We’re not messing around in 2013. We managed a last-minute booking of one of our favorite improvisers and instructors. Rich Ross of BATS Improv in San Francisco is popping into Austin for two days only to play in the debut of Fandom and direct Maestro on Saturday night. And on Sunday he’s teaching two absolutely essential workshops:

Making Your Improv Meaty
Sunday, January 6, noon-3pm – $35
Its great when audiences leave show laughing, but its even better if the remember what some of the scenes the next day. In this workshop we’ll explore ways to make improv scenes be about something that hits audiences in their hearts, rather than just about fluff.

Directing Maestro For Maximum Awesome
Sunday, January 6, 4pm-7pm – $35
The Hideout is moving Maestro into the downstairs theater in 2013 and if we’re going to keep selling it out every week in a 75-seat theater we need to kick it up a notch. We need players and directors capable of finding the fun at all times and running a tight, thrilling show. If you’re interested in being a part of that, this workshop is the perfect springboard to a bigger, better Maestro – where anything can happen and the name of the game is delight yourself, your fellow players and the audience. Rich Ross is a Maestro genius and his take on the format is nothing less than inspiring.