Biography
Stacey Hallal has been teaching, directing, and performing improv for over 24 years. She trained at Chicago’s Second City, iO, Annoyance, and ComedySportz theaters. At Second City, she also taught and assistant directed the main stage before moving to Portland to open Curious Comedy Theater in 2008 where she has worked as Artistic Director ever since. She has performed and taught improv and sketch at over 150 festivals across North America, often working in duos with Joe Bill and Mark Sutton.
She is also the creator of Ruby Rocket, Private Detective, a cartoon, comic, and live improvised show in which she has had the honor of performing with Marc Evan Jackson (The Good Place, Brooklyn 99), Maribeth Monroe (The Good Place, Workaholics), Stephnie Weir (MadTV), Amber Nash (Archer), Craig and Carla Cackowski, and soon Colin Mochrie (Whose Line). She will be releasing Ruby Rocket as a podcast soon! Stacey also founded and curates the All Jane Comedy Festival to promote and celebrate women in comedy, as well as the Chroma Comedy Festival, with Artistic Director Jon Carr, which showcases BIPOC performers in improv from across the U.S..
More information: https://www.staceyhallal.com/
Stacey’s Workshops
DYNAMITE DYNAMICS
What do the words dynamite and dynamics have in common? The root DYNA - which means power.
Often, when people refer to POWER IMPRO they mean fast, hard, loud, and unrelentingly funny. This is definitely a powerful way to play…sometimes. But sometimes the most powerful way to play is slow, soft, silent, or poignant. Master improvisers know how to play a full range of energies and when to apply them to their characters, scenes, and the stories they tell.
In this workshop, you will learn how to build and harness your own impro superpowers to play within a dynamic range - physically, verbally, and emotionally. Whether your improv journey has recently begun, or you are a seasoned improviser, this workshop will power up your impro to the next level.
BE CURIOUS
In this workshop, you will learn the Curious Comedy approach to long form improvisation. You’ll start with a fresh take on staying in the moment and out of your head, then discover easy tools for understanding story structure, explore the differences between game and relationship, and practice engaging and dynamic storytelling.
DUO DYNAMICS
In this workshop, you will learn the ins and outs of two-person play. You will practice identifying and playing grounded and absurd characters, take a deep dive into position play, and delve into dynamic contrast to keep scenes and duo shows energized. This workshop is open both to individuals and duos.
EMOTION. EMOTION. EMOTION.
People are often drawn to comedy because it is a natural defense mechanism against feeling and/or showing emotion. The trouble is, without emotional investment, there is no scene - and - there is no comedy. To be a master improviser, you must know how to show and play with a wide range of emotions in scenes. In this workshop, we will practice a variety of techniques to play in scenes with strong emotional investment.
PLAY. HARD.
When we are scared, something in our brains tells us to shut down, pull in, and play it safe. On stage, these survival instincts are the opposite of what will save us! We see scene after scene of improvisers standing awkwardly and talking about nothing. In this workshop, you will learn how to open up, project out, and attack each scene with energy, emotion, and joy.
Gallery
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WHETHER IN MARKETING, ENTERTAINMENT, FUNDRAISING, OR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS - STORY IS EVERYTHING.
Associate Creative Director of Character, LLC - 18 yrs
Since 2001, I have worked with over 250 global brands for Fortune 500 companies - including Old Spice, Cheerios, Gold Fish, Walmart, Fossil, Discovery Channel, Bud Light, Tide, and Wendy's - helping them discover, articulate, strategize, and tell their authentic brand stories. I’ve helped companies launch new brands, revitalize old brands, and everything in between.
Founder & Managing Creative Director of Curious Comedy - 14 yrs
In 2007, while a student in the Second City Chicago Directing Program, I was told - point blank - that Second City would never hire a woman to direct their main stage. I was always taught that if someone won’t let you play on their playground, you have to build your own. So, by the end of 2008, I had moved back to Portland and founded Curious Comedy Theater. We now have two venues and one of the most technologically advanced independent comedy theaters in the world. Every day, I use my storytelling skills to oversee all of our marketing efforts, to artistically direct all of our live and on-line productions, and to motivate our staff, volunteers, and actors to perform at their best, despite limited resources. I have also written grants that have earned Curious over $1,000,000 and lead compelling crowdfunding campaigns that have raised over $250,000 in individual donations.
Touring Performing Artist & Content Creator - 22+ yrs
Meanwhile, I have toured across the globe performing and teaching sketch, improv, and stand up comedy at over 120 comedy festivals. Ruby Rocket, Private Detective, the project I am most passionate about, has come to life in web cartoons, live improv shows, a podcast, and a comic book produced with my creative partner, animator, and illustrator, Sam Niemann.