We are proud to offer specialty workshops that immerse students in specific techniques, forms, and disciplines. Hosted by both Lower Left staff and special guests, these experiences will take your comedy game to the next level!
Acting for Everyone is a dynamic 4-week acting course designed for both newcomers and seasoned performers who want to deepen their craft and reconnect with the joy of storytelling. Each week offers clear, practical lessons in core acting techniques — how to inhabit a character, approach a scene with confidence, and deliver an honest, compelling cold read.
Beyond technique, the class is about truth. You’ll learn how to bring authenticity, spontaneity, and a touch of magic to your performances, even on the days when you’re tired, stressed, or convinced you’ve lost your spark. Through guided exercises, playful exploration, and supportive feedback, you’ll discover how to access your courage, trust your instincts, and free yourself onstage.
We’ll empower you to tell bold, human stories with heart. No pressure. No perfection. Just actors finding their voice, taking risks, and sharing something real.
Monica DiBiasio has been a theater artist for over 40 years as an actor, director, producer, coach, and venue manager. She currently serves as the Artistic Managing Director at the Durango Arts Center where she recently directed I Hate Hamlet and co-directed The Spitfire Grill.
Ready for an adventure? You’ll uncover your comedic voice and learn the craft of sketch writing through improvisation, creating sketches that are both personal and true to you.
Ready for an adventure? You’ll uncover your comedic voice and learn the craft of sketch writing through improvisation, creating sketches that are both personal and true to you.
Join us as we explore the 10 primary archetypes of comedy characters (wise fools, braggarts, jesters, etc.). We’ll deep-dive into how to build characters, characteristics, and personas that drive amazing scenes and big laughs.
Explore the physical use of time and space to embody larger-than-life characters and hone your comedic instincts. Learn to generate physical choices from a place of joy and fun!
This 4-week class, taught by our own Tara Demmy, is an introduction to Red Nose Clown as well as a guide on how to use clown state in improv, sketch, and theatre. Clowns are completely vulnerable and they share every feeling with their audience. The clown’s humor comes out of their honest play, naivety, and commitment to their own stupidity. Using the red nose and your body, you will discover your inner clown’s rhythm, physicality, voice, and hilarious talents. We will then take these clowns off the circus stage and into real life situations (the office, the DMV, a first date) to discover new ways of using this theatrical form. Red nose provided.
“Intelligence is limited. Stupidity is infinite.” – Giovanni Fusetti
