News
2026 May
Teaching: Instant Characterization!
Three-week clinic at Philly Improv Theatre
A focused 3-week clinic for performers who want to make stronger, more immediate character choices.
Wednesdays. May 13, 20 & 27. 7–9PM
Hamilton Family Arts Center 62 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA
Led by seasoned performer Michael “Dola” Amendola, this class explores how physicality, voice, and emotional point of view can help you create characters that feel specific, distinct, and fun to play.
Students will practice building characters quickly from simple choices, using established information to deepen characterization, and creating contrast that supports stronger scenes, relationships, and world-building. Expect lots of reps, clear coaching, and a supportive room to experiment, commit, and expand your range.
Open to students of all experience levels, from beginner through advanced. Adults 18+. This clinic meets once a week for three weeks. No showcase performance with this class.
2026 April
MISFIT VARIETY SHOW tours to Philly for one night only! Hop on to this joyride of heartwarmingly irreverent comedy for the weirdos, rebels, and the misunderstood. Host Lauren LoGiudice (dubbed “fierce” by the New York Times) assembles a rotating cast of eclectic comedy performers to celebrate the beauty of not fitting in.
April 17, 2026
2026 April
April 12, 2026
Register now for PLAY JAM 6 on April 12. PLAY•JAM founder, Michael “Dola” Amendola, is facilitating a jam going back to the basics — discovering embodied play and game with each other in the moment. Low stakes, high joy. COME AND GET IT!
Sunday. April 12. 7–9PM
Pig Iron Studios | Philadelphia, PA
$10-$30 sliding scale drop-in workshop
WHO: All adults age 18+! These sessions are great as a creative tool for performers and artists of all kinds, but it is beneficial for anybody searching for a little movement, connection, and levity in their life.
2026 February
Essay published by Howlround Theatre Commons
February 17, 2026
Julia Proctor's Clown Gym transformed me. It changed the trajectory of my life towards joyful creation. I'm honored to have this essay published by Howlround Theatre Commons exploring how Clown Gym applies the openness and responsiveness of clowning to its organizational structure.
The consistency of collective embodied play that I experienced at Clown Gym is the inspiration for PLAY•JAM in Philadelphia.
2025 September [Philly]
5 Stagehands Fall Out of a Closet
(the goose crisis)
September 3-24, 2025
It has been such an exhilarating experience collaborating with the great Grace Lazarz as Director and co-creator to make this whirligig of an experience at the Trestle Inn for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. It's the kind of creative chaos that makes your pores sizzle. I'm also so grateful to collaborate with a generous ensemble and team: Arantxa Chávez, Patrick Burke, Brooke Shilling, Jen Fellman, Arianna Allen, and Kylen Bailey.
2025 May-June [Philadelphia]
Franklin's Key
Understudying Fordhook in Pig Iron Theatre Company's original production of Franklin's Key at Plays and Players Theater.
2025 May
MFA - Devised Performance
I have officially graduated with an MFA in Devised Performance from The Pig Iron School at Rowan University!
2025 January [Philly]
Teaching PHIT Devising Class!
Sundays Jan 5 - Mar 8, 2025
I am thrilled to be teaching PHIT's Acting/Ensemble-Devising class this Winter! In this class, students will train through the lens of physically-devised theatre and ensemble creation. You will use improvisation, game, and exercises exploring elements of creation to develop and refine original material, embody ranges of characters and level-up the range, precision and dynamics of your performance abilities! The class works as an ensemble, culminating in devising a completely original 20-minute piece to be performed during Showcase Weekend!
2025 January [NYC]
I'm co-leading a wonderfully playful devising workshop exploring jeu, complicite, the physically expressive performance body in space and discovering "the game" in group improvisations!
PhysFestNYC is a 10-day physical theater festival that takes place in Manhattan. Be sure to check out their offerings including Pig Iron Theatre Company's Masterclass on Devising, The Ensemble and The Poetics of the Stage with Quinn Bauriedel (Jan 16: 2:30-4:30pm).
January 17, 2024 : 4pm - 6pm
Stella Adler Studios (Studio TBA)
Led by Michael Amendola and Arantxa Chavez in collaboration with Tenara Calem.
2024 October
MADCAP & BUSTY wins Fringie Audience Choice Award for Cabaret/Nightlife
MADCAP & BUSTY, the variety show I produced and performed in for the 2024 Philly Fringe Festival will be recognized at the 2024 Barrymore Awards for winning the Fringie Audience Choice Award.
2024 October
Teaching at Circadium School of Contemporary Circus
Delighted to be subbing for the great Jacinta Yeland at the Circadium School, the first licensed and accredited higher education program for circus in the U.S. I'm teaching some tenants of Physical Theatre and Devising to the First Years and introducing the Second Years to the upside-down-wonky poetic world of Clown. It's so fascinating to work with students that have a virtuosic physical skill-set so different from my own and how their unique body wisdom meets the work of Devising. I'm excited by how contemporary circus continues to evolve, discovering theatrical dimensions heightened by the performers' incredible talent and ability. Check out this fascinating school (and their GORG campus!)
2024 September
The Bad Pirate Rock Show
Co-created and performed in this super fun original musical for pirates of all ages at the Philly Fringe Festival. Created alongside lead artist, Jonah Godfrey, as well as Tenara Calem, Tyler Catanella, Graham Cook, Aiden Ankli, Rachel Hunsinger and Flora Aubin.
2024 September
MADCAP & BUSTY
Produced, co-created, and performed in this wack-tastic late night variety show for the Philly Fringe Festival. Peep me in Swedish Macbeth and Sadie & Lady. Photo Gallery <--
2024 September
'Tuning into the Audience' Workshop!
“Existential Clowns Tuning into the Audience” is a two-hour workshop using group and solo games, exercises and improvisations to experiment with the comic relationship between performer and audience. We’ll explore concepts such as “playing at the speed of fun”, heightening your sensitivity to laughs, learning when to stay or go, complicity in competition, and using “failure” as your superpower. If you move in circles of clown, bouffon, drag, cabaret, stand-up, burlesque, hosting, teaching, preaching, or politics then this playtime is for YOU. Take risks, follow curiosity, and laugh your ass off in this no-stakes stupidly-fun lab guided by Michael Amendola.
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2024 August
Teaching Character Lab Weekend Intensive at Austin Shakespeare
No matter your experience level or point in your career, whether preparing for a role or devising original material, this playful and physical workshop will provide a tool kit to discover dynamic and specific characters relevant for any genre.
