Teaching Pittsburgh Comedy for over 10 years!
Have fun learning the art of comedy!
Since 2013, Arcade Comedy Theater’s Academy has been helping folks find their comedic voice, gain confidence, connect with others, and have a lot of fun. Comedy brings people together — and we’ve welcomed hundreds of budding performers and comedians into our doors over the years.
Whether it’s improv, sketch, or stand-up, the Arcade Academy can teach you the art of comedy regardless of your experience. If you’re new to our training program, then start at the 100 level of improv classes and learn our philosophy from the ground up! Or if writing is more your style, we offer sketch comedy and stand-up classes too. Our classes are welcoming, accessible, and packed full of insights from some of the most experienced teachers in the city.
Get ready to have fun, meet people, and open yourself up to Pittsburgh’s growing comedy scene!
If you’re looking for more info about how all of this works, check out our Academy FAQ page.
Arcade Academy: Summer Session 2025
943 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15222
IMPROV 101 SPEEDRUN
Speedrun through the essentials of our IMPROV: 101 Foundations class with this breezy summer class! Whether you’re a true beginner or a performer looking to get back to basics, this accelerated intro class will teach you all the foundations of improv comedy from our traditional eight week in four accelerated weeks of fun! Students
will get to show off their new skills in a showcase performance for their friends and family on Sunday, August 10!
MONDAYS 6:30PM – 9:30PM
First Class: Monday, July 14th
Class Show: Sunday, August 10th
Instructor: Beth Geatches
Registration: $160 (Early Bird Discount: $145)
Character Work
TUESDAYS 6:30PM – 9:30PM
This four-week intensive focuses on one of the fundamental pillars of comedy: character. Using improv, acting, and writing techniques, instructor Sara Kantner will help students develop engaging and unique comedic characters, and give them the tools to perform these roles confidently. In addition to practicing playing strong
characters in improv scenes, students will explore using a character as a starting point for sketch or stand-up comedy.
First Class: Tuesday, July 15th
Class Show: Sunday, August 10th
Instructor: Sara Kantner
Registration: $160 (Early Bird Discount: $145)
Prerequisites: IMPROV 101 or equivalent training
STAND-UP 102: Advanced Stand-Up Comedy
Building on the fundamentals of writing and performing stand-up comedy in STAND-UP 101, the new advanced level course STAND-UP 102 will provide students with even more tools and techniques of stand-up tailored for up-and-coming local comedians by industry professionals. This four week course will cover such topics including crowd work and interacting with audiences, adapting to different performance venues, writing topical humor, and stand-up character creation. Students wishing to take this class must have either previously taken STAND-UP 101 at Arcade Academy or at least two years of independent experience. Students will get to show off their new skills in a showcase performance for their friends and family on Sunday, August 10!
First Class: Wednesday, July 16th
Class Show: Sunday, August 10th
Instructor: Sean Collier
Registration: $160 (Early Bird Discount: $145)
Prerequisites: STAND-UP 101 or two years of independent experience
Arcade Academy: 2025 BONUS COURSES
943 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15222
PRACTICE MODE
Arcade Academy improv practice group!
Thursdays 6:30pm to 8:30pm
May 29th, June 5th, and June 12th
PRACTICE MODE is a brand new offering from Arcade Academy! Whether you’re an improv student looking to apply your new skills or a seasoned pro looking to dust off your tool kit, practice groups give improvisers an opportunity to fine tune their technique outside of the traditional classroom or performance setting. Participants will receive expert guidance and in-the-moment feedback on their work from Arcade Comedy Theater improv coaches Fred Frances, Missy Moreno, and Academy Director Connor McCanlus.
PRACTICE MODE Single Play is $20 for each 2-hour practice
or you can buy the PRACTICE MODE 3-Pack and get access to all 3 weeks for only $45!
Full PRACTICE MODE Schedule
Thursday May 29th: Long Form with Connor McCanlus
Thursday June 5th: Long Form with Fred Frances
Thursday June 12th: Short Form with Missy Moreno
PRACTICE MODE Single Play access may be limited based on availability. PRACTICE MODE Single Play sales will end at midnight on Wednesday, the night before each practice.
Here’s what you need to know:
Arcade Academy sessions generally run eight weeks. Classes take place at our theater at 943 Liberty Avenue or on rare occasions off-site at a nearby Cultural Trust-owned property. If you’d like to register for a class, just click the big buttons and you’ll be taken to our ShowClix registration page. It’s a fast & secure way to register for classes online with your credit card. Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferrable. Unless specified otherwise, these classes are for adults 18 and older. Teachers listed may be subject to change at the Arcade’s discretion or as a result of unforeseen scheduling conflicts — while we try to avoid teacher substitution, it does happen from time and time and is not grounds for a refund.
The Arcade is also accepting a limited number of interns. Click here to learn more about our internship program.
We’ve revised our policy regarding course prerequisites: students need to meet all pre-reqs before signing up for an advanced level class. Every improv school approaches these techniques and philosophies differently, and so does the Arcade. So it’s good for you and your classmates if everyone has the same level of Arcade Academy training and vocabulary. You can find all of our current policies on our Academy FAQ page.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to call us at 412-339-0608 and we’ll get back to you right away!
Accessibility
Arcade is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of our patrons, students, and performing artists. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us at: academy@arcadecomedytheater.com
943 Liberty Avenue
During the week, the Arcade transforms into an amazing, multi-classroom learning space with classes taking place in our downstairs and upstairs theaters as well as our second floor lounge.
937 Liberty Avenue
Certain classes may take place next door to the Arcade in the Cultural Trust multi-use space of 937 Liberty Ave on the third floor.