Long form improvisation that Newsday says is “elevating the present art of improvisation.” Based on the visionary Viola Spolin’s (Improvisation for the Theater) Transformation of Relationship, Present Elevation blends extended movement, music and scene work. Players begin in stillness. When a movement pattern or formation becomes a scene, the players play the scene until another pattern or transformation happens. Some scenes have words; some have gibberish; some are silent. Averaging an hour in length, the form focuses on actions and reaction using whatever pops into the players’ heads as material. Sometimes funny, sometimes dark, the only consistency is that there is no script.

The musical component is provided by some of the best downtown musicians in New York: reed great Charles Waters (Gold Sparkle Band) and guitar guru Eddie Weiss. Together the company leads the audience through a musical and movement odyssey where you will see the world through transformed eyes.

Present Elevation performs for an hour every Monday night (with some exceptions - see news) at the New Actors Workshop Theater at 259 West 30th Street on the second floor between 8th and 9th Aves. Take the A,C,E,1,2,3 or 9 to 34th Street Penn Station or the B,D,F,V,N,R,Q or W to 34th Street Herald Square. Tickets are $10. For reservations, call
(212) 875-7981
Press and industry admitted free. Website designed and maintained by Sam Reich (samreichdesign.com). Many photographs taken by Douglas Gorenstein (douglasgorenstein.com).

In the Summer of 2005, Present Elevation produced their first full-length show: the Curate Shakespeare "As You Like It."

The show was produced by Kathy Hendrickson and Elizabeth Carr in Clayton, New York at the Clayton Opera House before returning for a two-week run at the New Actors Workshop in Manhattan. It was directed by Sam Reich. SM was Matthew Kurlioff and ASM was Kimberli Curtis, with tech work by Aditi Das.

From top left to bottom right: Matthew Kurlioff, Sam Reich, Youngblood Roche, Kimberli Curtis, Randall Middleton, Marnie Allen-Buckley, Rachel Oakes, Kathy Hendrickson, Josh Ruben and Charles Cobb.