Not a theater club.
A training ground for life.
We don't teach you how to act. We help you remember what it feels like to be real.
This is a place to play, to step away from routine, to let your energy out and simply be yourself for a couple of hours.
Improv is a way to live more freely: to respond with more life, and to stay in touch with yourself and the people around you.
Who is it for? Everyone.
Especially if you:
- haven't "played" in years and miss that feeling
- want to let go of limits, awkwardness and the urge to control
- need time for yourself, with no obligations and no expectations
- are looking for real conversation and a supportive group
- want a rare chance to play, create and connect in your native language
What happens in class
- Body and breathing exercises
- Impulse, attention and being present here and now
- Games for spontaneity and connection
- Short scenes in pairs and groups
- Building characters and mini stories
- Stage improv with no text and no fear
- Funny, strange, joyful, deep, and all of it real
The format
Course and workshops
The full course
Eight weekly classes, 2 hours each, with the same group. You grow step by step, together with people who become friends.
One-time workshops
One intensive 3.5-hour session of theater improv and partner work, almost all of it hands-on practice. A workout for spontaneity, presence and quick reaction: skills you use every single day. No experience needed. Just bring yourself, exactly as you are.
For teens, ages 13 to 17
Improv that helps teens find their voice, in Ukrainian and among their peers.
What your teen gets
- Overcomes the fear of speaking in front of people
- Becomes more confident in conversation
- Discovers their creative potential
- Finds a healthy, joyful way to express themselves
- Speaks and plays in Ukrainian with peers, not just at home
How it works
Kyrylo has taught teen acting courses before, including a course with the Slavic Community Center of NW in Portland. Dates and location to be announced.
Kyrylo Nikitenko
Acting and improv teacher, creator of Mastering the Stage. Actor, voice actor and the Ukrainian voice of Hollywood stars.
For more than 25 years Kyrylo has worked across radio, TV, theater and film. He started in live broadcasting, spending over eight years as a radio and TV host across Ukraine. Since 2008 he has voiced thousands of commercials, and in 2010 he began dubbing feature films and animation.
On stage he performs with Black Square, the improvisation theater in Kyiv, and he acts in film. In his classes he brings together the depth of theater, the thrill of improv and a rare warmth with people.
In Ukrainian cinema, his is the voice of
- Sylvester Stallone
- Antonio Banderas
- Morgan Freeman
- Idris Elba
- Dwayne Johnson
- Michael Shannon
- Teaching
- Author of Mastering the Stage for adults and teens. Acting classes and voiceover training.
- Theater
- Black Square improvisation theater, Kyiv
- Film dubbing
- Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) in Jungle Cruise. Henry Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) in Grudge Match.
- Animation
- Ripslinger in Disney's Planes, a character in Turbo, and dozens of other animated roles
- Broadcasting
- 8+ years hosting radio and TV across Ukraine. Thousands of commercials voiced since 2008.
From our classes
What students say
Hear it from the people who came to their first class not knowing what to expect, and stayed for the whole season.
Kyrylo is a true maestro. These classes trained my instant reaction: no more thinking of the perfect reply an hour later. And the playful conflicts on stage let me do something I rarely allow myself: let go and let my emotions out.
At first I was really scared of saying the wrong thing. By the end of the course, I realized the skill I'd gained was not being afraid to make mistakes.
Tickets
Start with a one-time workshop, or join the full course.
Adults
Register
Join the waitlist
Teens, ages 13 to 17
All sales are final, but you can pass your ticket to a friend. If we cancel or reschedule an event, you get a full refund.
Join the waitlist
The first New York courses for adults and teens are coming soon. Leave your details and you'll be the first to know the dates and location. No commitment.
Tell us where weekly classes would be easiest for you to reach. It helps us choose the location.
Questions and answers
Do I need any acting experience?
No. Most of our students had never been on stage before. The classes are built step by step, so you're never thrown in the deep end.
My Ukrainian isn't perfect. Can I still join?
Classes are taught in Ukrainian. If you understand it and can speak a little, you're welcome. Improv is about play and connection, not perfect grammar.
What's the difference between the workshop and the course?
A workshop is one intensive 3.5-hour session. The course is eight weekly classes with the same group, where you grow step by step. Many people start with a workshop to see if it's for them.
Who comes to the classes?
Adults of all ages and backgrounds: people who miss playing, people who want more confidence, and people who simply want time for themselves and a warm community.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you can move in. We work with the body, so skip anything tight or formal.
Can I get a refund?
All sales are final. If you can't make it, you're welcome to pass your ticket to a friend: just email us their name before the event. If we cancel or reschedule an event, you get a full refund.
What if I miss a class?
Missed classes can't be made up or refunded, so please check the course dates before you sign up.
Will there be photos or video?
We sometimes take photos and video for our social media. If you'd rather not appear, just let us know. For participants under 18, we only take photos or video with written permission from a parent.
Can parents watch the teen classes?
Parents are invited to watch the last few minutes of the teen intro workshop. Regular classes are for the group only, so teens can feel free to play and make mistakes.
When and where
Workshops
Saturday, October 24, 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM, Manhattan
Saturday, November 14, 12:00 to 3:30 PM, Jersey City, NJ
Sunday, December 13, 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM, Brooklyn
Manhattan: The Actors Theatre Workshop, 145 W 28th St, 3rd Floor. Jersey City and Brooklyn venues to be announced.
The course
Eight weekly classes. We'll choose the location and dates based on where our students live.
Questions?
Write to us at pr.masteringthestage@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.
Mastering the Stage has been running for three years. Our most recent season was in Portland, Oregon, with the support of Ukrainian Alliance and the Slavic Community Center of NW. Now we're coming to New York.