Welcome to the Magnet Theater School of Improvisation. We have put together this handbook to answer some questions you might have about our school, the theater, and policies. We have also included a bit of our philosophies about improv and some basic advice to our students. We sincerely hope to provide you with a great learning experience and hope this information will aid that.
We created Magnet Theater with three main goals, to create a school where we can train a great variety of people to be the best improvisers they can be, to provide a supportive forum for them to sharpen their talents, and, through the school and the theater, to attract and promote a thriving community of creative, funny, and inspired people.
We're committed to an intensive curriculum that respects improvisation as an art, and as theater. In order to achieve this, we want our performers to get the best training possible. Fundamental skills are a big part of that training, and for that reason, all our students start from the beginning. A strong foundation in the fundamentals will ensure greater consistency and success. We're committed to hiring only the best instructors, who share our vision. They have studied in Chicago at Second City, ImprovOlympic, and most importantly, with Del Close. Del taught us about improv, of course, but also about art, life, and how the ideas of improv can provide a healthy framework for life, and for a life in art or entertainment. All our future teachers will also be trained to uphold and expand on that tradition.
At Magnet Theater quality performance opportunities are key, not only to solidify skills, but also so that great students can become great performers who can then develop, produce, and perform their own material. We offer student performances, directed and supervised by our teachers, to give students practical learning opportunities and feedback. As students advance through the program there are more chances to do shows and perform in groups.
The Magnet family is exceptionally proud of its students because of their commitment to, skill in, and enthusiasm for the art of improvisation. Magnet is and always will be defined by its students as much as its instructors and management. This is why we will keep our standards high and avoid shortcuts in any aspect of our operations. The guidelines that follow are not intended to be restrictive; they are reflective of the ideas we believe will create the environment where such learning and producing can prosper, behavior that will continue to attract wonderful people like you to the Magnet.