The Improfessor

"Theresa developed and delivered an engaging, hands-on, thought-provoking impro workshop for the Council on the Arts’ Bill Bates Leadership Institute, an annual conference for Alabama’s arts professionals. Her experiential approach reinforced learning and provided our participants with much to think about, skills to apply back in their own workplace, and strategies to use when leading and working with their teams. Participants left inspired and felt that the experience cultivated their growth as individuals and leaders."

​~ DR. ELLIOT KNIGHT, Executive Director, Alabama State Council on the Arts  

 

“We hired Theresa to be part of the MBA Professional Development program because we wanted our students to step out of their comfort zones and push past their typically linear, analytical way of thinking. With a focus on storytelling, Theresa guided them through a series of exercises to help them think on their feet, be more open minded, and create a compelling narrative for themselves and others. The students enjoyed the opportunity to engage in a unique, high-energy format, and our staff saw them take initial steps in telling their stories in ways that would be interesting and meaningful to prospective employers in their fields”

~ LAUREN KLENTAK, (former) Associate Director, MBA Professional Development, Chapman University

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“Theresa’s skill in facilitating this intensive demonstrated her deep understanding of improvisational forms and her unquestioned ability to lead actors of varying levels of experience and expertise through advanced theatrical and improvisational methods and theories. In addition to her skills and scholarship, Theresa brings a warm touch and an optimistic outlook to any endeavor she’s involved in. She inspires you to do better than your best, and supports you every step of the way through the process”

~ STEVE KAPLAN, Comedy Writing Expert

The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny

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“In the world of coaching and sports, where the working environment and individuals are constantly changing, being able to accurately assess a situation and make quick decisions is imperative. Theresa Dudeck’s teachings on Impro gives coaches and leaders a necessary toolkit in which to draw from in these types of situations. Over the past year I have used many of the techniques from Theresa’s teachings to improve my ability to communicate and lead in crunch time situations. The skills learned in the Impro training are highly transferable to any industry or career path… and they’re fun”

~ DAN KRIKORIAN, Musician/Songwriter, Basketball Coach, and Host of "Beautiful Work" Podcast

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"I went to an advisory board meeting that was going to be discussing careers in construction. I was strictly going to meet potential employers to network with for my new job. I introduced myself to the person organizing the meeting and she asked if I would sit on the panel as an advisor! I have zero experience in the construction field and I suddenly find myself sitting in front of thirty people and next to individuals who all work in construction. I kept thinking, this is what Theresa prepared me for, to say Yes, And...! The meeting went well, I made connections, and I was invited to another meeting as a result of being open to offers"

~  AARON PEREZ, Job Developer, Rio Honda College

 

“I was consistently impressed with the level of sophistication of the shows Theresa produced. She worked with limited time and with limited resources. In spite of those challenges, every show topped the last. The shows were always original, created from group collaboration, and inspiring to watch. It never ceased to amaze me that she was able to cultivate such wonderful performances out of non-professional young adults. I think she has an amazing gift” (reflecting on Theresa's youth theatre company)

~ PATRICIA WHITCHER, Executive Producer

Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Avengers, Thor, The Soloist, Dreamgirls, Memoirs of a Geisha

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​“My time with Theresa, though short, was very inspiring. Theresa understands the value of multiple methods for effective theatre-making.  In her Directing class, she skillfully combined improvisational practices into a wider context, and workshop exercises and techniques were backed up with texts from some of the world’s greatest theatre makers. Because professors often only give you their narrow perspective, Theresa’s classes were very important for me. For example, I now see impro as an effective tool to deal with text and blocking, and her direction provoked me to rethink what it means to be an interesting actor onstage”

~ TOM BRENNAN, actor, founding member of The Wardrobe Ensemble, U.K.

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