Monday 6:00-8:00, Scripts, Scenes and Spontaneity: Acting & Improv with Intention (age 13-18)

Details

Session: Winter 2027
Chapter:  Colorado Springs
Location:  CYT Performing Arts Center
Time:  6:00pm - 8:00pm
Day:  Monday
Starts:  11/16
Ages:  13 - 18
Tuition:  $250.00
Open Spots:  0

This class is full!

Description

Scripts, Scenes and Spontaneity: Acting & Improv with Intention

A script in your hand. A character you have just met. A scene about to begin. Now what? Panic creeps in and creativity peeks out. This is the actor’s nightmare. This is the cold read.

Through scripted scenes, cold reads and improv games, in this class we will explore how to bring fresh choices to unfamiliar material without the panic and without the pressure feeling that it needs to be “right” the first time. Expect a supportive space to experiment, make mistakes, and have fun. Whether you love improvising or prefer the comfort of a script, you’ll build skills that help you stay present, connect with your scene partners, and bring characters to life.

Open to all experience levels, from total newbies to seasoned players.

Here's what we'll actually do:
- Scripted scene work and cold reads — making bold choices before you feel ready
- Improv games and acting exercises that build spontaneity, listening, and play
- Character work — finding a point of view, an objective, and a relationship in the first few lines
- Honest response — reacting to your scene partner instead of to your plan

Drawing on Keith Johnstone's playfulness and Sanford Meisner's emphasis on responding honestly to your partner, we'll practice the creative risks that make acting more lively and believable.

By the end of the class, you'll have a repeatable process for walking into any script or scene and finding your way in.

Teacher:


Brenton Newell

Brenton is thrilled to be teaching at CYT, where he and five of his six siblings first started in musical theater, also… where he and his wife Ashley met! First as a student then teaching and directing in CYT Chicago, Brenton moved to Colorado in 2024 and could not wait to get plugged in with CYT Colorado Springs. Brenton graduated from Wheaton College in 2021 with his bachelor’s degree in Media Communication with a minor in music. He currently works as a stewardship advisor and fund manager at Harvest Investment Services, but his passion for improv and theater has never wavered. From his first CYT improv class at age 10 to performing at Improvapalooza with CYT Chicago DuPage, improv has been a constant thread in his life. Brenton performs locally with Colorado Springs’ Oxymorons Comedy, where he shares the joy of the Lord through improvisational comedy. What excites him most about teaching improv is its unique ability to develop theatrical skills that can't be exercised through scripted performances—skills like spontaneity, active listening, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Improv is accessible, fun, and creative, making it an ideal environment for performers to discover and develop their unique strengths. Every improv player brings totally different gifts to the stage, and Brenton is eager to coach and encourage those individual strengths in the classroom. Students can expect an enthusiastic, supportive environment where taking creative risks is celebrated and every voice matters. “….The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh. 8:10b

Location:

5805 Mark Dabling Blvd , Colorado Springs, CO 80919