Spotlight On: Deshawn Mason, Improv Level 1 Instructor & Performer
Since Deshawn Mason completed his training at iO last summer, he has rapidly established himself as a staple community member and performer here at iO Theater. He’s on the iO House Team: “Icarus” and is a regular ensemble member of The Armando Diaz Experience – Chicago’s Longest Running Improv Show.
Those two credits alone are a testament to the scope of Deshawn’s talent as an improviser; iO House Teams (also known as ResCo) are made up of of the most promising performers to have come out of our Training Center, and The Armando ensemble is notoriously comprised of the most skilled and experienced longform improvisers in the city. iO veteran instructor/performer Gretchen Eng performs alongside Deshawn every week in The Armando, so we asked her to share some insight on Deshawn – the person and the performer:
“We here in the Chicago improv community are so lucky to bask in Deshawn’s presence on his way to his fame and stardom. Equal parts kindness and talent, Deshawn is EVERYWHERE not just because he’s such an in-demand performer, but because he goes to see everyone’s shows. Truly great improvisers watch as much improv as they perform and Deshawn embodies that. Go to see him in Armando or Icarus if you’d like to see some truly thoughtful show moves, patient scene work, and great physical comedy. And if you haven’t asked him to do card magic for you yet… you’ll never be the same once you see it.” – Gretchen Eng (Performer: Devil’s Daughter, The Armando / Instructor: Friday Night Improv Drop-In)
iO Training Center offers classes year-round, in 8-week rolling sessions. Deshawn’s Level 1: Intro to Longform Improv begins June 29, 2024. If you’re thinking about beginning your improv journey, we highly recommend that you start here.
ABOUT LEVEL 1: INTRODUCTION TO LONGFORM
Level 1 introduces students to all of the concepts necessary to become adept improvisers and performers. Students will learn how to build and apply the basic fundamentals of improvisation through a series of exercises, games, and storytelling. Level 1 is the appropriate starting point for the inexperienced student, but even those with some improv or theater experience will find value in the lessons of Level 1. The class will culminate in students learning and performing iO’s signature piece, The Harold, one of the most sophisticated and rewarding forms of pure improv ever created.
While ‘Yes, And’ is the guiding ethos in improvisation, students will go above and beyond that simple principle and learn how acceptance, agreement, honesty, connections, listening, and commitment will help them discover the truth in comedy. Our expert instructors foster a safe and joyous environment for students to play, experiment, and relish in the experimentation of improv.
Level 1 is an 8-week course that meets once a week for 3 hours. At the end of the term, each class will have a short 10-minute performance demonstration open to the public.
