Magnet Theater

Magnet Theater

The Magnet Theater is an improvisational comedy theater and improv school in New York City. It has shows seven nights a week, many of which are consistently selected as editor's pick of the week in Time Out New York and The Onion.[1]

The Magnet Theater was founded in March 2005 by Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, Shannon Manning, and Alex Marino. Diaz, Manning, and Herbstman were friends from Chicago where they studied under improv guru Del Close at Improv Olympic. Diaz also founded the Peoples Improv Theater (P.I.T.), where Herbstman and Marino taught. Diaz, Herbstman and Marino currently own Magnet Theater.[2][3]

The Magnet offers performance and writing classes to people of all experience levels. The faculty is headed by Diaz and features The Second City and Improv Olympic alumni Abby Sher, Jean Villepique, Rachel Hamilton, and The Annoyance Theatre alumnus Gary Rudoren. Also teaching are the adept Mark Grenier and Megan Gray.[3] The Magnet Theater's shows are made up of performers who have completed their training program. The training program consists of four levels - Level 1 The Principals of Improv, Level 2 Intro to Long Form, Level 3 Long Form Intensive and Level 4 Senior Project - making up the theater's core curriculum. The theater also offers two conservatory classes, which prepare students for performing on Magnet House Teams if they make it through the audition process. The classes are Improv Revue and Team Performance Workshop.

References

  1. ^ Saki Knafo (2007-10-28). "Class Clowns". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/nyregion/thecity/28come.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=371a0fd6a120815d&ex=1351224000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2008-03-12. 
  2. ^ "Magnet Theater". Time Out New York. http://www.timeout.com/newyork/venues/chelsea/1188/magnet-theater. Retrieved 2008-03-12. 
  3. ^ a b Steven McElroy (2006-10-27). "The Listings: Oct 27 - Nov 2; 'The Armando Diaz Experience'". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E5D9143FF934A15753C1A9609C8B63. Retrieved 2008-03-12. 

External links

Coordinates: 40°44′56″N 73°59′44″W / 40.74889°N 73.99556°W / 40.74889; -73.99556


Stub icon This article about a specific theater is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.