As a teaching artist, Jen Scott loves creating a safe space where students can open up as much or as little as they like, and take the risk that is the right size for them in that moment. Most of the class is spent with the students engaged: working as a group, moving from one activity to another. She tries to keep my explanations short and concise, and will try to customize the curriculum to fit the interests of the students.
For over 20 years, Jen Scott has worked as an actor, improviser, performer, director, teacher, playwright, storyteller, producer, and musician in the Twin Cities. She performs regularly in scripted and improvised theater, while producing live performances that bring artists working in different mediums together.
Jen was an artist-in-residence at Pillsbury House + Theater for over 6 years, and has also taught for HUGE Theater, The Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Circus Juventas, the Brave New Student Union, Park Square Theatre, and others. For over 12 years, she was the music director for Chicago Avenue Project, a program that pairs youth with professional actors, directors, and playwrights. She is dedicated to informal science education, and has written and performed for both the Bakken Museum and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Jen is also a singer-songwriter: her music can be found at pennyandthebandits.com. Additional info on her can be found at octoberdandy.com.
Learn more about Jen: Jen’s Blog
Program Offerings
Residencies
Improv
Students can take the size risk they want to in the moment while working on “getting out of their heads”. And luckily, it’s fun! Any age can explore the skills taught by improv theater in a single hour workshop, and high schoolers and adults can also flourish in a longer residency. You don’t have to be funny, you don’t have to be quick or clever, you don’t have to be “theatrical”: just say yes to what’s in front of you, and truly interesting things can happen.
Each session will consist of warm ups, introduction of exercises and games, and practice!
- Session 1: Intro to Improv
- Session 2: Make a Statement
- Session 3: Characters and Listening
- Session 4: Space Work and Scene Work
- Session 5: Games and Exploration / Performance
Finding Your Story
Our stories are important! Build a practice of writing and sharing, all the while creating community. Each session will consist of go-rounds (quick icebreakers), 30 minutes of “flash” writing from a prompt, and then sharing what we’ve written. There is no pressure for any of the writing or sharing to be perfect: we just would love to hear your story.
These prompts are just samples; it’s all very customizable to the students!
- Session 1: Intro to Flash Memoir: A Significant Adult From Your Childhood
- Session 2: Your Relationship to Music
- Session 3: “Your Grandma’s Kitchen” (A space you loved as a child. Or, just the opposite, a place that was scary.)
- Session 4: I Can’t Believe I Once/Something I shouldn’t have done/Something I’m glad I did
- Session 5: An Unexpected Event, or An Event That Unexpectedly Changed Your Life.
Workshops
Cuppets (Drop-in/ Pop-up)
Cuppets! With inexpensive, easy-to-find materials, participants can create their own puppet! If students have a little more time, a mini-performance can be included…A funny, good time.
Best for: Early Learners (Pre-K), All-Ages, Early Elementary (K-3), Upper Elementary (4-6), Folks with Disabilities
Create a Character
A sampling of different theater and improv exercises, focusing on creating characters working from your body!
Intro to Improv
A sampling of improv exercises, introducing the idea of “Yes, And” while practicing active listening, reacting vs. planning, eye contact, and working with your body.
Flash Memoir – Get the Story Down!
The purpose of a first draft is not to get it right, but to get it written. – John Dufresne
A mix of curated conversation, writing, and sharing: a structured and supportive way to create or experiment with a writing practice!
Teaching Artist Statement:
I have been working as a performer for over 25 years, and I approach art-making with the same tools used in improv theater: active listening, eye contact, risk-taking, starting with agreement and cooperation, and having agency in choices. I love creating a safe space where students can open up as much or as little as they like, and take the risk that is the right size for them.
Although I often focus on improv, theater, memoir, or music, I like to facilitate a variety of residencies and workshops. Past workshops/residencies have included:
- Intro to Improv (teens or adults)
- Improv for Team Building and Community (teens or adults)
- Sketch Comedy (teens)
- Make a Newscast (kids or teens)
- Make a Podcast (any age)
- Writing and Directing a Musical (in six weeks)
- Flash Memoir for 55+
- Finding Your Story
- Memory Cafés
- Facilitated or Curated Conversations
And others… Let’s brainstorm!
Improv Sample from Jen Scott on Vimeo.
