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Musical Improv Level Two (in-person) with Frank Spitznagel and Nikita Burdein
Class Description
Taking the fundamentals you learned in level one, Musical Improv Level 2 shows you how to make your improvised scenes and songs look and feel more like a Broadway musical! Exercises in listening and emotional commitment will give you the solid scene-work you need to launch into songs. Also, you will explore different song styles, learning about want songs, philosophy songs, charm songs, and metaphor songs. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance. Prerequisite: Magnet Musical Improv Level One
Frank Spitznagel is the Musical Director at Magnet Theater and a piano accompanist who frequently plays for such improv groups as I Eat Pandas, Veal, The Made-Up Musical, Gusto, and many others. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano performance. His work can be heard on several studio recordings. Frank has composed for Comedy Central and the Aspen Comedy Festival. He accompanied Itzhak Perlman in an original jazz composition by Benny Golson at Lincoln Center. He also played the American premiere of The Hired Man Off-Broadway. He has been musical director for productions such as Nunsense (all incarnations), A Chorus Line, Chicago City Limits, and several original musicals.
Born in Ukraine, raised in Chicago, and now in NYC, Nikita is an improviser, video producer, theater maker, and other multi-hyphenate (son, brother, friend, etc.)
He trained at the Magnet Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade Theater before becoming a house performer at both theaters and a teacher at the Magnet of Musical Improv. He can be seen Fridays at the Magnet Theater's Premiere: the Improvised Musical (the longest running weekly Musical Improv show in NYC!) Nikita can also be seen at the UCB Theater on Harold Night with this team, The Prophecy. He also performs regularly with Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, and with Shitzprobe, with monthly shows all around NYC.
Full Session Schedule
Session Schedule*
-
Jan 18, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Jan 25, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Feb 1, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Feb 8, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Feb 15, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Feb 22, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Mar 1, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl) -
Mar 8, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
(152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
Show Schedule*
- Mar 11, 2023, 4:30 PM
at Magnet Theater
(254 W. 29th Street)
*scheduling subject to change