David Razowsky--The Connected Scene: Presence, Voice, and the Two-Player Reality

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Class description

The Connected Scene: Presence, Voice, and the Two-Player Reality

Hosted by Improv Dim Sum

Instructor: David Razowsky

The fundamental approach to a brilliant scene lies entirely in the deep, immediate connection created between two players. While modern improvisation is shaped by an enormous number of historical and artistic influences, this unique 4-week masterclass directly distills, defines, and develops the exact tools you need to foster that connection and organically build a scene from scratch.

By stripping away the pressure to "invent" a plot, you will learn to turn your full attention toward your scene partner, discovering that absolute presence is the ultimate catalyst for compelling theatre.

Workshop Details:

When: Sunday, January 10, 17, 24,31

Time: 2:00-4:00 PM EST, 1:00-3:00 PM CST, 10:00-12 PM PST

Duration: 2 hours

12 Players Max

Cost: $138.00 per participant. All fees included

đź“… Curriculum

Taking Inventory — Establishing the Connected Baseline

Before a word is even spoken, the dynamic between two players has already begun. This week focuses on eliminating the pressure to invent an individual premise so you can focus entirely on what exists between you and your partner.

  • The Zero Point: Entering the stage empty-handed and completely available to the other player.
  • Environmental & Spatial Tracking: Reading your partner’s physical gestures, body language, and proximity.
  • The Accumulated Inventory: Systematically gathering and utilizing the subtle, micro-offers your partner gives you to drive the initial momentum.

    • Sister Lines — Textual Anchoring and Shared Space

    Discover how language can lock two performers into the exact same physical and emotional reality without relying on forced exposition.

  • Thematic Threading: Using connected, descriptive words to build a unified environment with your partner.
  • Subtextual Echoes: How choosing related words (e.g., “block,” “complex,” “neighborhood”) naturally aligns both players' understandings of the scene.
  • Spatial Vocabulary: Relying on dialogue to anchor your shared environment, making sure both minds are inhabiting the exact same room.

    • Bridge Lines — Seamless Transitions in Tandem

    Learn how two players can shift the direction, tone, or emotional state of a scene together without breaking their connection or jumping tracks.

  • Connective Dialogue: Mastering lines that safely bridge disparate emotional states or ideas between partners.
  • Cohesive Continuity: Keeping the scene grounded as a unit, preventing "blocky" or disruptive solo choices.
  • Maintaining the Flow: Leaning into conversational fluidity to ensure shifts feel discovered together rather than forced by one individual.

    • Point of View — Colliding Perspectives

    A scene is never about what happens; it is about how the two players feel about what happens. We wrap up by cementing your character's emotional lens while remaining entirely responsive to your partner.

  • The Emotional Anchor: Establishing a strong, definitive POV from your very first shared breath.
  • Defending the Lens: Filtering every piece of your partner’s inventory and dialogue through your specific worldview.
  • Responsive Vulnerability: Allowing your POV to fully collide with your partner’s perspective, creating a high-stakes, deeply connected theatrical relationship. [1, 2]

    • 👤 About the Instructor

    David Razowsky is the former Artistic Director of The Second City Los Angeles, host of the podcast A.D.D. Comedy, and author of the best-selling book A Subversive's Guide to Improvisation. A globally recognized master instructor, David has spent decades teaching actors to trade plot-driven anxiety for absolute presence.

    During his landmark tenure at The Second City, David wrote, directed, and performed in numerous resident mainstage revues, collaborating with comedic icons including Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, Chris Farley, Keegan-Michael Key, and Rachel Dratch. Beyond the Second City, he has directed for Amsterdam's Boom Chicago, performed with the Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Kennedy Center, and served as a consultant for DreamWorks.

    As a teacher and lecturer, David has served on the adjunct faculty at California State University, taught for Steppenwolf Theatre, and delivered a TEDx Talk in New Zealand. His masterclasses regularly bring him to theaters and festivals across the US, Australia, Europe, and the UK.

    đź’ˇ Methodology & Philosophy

    David’s approach to improvisation strips away rules and mechanics, anchoring performance entirely in mindfulness:

    “I have a very simple approach to improvising: Your present awareness is the only thing you need to create compelling, smart, truthful, and surprising scenes... All that matters is now... all you need to bring to my workshop is your present presence." (For more on David’s philosophy, see the full bio on the Second City website)

    🥟 About the Host: Improv Dim Sum

    Improv Dim Sum curates premium, interactive online workshops, connecting improvisers worldwide with top-tier instructors. Embracing the spirit of "touching the heart," the platform fosters a supportive community designed for connection and creative growth.