Why do we care about some stories and not others? Why do audiences love certain characters, but feel disconnected from others? Who is "3" and why do they have a rule? In Improv 203: Stakes & Conflict, students will answer these questions while deepening their understanding and proficiency for building stakes and conflict in their improvised storytelling. The course looks at what creates stakes and conflict in storytelling, the purposes of these elements, as well as how to use these elements as tools to discover surprising and satisfying ideas; supporting and challenging characters to make more interesting choices. Blending tools of character and relationship, students will discover how to have fun with every improvised scene and how to delight in being any character or relationship, gleefully jumping into scenes and roles regardless of their characters' status, station, power, etc. On top of scene work and practicing how to support scene partners with obstacles, Improv 203 students will explore theatrical devices like dramatic irony, rules of 3, gag/joke structure, the absurd, and earned moments; developing deeper understanding of these concepts to use them for spontaneously creating incredible improvised moments in shows. We care about characters and relationships that are affected dramatically by the world, events, and people around them; Improv 203: Stakes & Conflict will teach you how to get audiences to care about you and your stories in the same way.

*Improv 203: Stakes & Conflict is the third course in Grindstone Theatre School's Improv 200 levels and is designed to build off of staples and ideas learnt in Improv 201: Characters, and Improv 202: Relationships, however students with any theatre or improv experience, professional or amateur, are encouraged to take this course as well. Past 203 students are welcome to register again, as there is always more to learn and develop when it comes to these skills.

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**Please note: changes have been made to these classes to improve students experience. This class used to be Improv 203: World Building.