Magnet Theater
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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. 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.
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
school in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. 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.
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
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where they studied under improv guru Del Close
Del Close
Del Close was an actor, improviser, writer, and teacher. Considered one of the premier influences on modern improvisational theater, Close had a prolific career, appearing in a number of films and television shows...
at Improv Olympic. Diaz also founded the Peoples Improv Theater
Peoples Improv Theater
The Peoples Improv Theater, or The P.I.T., was established in New York City in 2002 by Ali Reza Farahnakian. Currently located at 123 East 24th Street near Madison Square Park, The PIT's shows include improvisational comedy, sketch comedy, and other forms of theater, all working together to raise...
(P.I.T.), where Herbstman and Marino taught. Diaz, Herbstman and Marino currently own Magnet Theater.
The Magnet offers performance and writing classes to people of all experience levels. The faculty is headed by Diaz and features The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
and Improv Olympic alumni Abby Sher, Jean Villepique, Rachel Hamilton, and The Annoyance Theatre
Annoyance Theatre
The Annoyance Theatre, or Annoyance Productions as it is sometimes called, is a theater and associated ensemble based in Chicago that deals mainly in absurd, pretentious and outrageous humor. Many people that have performed with the ensemble have gone on to become successful stage and screen actors...
alumnus Gary Rudoren. Also teaching are the adept Mark Grenier and Megan Gray. 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.