Class is six Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm / Cost $200
Like our beginning classes for adults, our teen class will be a gentle and super fun introduction to the world of improv. We’ll explore the basic elements of what makes improv work through games and exercises, all designed to get students playful, open and supportive of one another.
Keeping in line with the ZipLine style of improv, students don't have to be quick, funny or outgoing to do improv—in fact they will be encouraged to slow down, listen and simply work together to create improv magic.
This class will be co-taught by improvisers Jennifer Hayworth and Dylan Pereira, bios below.
Jennifer Hayworth
Jennifer has always loved developing and playing characters onstage. Her earliest theater experiences in Jr. High and High School included embodying the lead characters in both Once Upon a Mattress (Queen Agravaine) and The Madwoman of Chaillot (Madwoman), as well as roles in West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof.
As a kid, Jennifer was drawn to sketch comedy shows like The Carol Burnett Show and Saturday Night Live, where the characters were bigger than life, comedic and flawed. Improv allows her to explore all kinds of characters for herself and she had a blast learning the basics at 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, where she performed in several improv shows between 2018-2020. In 2022 she found Laura and ZipLine Improv and “the rest is his (her)tory!” Her love of the art of improv has grown deeper while studying with Laura and her favorite improv cohort. Digging deeper into characters and taking risks in improv has brought about growth both onstage and in life.
Jennifer has her multiple subject teaching credential, and after working with elementary school kids for a few years, she went on to manage Youth Employment programs for high school ages for nine years, teaching pre-employment skills courses to over 150 teenagers. She found that teaching and watching them grow, and then seeing their excitement when they get their first job was incredibly rewarding.
She is thrilled to be bringing her array of skills to the new ZipLine Improv class for teens.
Dylan Pereira
A Sonoma County native, Dylan is a scientist with a penchant for playing around and having a good time. He graduated from UCSC in 2018 with a degree in Biology and worked several labs and field gigs, ranging from ornithological research to capturing and collaring live mountain lions.
He has a deep appreciation for the sciences and education while also fostering his sense of humor. He grew up watching “Whose Line is it Anyway” and countless stand-up comedians, and also has two hilarious brothers who continue to give him ideas and cowrite sketches with him (one of whom he currently performs with on stage).
It was after college when he decided to stretch the creative/artistic side of his brain a bit more, finally joining Evil Improv in early 2023. After learning some basics of improv and performing a few shows, he wanted to dig deeper into the art form and began classes with ZipLine. Over a year later he continues to enjoy the class on a weekly basis and has grown to not only love improv, but all his cohorts in the class as well. He now performs in the comedy troupe Creature Comedy, writing and performing sketches, improvising, and filming digital shorts.
Dylan truly believes that comedy is not just for fun, but for healing and growth. As a stage-shy science guy (hey that rhymed!), improv comedy has helped him get out of his insecurities and grow as a person. He strongly believes laughter is one of the best forms of medicine, and he lives that truth daily. He wishes to share this with anyone it may help, particularly those who may not consider themselves “theater” types, just like him.
