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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 

The 2020 class of SWEATHOGS

Applications due by midnight on April 30, 2020

Click on the PDF below for more information and application instructions!​

the_sweathogs_2020.pdf
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THE SWEATHOGS
SUMMER SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
Once a year, Siren Theater owner and artistic director, Shelley McLendon, facilitates a sketch comedy writing and performance intensive at The Siren called THE SWEATHOGS. Students must apply and be accepted into the program- committing to work their ass off of 8 weeks of writing, rewriting, and rehearsing culminating in 2 fully produced shows at The Siren Theater. 
Check out the gorgeous alumni...

COMING SOON:
​Improv with Nicholas Kessler

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 Beginning Improv

6 weeks  
7:00-9:00 pm

$180

For adults who have little to no experience with improv. Learn the basic skills  that form the basis of good improv:
Saying yes, listening, building, initiating, getting out of your head,  and more! Great for those who want to perform or for those who just want to expand their communication skills. 


Intermediate Improv
​6 weeks
7:00-9:00pm

​$200 

For adults who have some experience with improv. Expand on the skills learned in beginning improv and incorporate them into longform improv scenes! Start learning how to find the game and make a funny scene.

Who is Nicholas Kessler?
Nicholas Kessler has been a working actor, comedian and host in Portland, OR for nearly 15 years. As an improviser and comedian, Nicholas has performed on nearly ever stage in Portland, including Portland Center Stage, Helium Comedy Club, and The Winningstad. Nicholas has performed multiple seasons with The Second City, and has had featured roles on Grimm, Portlandia, and The Librarians. He teaches and performs improv at The Siren Theater, and coaches throughout Portland. For the past six years he has been the host of OPB’s The Moth StorySLAM, and has performed stories for BackFence PDX, 7 Deadly Sins as well as The Moth. Offstage, Nicholas is a father of two and is a Communication/Empathy Coach for law enforcement, medical and executive professionals. 

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PAST CLASSES AT THE SIREN THEATER

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FALL 2019
SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
with TED DOUGLASS

Regular performer and local celebrity Ted Douglass taught an 8 week sketch comedy writing and performing intensive at The Siren in Fall, 2019 called The Other Ones.
 
This class is organized exactly like The Sweathogs, but this one is taught by Ted Douglass and takes place in the fall. 

Who is Ted Douglass?
Ted has been writing/directing/producing/performing comedy of one form
or another in Portland since 1996. Highlights include:
- The 3rd Floor Theatrical Sketch Comedy Troupe
(Producer/Director/Writer/Performer, 1996-2016)
- Nacho Gold Sketch Comedy Troupe
(Producer/Director/Writer/Performer, 2017-Present)
- Portland Sketch Comedy Festival (Co-Producer, 2017-Present)
- The Best of the Best Sketch Fest (Co-Producer, 2003-2009)
- Wonderland (Sketch Troupe)
- Shirts & Skins (Recurring sketch showcase)
- Weekend At Bernie’s Live (Directed)
- Bad Reputation Productions (Road House: The Play, Lost Boys
Live!, Poltergeist: The Play, A Nightmare On Elm Street: The Play)
- Portlandia (Reccurring as “Ted” in 9 episodes over 6 seasons)
- American Vandal (Season 2)
- “Daria, Mitch & Ted” afternoon radio show on 105.1 The Buzz
(2007-2016)

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FEBRUARY 2018
​IMPROV TEACHING RESIDENCY with

The Siren Theater was THRILLED to host its second month-long improv teaching residency with this amazing improviser.
An Amsterdam-based teacher and performer in the fields of improvisation, theatre, dance and communication skills,   part of 5 Dutch improvisation groups performing theatresports, longform, and impro for children. An experienced improv performer and founding member of the Ohana project.
She has been teaching for 14 years, including 9 years in her own theatre school, with a background in theatre, dance and Business Administration.

Laura taught 3 weekly classes offered throughout February, 2018 and one weekend, two-day intensive, which culminated in a show at The Siren Theater.

IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH JAIME MOYER

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Ms. Moyer has gifted The Siren Theater twice with improv workshops in winter 2015 & 2017. Ms. Moyer has been seen on Modern Family, Parks & Rec, 2 Broke Girls and performs weekly at IO West and Second City Hollywood. She is an alum of Second City Detroit. Locally, Ms. Moyer performed in Portland Center Stage's Twist Your Dickens.

IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH TORONTO'S BLOODY MARYS, SUMMER 2017

The Bloody Marys' Leigh and Kirsten wowed Portland with their appearance at The Stumptown Improv Fest, so we were THRILLED when they agreed to teach two workshops on STAYING WEIRD and SO MANY CHARACTERS! Both workshops sold out so we hope they will return soon!

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JANUARY 2017- IMPROV TEACHING RESIDENCY WITH RACHEL ROSENTHAL
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Rachel is a comedian, improviser and improv instructor with over 15 years' experience.She is also a free-style rapper.Currently residing in New York City, Rachel performs weekly at both Reckless Theatre and The Peoples Improv Theater where she is also an improv instructor. AND she spent the entire month of January teaching improv classes in improv hip hop and advanced scene work at the Siren! We hope she comes back because we love her.

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