Special Guest Instructor Darren Held Founder of Held2gether Improv for Life.
August 15, 16, & 17, 2025. Enrollment available now at CVRep.org.
The CVREP CONSERVATORY is offering a three-day INTERMEDIATE LEVEL IMPROV INTENSIVE, August 15, 16 & 17, 2025 conducted by DARREN HELD, founder of Held2gether Improv for Life. CVRep Director of the Conservatory and Youth Programs Howard Shangraw said, “I am excited to bring Darren Held’s Improv Intensive to CVRep this summer. His expertise in improv will provide effective tools and practices that are essential for anyone wanting to be an effective communicator, public speaker, manager, or on-air news reporter or host as well as aspiring and professional actors. For actors, improv has the power to enrich their relationship with their craft, colleagues, and the characters they portray. In these classes, students will engage in unscripted collaboration, character creation and scene building.as well as an actor.” Improv has the power to enrich an actor’s relationships with his or her craft, colleagues, and the characters they portray. In these classes, students will engage in unscripted collaboration, character creation and scene building.
DARREN HELD is a graduate from New York’s renowned Stella Adler Conservatory, and he has performed in numerous stage, film and TV productions on both Coasts. His improv and sketch comedy background includes The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, Second City, and Held2gether. Within those groups, he’s performed and directed hundreds of improv comedy and sketch comedy shows. He’s also utilized the amazing tools of improv to help enhance confidence. His mission is to empower people from all backgrounds through the power of improv.
Classes will be held Friday and Saturday, August 15 7-10 p.m. and August 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Sunday, August 17, classes will be 10 a.m. to noon, followed by performances at noon during which students will demonstrate their new skills before an audience of family and friends. Tuition for the three-day Intensive is $195. Enrollment is open now at https://cvrep.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/ or by calling the Conservatory office at (760) 296-2966, ext. 119.
During this class, students will learn:
- Foundational improv skills to enhance play and agreement
- How to incorporate storytelling tools and story structure into scenes
- Practice radical listening and staying present in scenes to provide support
- Develop unique character points of view
- How to identify the “who, what, where, and why” of each scene
- To bring imaginary objects and environment to life
- How to raise the stakes with emotional commitment
CVREP CONSERVATORY:
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL IMPROVE INTENSIVE
FOR ACTING STUDENTS, ADULTS AND CAREER PROFESSIONALS
Special Guest Instructor Darren Helde
Founder of Held2gether Improv for Life
Fri. – August 15, 2025 – 7-10 p.m.
Sat. – August 16, 2025 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sun. – August 17, 2025 – 10 am. To noon
Enrollment available now at https://cvrep.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/.
