Vanessa’s Vulnerable Workout

The greatest moments in improv happen when you’re truly connected to your scene partner. But sometimes we don’t let ourselves be seen, and we become our own worst roadblocks.

The intent of this workshop is to turn these roadblocks into gifts so that you can play more authentically. Vanessa will help you work with vulnerability to get through those dreaded scene ruts. And we’ll see how vulnerability also helps in moments when it feels like other players have put up seemingly impenetrable roadblocks.

The theme is authenticity and vulnerability. Let’s get real!

Have Fun With Anyone

Are you sick of feeling stuck in improv scenes with someone who gives you initiations or responses that you just can’t stand? That’s the worst! This is supposed to be fun! Well, it can be!

Let’s turn it all around and try to make the best scenes out of the worst ones. We’ll work on taking charge of your outlook and finding ways to have fun with anyone! We’ll also play with having more fun with those awkward tech moments when doing workshops virtually!

Here’s what people have said about Vanessa’s workshops and classes!

“As a woman improviser, Vanessa makes sure I am safe and comfortable in every scenes I do. Also, since English isn’t my first language, I have lots of anxiety, but there is something about Vanessa that made me feel like I immediately trust her the minute I meet her and “trust” is a huge part in doing improv.” -Miedy Pakasi, San Diego, CA

“Vanessa’s vulnerability class blurs the lines between fun, supportive improv and group therapy.  Although it doesn’t sound like these two things would necessarily blend well together, they do.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll Yes And in a safe space, all the while being embraced by caring humans.  Getting vulnerable is a powerful thing.” Jennifer Cole, San Diego, CA

“I beg you to be brutally honest with yourself when you take this insightful workshop. You may find some things out about yourself that aren’t pretty, but Vanessa will push you to face them head on in a caring and non judgmental way. It was just what I needed in just the way I needed.” Marisol Chavez, Phoenix, AZ

“That had to be the one of the fastest 3 hours I have spent in a workshop.  We all witnessed some of the best, deepest work that players can experience. It was enjoyable and profound to watch people connect in that authentic “real” way. I am sorry we couldn’t have had more time together playing and talking together.” Rick Watts, Portsmouth, NH

“If you ever have the opportunity to take Vanessa’s Vulnerability in Improv workshop, DO IT! It was a brilliant exercise in both connecting us all as a group while also allowing us to see that our own vulnerability is what makes us special as individuals. It’s easy to be full of doubt as a performer. Vanessa made us all feel comfortable and safe immediately. Her encouraging and supportive approach helped me to share and to grow as an improvisor. She’s a gem and I hope to have the opportunity to learn from her again in the future. Thank you Vanessa!” Carrie McNulty, Pittsburgh, PA, Camp Improv Utopia

“I loved the freedom I gained by being fully open and honest in my scene work. A million thanks for reminding me why I enjoy Improv so much Vanessa. Your enthusiasm and commitment were contagious!” Dave Gravina, San Diego, CA 

It’s always good to get a new perspective on your improv, and Vanessa’s workshop was just the thing! She gave us each personal challenges and the resulting scenes were some of the best work I’ve seen us do. Thanks Vanessa for coming to New Hampshire and sharing your workshop!” Tara McDonough, Portsmouth, NH

“I am very grateful to have taken Vanessa’s Vulnerable Improv Workout training at CIUEast over Labor day weekend. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew the improv I was doing with others tended to be quite superficial and was lacking authenticity in scenes. Vanessa was able to establish a safe environment, with powerful exercises to help us all get in touch with emotions vs. just talking heads barreling through scenes. I just loved the emphasis on emotions and facial expressions and attitude! Thanks Vanessa.” Paula Dirkes, Berkley, MI, Camp Improv Utopia

“Such an amazingly moving and impactful workshop.” Emili Gross, Phoenix, AZ

“Vanessa, thank you so much for existing. If it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t be a vulnerability workshop at improv camp, and without camp I wouldn’t have met you and discovered how truly vulnerable I could actually be. While I apparently didn’t have difficulty being vulnerable (cue the tears) I totally know how hard it is for others to share feelings and hide behind a character to mask them. Its the real feels that help the audience, our teammates, and ourselves relate to each other, on AND off the stage. You totally helped us get there in a just a few different exercises by communicating in that good ol’ universal language of emotion without actually using many words at all. Improvisors, performers, and anyone else will benefit from this or any other workshop you lead because you are so supportive and fun! Thank you so much!!” Tina Wolstencroft, Attleboro, MA, Camp Improv Utopia

“Vanessa provided a wonderful, safe setting to explore our vulnerability while also having a good time and being creative. She’s a mindful, thoughtful instructor whose feedback is primarily encouraging as well as helpful. Totally worth it!” Melissa Weber, San Diego, CA

“Vanessa’s Vulnerability Workshop allowed me to delve so deep within that it literally let me truly acknowledge my greatest fear…the fear that I’ve wasted so many ‘now’ moments and that I continue to. She created a space that gave me permission to be as vulnerable as possible and she gifted me that space in which I felt completely secure and honored when being the most raw version of myself. Through her, I learned that living through my most vulnerable self is where I love living from the most. It is when I become most aware and only then can I fully give myself permission to live kindly, both internally and externally. Through her workshop, I not only learned my deepest fear, I acknowledged it and found a way to work with it so it can no longer take my power from me. My being vulnerable leads to my being aware leads to my not living in fear.” Damaris Trevizo, San Diego, CA

“Vanessa’s improv workshop was a breath of fresh air for our musical theatre students at University Centre Shrewsbury. In the midst of a busy assessment season, Vanessa’s impressive toolkit of improv games and acting exercises enhanced our students’ openness, collaborative skills, and listening abilities while also providing much-needed stress relief. Vanessa brings a joyous sense of play to every room she enters, and we are eager to welcome her back for another workshop when she next visits the UK!”
Dr. Sarah Taylor Ellis, University Centre Shrewsbury, UK

“I attended Vanessa’s workshop for “Liverpool Comedy Improv” and I really can’t recommend her highly enough. Despite only having landed in the UK several days before, Vanessa wasn’t phased by any of the local references or slang, and immediately won over all the regular “drop-in” students (along with several new attendees who’d never even tried improv before!). She effortlessly managed to create a fun, supportive environment with her infectious enthusiasm and passion for improv, and I know that everyone who attended the workshop was sad to see it come to an end!
Whether you’re a performer, a writer, a comedy nerd, or simply someone who feels the need to build their self-confidence, then please don’t hesitate to book or attend a workshop with Vanessa Anton. She’s an amazing improviser and an incredibly supportive teacher. Even more importantly, however, she’s a genuinely good person, who clearly cares as deeply about helping and supporting others as she does about the art of improv.
To give you the short version: She’s awesome.
Get in touch! You won’t regret it!”
David Elliott, Liverpool, UK   

“I first met Vanessa after going to an International Women’s Day show here in the UK that she performed at. She did a fantastic job and we had a nice conversation afterwards. My first impression was that ‘this is a really talented, funny, clever and lovely person’.
Two days later she taught our Monday night drop-in improv class and did an incredible job with what was a very large group in a small space. We all had a fantastic time, coming up with some ridiculous character names, doing a multitude of short, funny scenes about being deliberately vague about objects and having the other person name them and we also used music to inspire scenes, which was very interesting. We also did some dancing, which is so unlike me to partake in. It took a ‘Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society’ type inspirational person to get me dancing and that person was Vanessa Anton.
Vanessa is a terrific improv coach, a great performer and a wonderful person. I cannot recommend her enough. She is kind, patient, funny and will inspire you.”
Jan Roger Handen, Liverpool, UK

“Vanessa doesn’t really strike you as an improv teacher, as with her gentle way of talking and welcoming smile, she immediately feels like a friend.
Her classes are warm and intimate with the class members clearly feeling at ease within moments. This atmosphere helps people to open up, improvise truthfully and find the fun without the need to chase the joke.
Vanessa teaches you to tap into your emotions and physicality to create great relationships and scenes on stage.
I cannot recommend her enough.”- Maggie Nolan, Manchester, UK

“I had the immense pleasure of taking a workshop with Vanessa during the Irish Improv Festival. Her warmth, expertise, and pure joy made Vanessa’s workshop addictive. I never wanted it to end!! I came away feeling so connected to myself and to the other participants, most of whom were complete strangers at the start. I can’t wait to take another Vanessa Anton workshop again. You can bet that she’ll support your improv journey no matter where you may be starting.”- Jessica Keith, Dublin, Ireland

“Vanessa’s workshops are always fantastic. Her love of Improv and her sensitivity, her willingness to be vulnerable and to help us cultivate vulnerability in ourselves, ignites us. She has coached my teams, and my friends’ teams, and I’ve taken several of her workshops. I’m signed up for another one at the end of this month!”-Andy Robinson, San Diego, CA