Write it. Hone it. Perform it.  From page to stage. Jane Morris conducts a solo performance workshop that takes your work from idea to staging, to performing.  The class works with actors and writers at any level of the process, whether you’re just getting started, or you feel almost ready to mount a whole solo show.  Look at your work from various angles, as a personal story, as satire, as action, as dialogue.

Stop waiting to perform. Start working right now!  The workshop, now in its third year, has produced 9 original shows.  Every participant has finished work and taken their work to venues around Los Angeles. Our shows have traveled the country and won awards. Your performance can be next!

You’ll have the opportunity to rehearse and perform your work at the fanaticSalon whenever you’re ready!

Click here to find out how to enroll.
Click here to see our list of successful productions.
Click here to read what participants have to say.

Produced!

We're very proud of our shows, written and produced through our workshop.  Have a look at our list of accomplishments.
Liz Femi

"Take Me To The Poorhouse" written and performed by Liz Femi. Directed by Jane Morris Opened at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and went to the United Solo Festival in New York in the fall of 2013. Winner of the Best International show at the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Take Me To The Poorhouse is a story about a precocious, Nigerian, middle class third grader  (Lizzie) who dreams of becoming poor to have “soul” and win the heart of her classmate. In this ‘reverse fairytale’, we meet a charming 72 year old “African Matlock”, tackle Voltron (defender of the universe), experiment with Jerry curls, discover a local cook who serves “secret delights of a cow”, and reluctantly befriend a headstrong 7 year old suitor with an over-confident lisp.

Inspired by true events, Take Me To The Poorhouse is about a girl eager to reject herself to feel like she belongs. This children’s story for adults offers a fresh glimpse of African life.

www.takemetothepoorhouse.com

George Kessler

"Chautauqua"George Kessler's wonderful variety show has become a bi-monthly event at the fanaticSalon.  George himself plays Uncle Sam and hosts an old timey cast of acts and characters with a thoroughly timely dose of satire. Featuring some of our very own Write Work performers and a fortune telling chicken, the Chautauqua bases its acts on the Chautauqua's of old with scientific lectures (by Jane Morris), antic tales (by performers such as Gordon Henderson,  Jay Leggett, Viva Krasinski, and Michelle Philippe), music with the Illinois songbird, Heidi Fielding,  jazz legend Fred Kaz.  . Stay tuned for our next date!

Doyle Hanks
"A Boozer, A Stripper and a Fat Don Ho" opened June 8th at the fanaticSalon.
The audience says!
"Beautiful, funny, raw, honest, poignant, witty, insightful words from you. You are a great writer and a fantastic actor/performer. Bravo! "

Doyle is a stand up comedian and teaches middle school. His slog through miserable love affairs and alarming dates suddenly and surprisingly brings him to the loftly plane of true love.  But misery is easy. And happiness is a lot of work.  A fresh and funny take on the lovelorn and the lovers.
Directed by Jane Morris.

Robby Hoffman

Roz Browne and Robby Hoffman
"Attack of the Stand Up Women"  Some of our writers are stand ups.  The girl ones put this marvelous show together with some very talented friends and the result was an evening we wouldn't have forgotten if we hadn't had such a great party afterword. Produced by Roz Browne.

Roz Browne

Becky Wahlstrom
"All In" at the fanaticSalon.  Becky premiered her newest work in May 2012 to two sold out houses and two standing ovations.  An adventurous person and a superb actress, Becky chronicles her life as an outsider wanting in, from her failure to land a slot on the New Micky Mouse Club to her failure to find the red carpet when her show was nominated for an Emmy and all her successes in between.  You've seen Becky lots of times on Mad Men, CSI, NCIS and many other shows, as well as being a series regular on "Joan of Arcadia" her Emmy nominated show. Directed by Jane Morris and Jeff Michalski. "All In" had a Chicago run at the Chopin Theater.

Ramsey Brown TWO SHOWS!
"Killing It"  and "OohLaLa" in Vermont at the and the, at the fanaticSalon and soon to open at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Ramsey began working on the pieces that became "Killing It" with Paula Killen in the Write Club.  Ramsey's mother pushed her to put her work together into a show and Jane Morris directed Ramsey's effort, resulting in the screamingly funny show which Ramsey performed in Vermont at the and at the fanaticSalon.  Her amazing success spurred her to write a second show, a true coming of age as a performer and writer.  "OohLaLa" opened last year to full houses and a million laughs and has played at the fanaticSalon, in Vermont at The Big Picture and the Skinner Barn,  and at the The Zypher Theater and the Missing Piece in Los Angeles.  "OohLaLa" continued its happy run at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Theater of Note and at the Minnesota Fringe Festival.

George Kessler
"My Super Powers" at the fanaticSalon.
 The cover of Superboy 96 reveals to young George the sad story of his life: his superpowers have somehow been lost or stolen. Searching in vein for the proper radio active animal bite or chemical accident, the innocent world of Superman gives way to the dark world of Marvel Comics, as the real world also becomes ever more ominous. Directed by Jeff Michalski



He has also written essays for "War Zone: Tales from LA Unified"  and "I Love a Good Story" (produced by Lauri Fraser) at the fanaticSalon.

Clara York

"Apocalypse, Not Now!"  has played at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the fanaticSalon and the McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga. "Apocalypse, Not Now! showcases stoner, alcoholic and former hand model, Clara York. Telling the story of how the fires in Tujunga forced her agoraphobic little self out of her home after nine years, only to be faced with two other natural disasters in the form of flood and mudslides. Stronger than the natural disasters she recounts, York herself is a comedic force to be reckoned with."  Directed by Jane Morris.
"Apocalypse, Not Now" is set for an upcoming performance in October 2012 at the Ice House Theatre in Pasadena.
For a full review of Clara's remarkable show go HERE

Nuts and Bolts

Jane working with Becky Wahlstorm.

The goal of my workshop is to help you bring your work from idea to stage.  Each week we write, listen, give notes and decide on your next step.

The sooner you start, the sooner you will meet your goals!

We meet every Wednesday evening from 7-10pm. When the workshop grows too large we expand into Mondays.

The workshop is $100 per month.  When you're ready to mount your show, you will be able to do it at the fanaticSalon.  The theater will share the money made at the door with you!

Invest in yourself and your work!
email Jane at: thedabera@yahoo.com or
call: 310 622 2046

Read What Participants Have to Say!

In Los Angeles

"Working with Jane Morris is truly inspiring. Her experience and insight are unsurpassed.  In her workshops, Jane establishes an atmosphere of trust and support and guides each writer to find the heart of his/her work.

Last fall, I was fortunate enough to write and perform my first one-man show. I couldn't have done it without Jane Morris."  GEORGE KESSLER  "My Superpowers"

"When I first met Jane Morris I had not been writing regularly and had not set foot on a stage in seven years. Now writing and working on performances is part of my every day life. Jane is a fully engaged teacher who can help you develop your work from an idea to the stage. She seems to know instinctively what to to add or subtract to make any piece work. She is also one of the nicest and funniest people you're ever likely to meet.

 I fully endorse classes with Jane Morris."  Gordon Henderson

"Jane Morris is the consummate professional; a skilled actor, director, writer and veteran of the Second City improv scene.  Her workshop draws on her more than 30 years in the business with success at every level helping writer/performers achieve their goals; all done with humor, insight and a supportive atmosphere. " Brian Kiley  stand up comic and writer on Conan

"Jane Morris does it all. She's not only a comedy improv legend, she's also gifted with story and drama. She's wonderful at coaxing, shaping and sharpening what a writer/performer wants to say. She makes it cleaner, clearer and funnier. And then she directs the hell out of it. Plus, she's just a really cool, laid back lady, who makes anyone and everyone feel welcome. Love her."  Beth Littleford "The Daily Show"  "Crazy Stupid Love"

"When deciding who I would choose to direct my one woman show I asked myself the following questions:

Who would be FUN to work with? 

Who could I COUNT on?

Who did I TRUST?

Who was a low stress, even keeled, easy going person?

Who was someone who wouldn't be competitive with me?

Who was someone who was DEDICATED to excellence?

Who had a stellar background in comedy, theater, directing?

Who had a great sense of humor?

Who did I want to spend countless hours with?

The answer was easy-- Jane Morris! She exceeded all of these expectations and more. Jane has an amazing wit and she doesn't try to impose her 'voice' onto your writing or performing. She recognized the originality of my piece and helped me access new inroads, take bigger risks both physically and emotionally, and just be funnier! She is equally gifted in helping with writing as she is with directing. She made me feel so great about myself and our show was a big success because of our partnership. Get some 'Jane' in your life, any chance you get."
Clara York  "Apocalypse, Not Now!"

At the Women In Comedy Festival

in Boston
My 

My problem is taking the (stand up) joke and stetching it out to fill real space in my soslo show.  I no longer have that problem, thanks to the 45 minutes spent with Jane Morris.  Within minutes, she filled the blank board behind me with arrows and circles all stemming form the premise word, "co-workers".  Bam, we had at least 15 minutes of ieads that needed writing.  Every arrow led to a new point, an new unexplored area.

What was most exciting was that we were able to delve into the details of our work and directly maneuver our material.  Jane's done to earth, hands-on direction was refreshing and bang-on.  Often time, with a workshop, one only gets the bird's eye view of things and end up lost.  My co worker premise was once lost, but it is now found.  Thank you, Jane!   Robby Hoffman, Montreal

Jane's seminar on developing a solo show pushes the artist to think as a performer and an story teller.  She pushes students to find the heart of the story and expand for the core, all while building characters, setting, presence, dialogue and narrative.  What begins as a story becomes a performance fit for the stage.  Kate Lee, San Diego