Blog
Please note: the Squarespace formatting on this front page is . . . weird. We’re working on it. For nicely formatted blog posts please click on the title of the post you want to read. Thanks!
Announcing . . . IMPROVASUSHI!
It's a match made in heaven:
Improvasushi!
What? Longform improv and sushi!
When? First Saturdays at 8 pm beginning Saturday March 2nd!
Where?
Madame Saito's Tokio Headhouse Sushi
122 Lombard St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
MADAME SAITO’S ON LOMBARD STREET IN SOCIETY HILL, OFF OF HEADHOUSE SQUARE . . .
Sushi and improv . . . they go together like . . . well, they just go together! Especially now as Bright Invention launches our downtown shows upstairs in the Tokio Ballroom at Mademe Saito's!
Come at 7 for drinks and sushi downstairs, then come up to the ballroom for our special brand of intimate, immersive improvisation!
Easy to remember dates: first Saturdays! Easy to locate venue: just off of Headhouse Square in Society Hill, Philadelphia!
SOME OF THE BRIGHT INVENTION ENSEMBLE
Sushi + improv = joy!
World class Japanese cusine
Full bar
Our hour-long show begins at 8 pm
Dinner and a show - what's not to love?
Click the button below to reserve show tickets. Restaurant reservations please call: (215) 815-8266
IMPROVATHON Update!
For Philly Theater Week 2019 we are presenting THE IMPROVATHON! to raise money for the William Way LGBT Community Center. On Saturday February 9th at Arch Street Quaker Meeting House, we will begin improvising at 10 am and won’t stop until we have raised $500 for William Way!
THE WILLIAM WAY LGBT CENTER LOCATED ON SPRUCE STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
Saturday, February 9th, 10 am - ???
Arch Street Meetinghouse, 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19106
Here is our schedule of Special Guests!
10 am - 11 am. Tara Demmy! Tara Demmy is a comedian, theatre artist, and teacher straddling both Philly and DC. She trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade NYC, Philly Improv Theater, and completed her Lecoq training at Helikos: International School of Theater Creation in Italy. She is a proud company member of Tribe of Fools where she performed in Fishtown – A Hipster Noir, Antihero, Zombies with Guns, and Shut Your Wormhole. She is a writer and performer with ManiPedi Sketch Comedy. Tara received her masters from
Villanova University and is currently pursing her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at University of Maryland. tarademmy.com
11 am - 12 noon. Michelle Pauls! Michelle Pauls is a theatre artist, artist educator and mom. She has worked for many years in the Philadelphia area doing theatre, film work, cabaret singing and improv! In fact, she was one of the founding members of Bright Invention. She also teaches theatre and the like in the college setting. www.michellepauls.com
12 noon - 1 pm. Ed Miller! Ed Miller is an actor, director, and writer from the Philadelphia area. He has worked with the Arden Theatre, Theatre Exile, Swim Pony, The IRC, and Secret Room Theatre. Ed spent 3 years living and teaching in South Korea where he also made time to act, direct, and serve on the board of Seoul Players. He was a founding member of SCI: Seoul City Improv and graced the TV screens for young "English-hungry" Koreans on such programs as "Story Time", "T-Girl!", and "Cooking with Red Hood”. Ed is a current proud member of Tongue and Groove Spontaneous Theatre.
1 pm - 2 pm. Brian Anthony Wilson! Brian has been on numerous Philly stages, feature films like The Postman, Creed and Limitless; and TV shows The Wire, Hack and Law and Order.
2 pm - 3 pm. Sharon Geller! Sharon Geller is a comedic actress who has appeared on Saturday Night Live 4 times. In addition to performing in the national touring company of the off-Broadway show “Old Jews Telling Jokes,” Sharon does radio and TV commercials and teaches improv at the Walnut Street Theatre. She trained with Chicago City Limits. www.sharongeller.com.
3 pm - 4 pm. Joy Wier! Joy Suzanne Weir has been an improviser for the last seven years. She is a company member of Tongue & Groove Spontaneous Theatre. Some of her favorite scripted roles include Leonardo's Wife in Philadelphia Artists Collective's performance of Blood Wedding and Blackberry in Simpatico Theatre Project's Watership Down. She has also been a teaching artist for various companies including Bright Invention's sister company, White Pines Productions. She is very excited, and a little scared, to be part of the Improvathon. Let's get weird.
Each hour will feature:
fun with our special guest!
a spoof of a popular film or TV genre!
Bright Invention’s long form The Sun and its Planets!
The Arch Street Meetinghouse, 320 Arch Street Philadelphia. Site of THE IMPROVATHON!
Free parking - enter on 4th street between Arch and Market!
Complimentary light refreshments served.
Wheelchair accessible.
Stop by any time; see some, leave, and return; BRING FRIENDS!
Donations for William Way accepted in person with cash, check or online through Facebook Donate button located here: donate online.
The Improvathon is a part of Philly Theater Week! Please check out all the other amazing shows being presented - click here!
Bright Invention will be part of another great event the very next day! Rehearsing Improv: It’s not an Oxymoron! Co- presented with Tongue & Groove Spontaneous Theatre, this is a fun and free “peek behind the scene” to see how improvisers create shows! Click here for tickets!
Ability in Action
PARTICIPANTS IN ACTING OUT!
Ability In Action is a comprehensive, immersive and experiential program for youth and young adults living with a disability. Ability In Action utilizes performance creativity and embodied activities to enhance social skills, verbal and physical expression, communication and self determination. Here’s what Bright Invention is up to this winter/spring in Ability in Action:
Acting Out! is open to all youth and young adults with ASD, Aspergers, or any Physical or Developmental Disability. This class introduces basics of acting and collaboration in a safe and structured environment. Students will engage in an opening ritual at the beginning of each class and will gradually be introduced to games and activities over the course of the class semester. The final class will feature a share for family and friends based on the comfort level of students. This class is open to youth between 10 and 20 years old (but we’re flexible!) and is currently held at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts. Class begins February 24 - click here!
Stepping Out! Let us come to you and co-create fun and meaningful workshops and classes for your amazing community! Participants engage in Storytelling, Drama, Movement and Improvisation activities which explore specific themes curated to each group we work with. One workshop may explore the challenges in day to day workplace interactions while other workshops may help participants talk about relationships. Each Ability in Action experience addresses the personalized goals and needs of the participants. If you are interested in bringing Ability In Action to your organization or community. Please reach out today!
PARTICIPANTS IN A STEPPING OUT! CLASS THIS PAST SUMMER AT COMMON SPACE.
This winter we are offering Real Life Drama as part of Stepping Out! In this class we will create scenes about Real Life - the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the sweet and sour! Using a fun technique called "structured improvisation" we will play games, do some exercises and act in scenes we invent together. At the end of the class we might even do a show for our friends and families! This class is held in Ardmore at Common Space. Class begins February 23rd - click here!
Ability In Action builds a safe and supportive (and fun!) social environment which encourages risk-taking, deeper relationships and personal growth through embodied techniques and ensemble building. We love to work on special projects with blended groups. Examples of our special projects include developing an original holiday musical based on the arrangements of Fred Waring, an original production for the gala fundraising event supporting the Philly Friendship Circle, and an original play written and performed by one of our Acting Out! graduates. Got an idea? We want to hear it!
PARTICIPANTS IN A STEPPING OUT! CLASS THIS PAST SUMMER AT COMMON SPACE.
The IMPROVATHON returns!
THE BRIGHT INVENTION ENSEMBLE
BLANKA ZIZKA SPANKING BENJAMIN LLOYD ONSTAGE AT IMPROVATHON 2014
In order for them stop improvising – Gritty must show up! That’s right! Achieving their philanthropic goals is not enough! Philly’s new mascot sensation must appear at this feat of creative endurance in order to save them from improvising themselves into an early grave!
What will happen on February 9th? Will Bright Invention raise enough money for Philly’s LGBT champions? Will the great orange-bearded monster appear? Will members of the ensemble expire from exhaustion, giggle fits and hallucinations? What special guests will appear on stage to support them?
In December of 2014 the improv group Bright Invention accomplished the unthinkable: they improvised for 24 hours straight in Philly’s first Improvathon! At that historic event, they were joined onstage by Philly arts and culture luminaries such as Brian Anthony Wilson (Creed, The Wire), Sharon Geller (Saturday Night Live), and Blanka Zizka, Artistic director for the Wilma Theatre who spanked Bright invention Artistic Director Benjamin Lloyd on stage during an improv!
Now for Philly Theater Week 2019 they will bring the Improvathon back, this time to raise money for the William Way LGBT Community Center. That’s right on Saturday February 9that Arch Street Quaker Meeting House, they will begin improvising and won’t stop until they have raised $500 for William Way!
But wait – there’s more!
THE WILLIAM WAY LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER, PHILADELPHIA.
Click here for tickets!
Don’t miss this epic improv event!
Date and time:
Saturday February 9th, 10 am - ?
Location:
Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA 19106
ARCH STREET QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, 4TH & ARCH STREETS, PHILADELPHIA: THE LOCATION OF THE IMPROVATHON 2019!
Tickets are free – donations accepted for The William Way LGBT Community Center
Contact:
Benjamin Lloyd
877-674-8338
CCT free Drinks & Demo event Monday October 22nd!
It all begins with an idea.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR BENJAMIN LLOYD AT GLAXOSMITHKLINE WORKSHOP IN NORTH CAROLINA
Monday October 22nd.
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia -
Mars Drinks Conference Center, Engagement Room,
200 S. Broad St, Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Social time 2:30 - 3 pm
Demo 3 - 3:45 pm
Bring friends!
ENSEMBLE MEMBERS BOB STINEMAN AND ERIC WALKER IN A WORKSHOP FOR THE WEST PHILLY SKILLS INITIATIVE.
Bright Invention's Creative Corporate Training program uses innovative "scenario-based" training, employing structured improvisations, games and exercises to support extraordinary communication, customer service and teamwork!
Come to this free event and see us do our thing in person! Bring a friend whose awesome organization thrives on outstanding person-to-person interaction.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR BENJAMIN LLOYD LEADS A WORKSHOP FOR GLAXOSMITHKLINE IN PHILADELPHIA
Insert Google Form here