Jason Shotts and Colleen Doyle have been improv performers for a combined 30 years. Their two-person improv show "Dummy" has performed for audiences in Rome, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Atlanta, Austin, Washington DC, Traverse City, Gainesville, London, Copenhagen, San Diego, Houston, Omaha and Minneapolis. While performing at the iO Theater in Chicago, their show was awarded "Best Improv Show" in 2013 and 2014. 

SHOWS:
DUMMY: Friday 9pm!!!!
Special Edition STALK SHOW w/ DUMMY: Saturday 9pm!!!

WORKSHOPS:
REAL FUN w/ Colleen Doyle
Saturday 12-3pm
This workshop is all about keeping your scenes honest and playing moment-to-moment to make improv easy and fun again. Connect with your scene partner, get out of your head, and bring more of yourself to the stage by relying on who you are and what you feel. Lots of personal feedback and tough love.


GET IN THE BOAT! w/ Jason Shotts
Saturday 3-6pm
Humans are naturally defensive. We can't help it. Couple that with being watched by a crowd of people and you can't help but separate and put up walls. "Yes, And" sounds so easy, but why is it so hard? In this workshop, we'll use a few simple techniques that will help you drop your guard and focus on truly having fun with your scene partners.


THE FORMULA w/ Jason Shotts
Sunday 11-2pm
It feels like there are so many rules in improv: "Listen and React!" "Heighten and Explore!" "Don't Ask Questions!" It's like you're trying to juggle 18 things at once up there. Impossible, right?! This workshop will give you Jason's "formula" for easier improv scenes. It's a step-by-step process to give you something simple to focus on as you and your partner build the scene together. 



SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF w/ Colleen Doyle
Sunday 3-6pm
There are so many things happening in our scenes that we're not utilizing! Listen hard and react hard to invent less. We will practice using every little thing that's being said and done--trusting that these moments will lead us to scenes full of discovery that are driven by organic moments, not premise. 

BIOS

Jason Shotts has been performing improv since 2003. Currently, he's performing at the iO West Theater in the two-person improv show "Dummy." He's also performed with the groups "Smokin' Hot Dad", "FELT", and "The Armando Diaz Experience". He's been proudly teaching improv for 9 years and received iO Chicago's 2011 and 2013 Del Award for "Best Teacher". For more info, please visit "jasonshotts.com."

Colleen Doyle grew up in Cleveland where she wrote greeting cards and was a part of the cast that opened The Second City Cleveland. She has made appearances in the indie features Close Quarters and Open Tables as well as the NYTVF Best Comedy Pilot, Shrink. Colleen taught at iO Chicago for the past five years (Teacher of the Year 2014) and performed with the lovely ladies of Virgin Daiquiri, Babymakers, and in the first sketch revue at the Mission Theater, Trap. In LA, Colleen can be seen with "Dummy" at iO West. For more info, please visit "thecolleendoyle.com."

TESTIMONIALS

"He was one of my favorite teachers at iO and this was by far my favorite workshop I have ever taken."
Cassandra P.

"He makes difficult scene work seem easy in a fun and supportive environment. If you want to become a better improvisor, then take a workshop with Jason."
Walt D.

"After a workshop with him you'll spend more time in your scenes actually improvising instead of trying desperately to figure out what's going on."
Alex H.

"If Improv was a martial art, Mr. Shotts is what you'd call a Grandmaster. His technique is a serious workout. Bring all your attention, a pen and a lot of paper." 
Joe

"I have attended many improv workshops and classes but Colleen helped me wrap my head around bringing a strong point of view to a scene and using my gut instead of my head as my guide. She is a great instructor and hilarious to boot!" 
Peggy

"Colleen was so my "up ass" in that workshop. She really made a lasting impression. I would highly reccomend letting her "get up your ass." Take her workshop. You won't regret it." 
Jason C.


PRESS

Crushable.com: Improv Stars Who Should Be On TV
http://www.crushable.com/2014/03/26/entertainment/improv-stars-who-should-be-on-tv-broad-city/

Chicago Tribune: 'Dummy' is Must-See Improv at iO
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-04/entertainment/ct-ott-0106-on-the-fringe-20120104_1_pimprov-long-form-improv-polite-society

Buzzfeed: 7 Comedy Shows in Chicago You Have To See
http://www.buzzfeed.com/williamhenrybakeri/7-comedy-shows-in-chicago-you-have-to-see-e03d#.otPBQN9WbO

Gapers Block: Five Great Comedy Shows of 2012
http://gapersblock.com/ac/2013/01/08/comedy-seen-five-great-comedy-shows-of-2012/

Interview with Jason Shotts and Colleen Doyle on iowatercooler.com
http://iowatercooler.com/a-chat-with-colleen-doyle-and-jason-shotts/

Interview on Improv Nerd with Jimmy Carrane
http://www.feralaudio.com/12-dummy-jason-shotts-and-colleen-doyle/