members of Pan Theater's
Intermediate Troupe have gone through Pan Theater's Improv
Basics class, and gone through the equivalent of Pan
Theater's Training Troupe program
Advanced
Troupe/Director's Troupe
Commitment: Ongoing
Audition Process:
invitation only
Rehearsal: Oakland
Openings:
no current openings
Wednesday
Dues:
$75 per month or $202.50
per quarter
*Note:
Most members of our
director's troupe come are invited to join after working
with one of our other groups first. We prefer getting to
know potential members of the advanced group before asking
them to join the group. All of the current members of the
advanced group started with with Pan Theater's Improv Basics
class or in one of the beginning groups.
Pan Theater's
director's/advanced troupe is includes senior members
of Pan Theater, and those with prior improv training that
can commit to more extensive rehearsal schedules.
Members of our advanced group are expected to attend
rehearsals four to five rehearsals per month. Members
are also expected to attend extra training seminars and
workshops.
Members of our advanced troupe are expected to perform a
work exchange rather than pay dues. For those with limited
outside time- dues can be substituted for a work exchange.
Typical work exchange includes help with marketing efforts,
leading an introductory or basic improv class, directing a
troupe, or being an assistant troupe director. Members of
the advanced troupe may practice with any other Pan Theater
troupe provided they first get the permission of the troupe
director. We encourage advanced members to practice with the
other troupes to gain additional training and experience.
Members of our advanced
troupe are expected to attend rehearsals consistently and
take an active part in directing/leading the growth of our
theater. Most people selected for our director's troupe have
three to four year's of improv and theater training. Those
asked to join our advanced troupes are considered understudy
members and will participate in performances when their
troupe director feels they are ready.
.
No prior improv
experience is required to audition for our beginning troupe.
We encourage those with a sincere interest in improv and
theater to audition regardless of prior experience. The four
month training period will include: improv basics,
short form improv games and culminate in a final performance
and audition for our next performance troupe.
The Imagination Unleashed
Note due to time/space constraints audition spots are limited. Pan Theater
has over 30 shows scheduled for 2008 and we are looking for actors
serious about performing.
Pan Theater's Play Festivals:
Pan Theater troupe members get first
audition opportunities for our Ten Minute Play Festival and other
scripted performing opportunities. Troupe members with prior directing
experience may also have the opportunities to direct for our play
festivals. Members of Pan Theater troupes that are playwrights
will have the opportunity their plays read and possibly produced (ten
minute plays and or shorter one acts).
Register
for our auditions:
Please email us to
register for an audition. Please state whether you are wish to
audition for our advanced troupes or our new Saturday troupe. Please
include your theater/improv background and training.
.GIF)
General Info on Pan Theater
Pan Theater is an Oakland based improv
theater that focuses on both long and short form improvisational
theater. Current cast members include community members from all walks
of life and all nationalities. Troupe members range in age from early
twenties to early fifties. Our typical performance format is two long
form sets or one long form set and one short form set. We have been
practicing and performing as Pan Theater (Pick a Name Theater) since
February of 2002. Pan Theater is produced and managed by David Alger. Al
Bowen serves as Pan Theater's Artistic and Training Director. Each Pan
Theater troupe is directed by senior Pan Theater performers.
Troupe Dues
Our troupes and performances are
supported by member dues.
All troupe members pay dues. Dues paid three months in advanced
are discounted. Troupe Dues Policy.
Troupe Members Background
Current troupe members have studied
and trained at: ImprovAsylum, Improv Boston, Second City, Improv
Olympics, Bay Area Theater Sports (BATS), SF Comedy College and of
course Pan Theater. We focus on providing our performers performance
opportunities rather than cycling people through endless classes. New
troupe members will have performance opportunities within two to four
months depending on prior experience and talent. We have over 38 shows
scheduled for 2005.
Register for Auditions
Register
for our auditions:
Please email us
to register for an audition. Please state whether you are wish to
audition for our advanced troupes or our new Saturday troupe. Please
include your theater/improv background and training.
Improv
Articles:
Next Show
Show and Troupe Pictures
Audition Location:
Oakland/East Bay
Pan Theater
2135 Broadway Avenue
Oakland, CA 94612
Audition and
Rehearsal Space
General Audition Info
Those auditioning will play
theater games and perform scenes with troupe members and others
auditioning. Our goal is to make sure those auditioning will be a
good fit with current troupe members. Those auditioning should be
sure to review the basics of improv before auditioning. Among the
things we watch for are: avoiding questions, accepting the
created reality and developing relationships within scenes.
As with
any audition- auditioning is not a guarantee of being extended an
invitation to join a troupe.
For those new to improv, a review
of any basic improv text would be helpful. See our recommended
reading for some of the more popular
improv texts.
Troupe Info General:
Troupes meet once per week and
rehearse for two to three hours depending on the troupe. Each
rehearsal includes long form work and skill developing exercises.
Performances include two or more troupes and are held monthly.
We have
troupes with weeknight and weekend rehearsal schedules. Performances
are usually on Friday or Saturday evenings. Pan Theater is a
community of improvisers and actors that come together to practice
improvisational theater.
FAQ
About Troupe Membership:
What is a troupe?
Answer:
A troupe is a group of
performers that work together on an ongoing basis to develop and
further individual and group performing skills. Troupes members
perform in Pan Theater improv shows such as: Imagination
Unleashed and Dramedy and Comma.
What are the time requirements
of a troupe?
Answer:
Potential troupe members should
be able to commit to between three to four rehearsals a month and
additional time for scheduled performances. Rehearsals are three
hours long and cover basic skills, long form technique and acting
technique for improvisers.
Why would I join a troupe rather
than taking a class?
Answer:
Troupe members are interested in
pursuing and practicing improvisational theater on an ongoing basis
rather than for a set class. Troupe members have an interest in
performing or working on their skills in a small group format.
Troupes members have regular and ongoing performing opportunities.
Or, more simply-
you want to perform.
Do I need to have improv
training prior to auditioning?
Answer:
No, but it does help. We usually
have troupes of varying skill levels and often times give beginners
with a sincere interest in doing the work a chance. We also give
those that audition but aren't ready for joining a troupe discounts
on our Improv Basics class.
Do you accept people that have
trained at places other than Pan Theater?
Answer:
Yes. Current troupe
members have trained at Improv Boston, Improv Asylum, Second City,
Improv Olympics, BATs, and SFSU and UC Berekely Theater departments.
How long before I perform?
Answer:
It depends on your skill level
and how consistent you are with attending training. Most performers
with experience perform within three to four months if not sooner.
Why do you charge dues?
Answer:
Dues support the our shows,
advertising expenses, management and organizational costs and
theater rental. Most professional improv theater charge dues of
varying levels including: Groundlings, Second City and L.A.
Connection.
Who are you guys?
Answer:
We are a group of people with a
sincere interest in theater- especially improvised theater. We
practice both short form and long form improv. We focus our work on
scene based improv and finding the relationship and moment shift. We
use techniques from Close, Spolin, Johnstone and related acting
techniques.
Is this fun?
Answer:
Yes, most of our troupe members
have been with Pan Theater for several years. Members have fun,
improve their skills and are part of a supportive and growing
artistic community. We often have post show events and members often
meet outside of rehearsals to attend shows, see scripted work or
hang out. Pan Theater provides a supportive place to practice, learn
and perform theater.
What is the style of a
rehearsal?
Answer:
Rehearsals provide a safe and
supportive environment for taking risks, improving your skills and
learning new improv and acting techniques. Each troupe director has
their own style and focus based on their interest and prior
training. We believe the arts are best practiced in a safe space the
encourages risk taking, personal development and growth over time.
Do I have to be funny?
Answer:
It helps, but no. The best humor
comes from following the scene and supporting your partner. The
connections that arrive through the improvisational process create
the humor. Also, not all scenes will be "funny". A good
improvised scene can be emotional and dramatic. The best shows
have a mix of funny scenes and dramatic scenes.
What is the audition process?
Answer:
You improvise with either
current troupe members or other potential troupe members. It is a
relaxed, fun and low key event. We usually require callbacks for
those interested in joining an advanced troupe (initial audition and
final audition). We notify those that audition within a week of
auditioning. Auditions for new troupes/beginning troupes are usually
a single audition process with a final screening audition after the
first performance.
I'm an experienced performer-
why should I audition for your group?
Answer:
You are looking for a place to
perform, a community of performers and an opportunity to explore
your skills with like minded people. Pan Theater provides
opportunities for performing, directing, having plays read and
produced.
I am a director or playwright-
why should I audition for your group?
Answer:
Long form work is especially
useful for those interested in directing and writing. The work
provides the opportunity to practice, learn and evolve your
understanding of what makes a strong scene. Pan Theater also
provides opportunities for directors and writers to direct and
produce. All of our troupe directors started as members of our
performing troupes.
Corporate Training,
Private Shows, Fundraising, Casting
Pan Theater performers and
teachers are ready!
Register
for our auditions:
Please email us to register for an
audition. Please state whether you are wish to audition for our advanced
troupes or our new Saturday troupe. Please include your theater/improv
background and training.
Join our email list to
receive Pan Theater class, show and audition updates. List
members also get free intro to improv classes, and free
articles on improv theater, and free and discounted show
ticket offers.
Note: Pan Theater is supported in part by SF Handbills
SFHandbills
provides
street level marketing for local shows, classes, businesses and events. We
offer flyer distribution, postcard drop stack distribution and related
services for both San Francisco and the East Bay. We do the walking so
you don't have to. Be sure to ask for our Pan Theater special rate on
new orders.
San Francisco Events,
shows, companies, and services
These companies and organizations help support Pan Theater.
Email-
pantheater@comcast.net
: Phone- (415) 261-1641
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