IMPROV 101: The Basics

Improv 101: The Basics. This eight-week, three-hour class is open to everyone and appropriate for all levels of improv experience. Whether you are completely new to improvisation, or are a seasoned performer who wants to get back to basics, this class is for you. Learning skills through improv games & exercises, our focus is on: “Yes And” (agreement and extension), group mind, give and take, and basic environment and object work in a supportive, playful environment. The class culminates with a 45-minute “work-in-progress” showcase on the eighth week.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225
No prerequisites. 

Intro to Sketch Writing

Intro to Sketch Comedy Writing. This class will focus on the very basics of sketch writing, including idea generation, brainstorming, comic premises and sketch structure. Whether you’re a beginning writer, a seasoned writer looking to learn a new form, or just want to refocus your writing in an encouraging, collaborative atmosphere, this class is for you. Through class exercises and assignments, students will learn to write comedy sketches from beginning to end. A notebook is required, because to learn to write, you have to write.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225
No pre-requisite

Intro to Stand-Up

Have you ever wanted to try Stand-up Comedy but weren’t sure how to start? This class is for you! You’ll learn exercises, tools, and techniques for generating ideas, writing jokes, preparing your act, and analyzing and improving your performance. We’ll cover on-stage mechanics and “comedy etiquette.” This class explores the wide variety of styles of Stand-up, extracting lessons that can be incorporated into your act, in a supportive and fun environment. Through this 8 week course that culminates with a class show, you’ll discover and develop your personal comedy voice, while building a foundation for continued growth.

Tuesdays 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225
No pre-requisite

IMPROV 102: Scenework

Improv 102: Scenework. This eight-week class focuses on one of the most critical elements of great improv: Scene Work. Building on the foundations and skills of Intro to Improv, here we focus on starting scenes with decisive initiations and confident stage presence.  Agreement and group mind will be taken to the next level as well as working on character development and emotional investment. Trusting yourself as well as your scene partner is the first step towards great scene work. Improv 102 concludes with a class performance showcasing the skills of building strong scenes.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225
Pre-Requisite: Improv 101 

IMPROV 201: Short Form

Improv 201: Intro to Short Form. Building on previous concepts, Improv 201 focuses on short form improv. We’ll be delving into a variety of different performance games including: character-based games, option games, scenic games and storytelling games, concluding with the mechanics of putting the pieces together for a successful performance. Students will gain valuable experience in short form improv mechanics — a skill that the Arcade believes is a fundamental piece of a well-rounded improviser.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225
Pre-Requisite: Improv 101 & 102

Improv 202: Advanced Short Form

Improv 202: Advanced Short Form. Let’s take your short-form improv skills to the next level!  Though thoughtful and constructive teacher feedback, students will sharpen game-play and hosting skills, initiate memorable characters and environments, and elevate their onstage performance. This level starts with four classroom session and concludes with four performance opportunities, where participants get detailed post-show notes and feedback, both as individuals and as an ensemble.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Requirements: Improv 101, 102, & 201
Registration $225

IMPROV 301: The Harold

Improv 301: The Harold. This class focuses on the Harold, the gold standard of long-form improv, featured at both iO and UCB Theaters. Harold provides improvisors an opportunity to learn the basic building blocks commonly used in long-form improv: openings, edits, games, group scenes, and callbacks. Skills learned in earlier levels are critical to forging a group mind and building a spontaneous and evocative piece of improvised theater.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $225 ($200 early bird)
Pre-Requisite: Improv 101 & 102 & 201

IMPROV 302: Advanced Long-form

Improv 302: Advanced Longform. Building on the tools introduced in Scene Work and the Harold, Advanced Long-form widens our students knowledge and experience with various advanced improv long-forms. In this class, we delve deeper into techniques and how each best applies to different forms. The forms explored will vary from class to class depending on each class’s interest and ability. Potential forms include: Monoscene, Deconstruction, La Ronde, the Movie, the Living Room, JTS Brown, The Bat, The Armando and more.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Requirements: Improv 101, 102, 201 & 301
Registration $225

Improv to Sketch

In this 16-week course that spans two-sessions, students will use improv to create material for an original sketch show. The culmination of skills and experiences learned in previous Arcade Academy classes along with skillful instructor direction, students will generate ideas through improvisation and then learn to refine those ideas into finished sketches. Using these sketches, participants will also get hands-on experience with all elements of putting-on a sketch show, including: acting skills, developing show order, utilizing props, developing ensemble rapport, marketing and production. Performance opportunities include both a work-in-progress show at the midway point and a fully formed sketch show at the end of the session with two-previews and two weekend mainstage productions.

Two mainstage shows: Nov 29 at 8PM and Dec 6 at 8PM.

6:30PM – 9:30PM
Registration $400
Prerequisite: Improv 301 or with teacher’s permission