Improv Comedy Course

Lesson 1 • Letting Go of Fear and Judgment

Addresses the psychological barriers that block spontaneous performance. Students practice releasing self-criticism to unlock creative risk-taking.

Lesson 2 • The Yes-And Principle

Introduces the foundational rule of accepting and building on a partner's offer. Connects agreement and addition to scene momentum and trust.

Lesson 3 • What Improv Comedy Actually Is

Define improv as a performance art built on spontaneity and collaboration. Distinguishes improv from scripted comedy and establishes its core philosophy.

Lesson 1 • Making Bold, Clear Offers

Teaches performers to initiate with specificity rather than vague statements. Specific offers give partners more material to build on and accelerate scene energy.

Lesson 2 • Scene Entry and Timing

Covers when and how to enter a scene already in progress without disrupting flow. Proper entry timing supports ensemble scenes and group formats.

Lesson 3 • Accepting and Heightening Offers

Moves beyond basic acceptance to active heightening of a partner's offer. Students learn to amplify offers without negating or redirecting the scene.

Lesson 1 • Building Characters from the Body

Trains performers to generate characters through physical impulse rather than intellectual planning. Body-first character work produces more authentic and surprising results.

Lesson 2 • Point of View and Character Want

Teaches performers to give every character a clear desire and perspective. Character want drives scene conflict and prevents aimless, plotless scenes.

Lesson 3 • Relationship Between Characters

Explores how character dynamics create scene tension and comedy. Students practice establishing relationship history quickly at scene start.

Lesson 4 • What Makes a Character Distinct

Identifies the three pillars of character: physicality, voice, and attitude. Connects distinct characters to clearer scenes and stronger audience engagement.

Lesson 1 • Status Play in Scenes

Examines how high and low status between characters generates tension and comedy. Status shifts are a primary engine of scene dynamics and audience interest.

Lesson 2 • Editing and Scene Endings

Covers the techniques used to end scenes cleanly and at the right moment. Good edits preserve comedic peaks and maintain show pacing.

Lesson 3 • The Game of the Scene

Introduces the concept of the scene's game as its repeatable, heightening comedic pattern. Students learn to identify, name, and play the game consistently.

Lesson 4 • Emotional Truth and Grounding

Teaches performers to anchor scenes in genuine emotional response rather than joke-seeking. Emotional truth makes absurd premises believable and funnier.

Lesson 1 • Physicality and Mime in Comedy

Explores how physical comedy, object work, and mime amplify verbal scenes. Strong physicality makes the improv world tangible and expands comedic range.

Lesson 2 • Comedic Timing and the Pause

Teaches the role of silence, pause, and rhythm in delivering comedy effectively. Timing is the difference between a joke that lands and one that falls flat.

Lesson 3 • Heightening and Pattern Recognition

Covers how to identify a comedic pattern and escalate it to maximum effect. Pattern recognition is the core skill behind game-of-the-scene play.

Lesson 4 • Avoiding Common Comedy Pitfalls

Identifies the habits that undermine comedy: joke-at-all-costs, mugging, and undercutting. Students learn to recognize and correct these patterns in their own work.

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Short-Form Formats

Surveys the landscape of short-form improv, including competitive and non-competitive formats. Establishes how game rules shape performance choices and audience experience.

Lesson 2 • Core Short-Form Games

Teaches the mechanics and strategy of widely performed short-form games. Each game is analyzed for its unique constraints and comedic opportunities.

Lesson 3 • Audience Interaction and Suggestions

Trains performers to solicit, receive, and use audience suggestions effectively. Strong audience interaction builds investment and makes shows feel unique each night.

Lesson 4 • Pacing and Show Flow

Addresses how to sequence games and manage energy across a full short-form show. Effective pacing keeps audiences engaged from opening to closing game.

Lesson 1 • Group Games Within the Harold

Examines the role of group games between Harold beats as thematic exploration tools. Group games refresh ensemble energy and deepen the show's central theme.

Lesson 2 • Harold Beats and Scene Cycles

Covers the three-beat structure of the Harold and how scenes evolve across beats. Each beat deepens character, relationship, and thematic resonance.

Lesson 3 • What Is Long-Form Improv

Distinguishes long-form from short-form in terms of structure, pacing, and thematic depth. Establishes the unique demands and rewards of sustained narrative improv.

Lesson 4 • Thematic Coherence and Callbacks

Trains performers to weave recurring themes, images, and callbacks throughout a Harold. Callbacks create the sense of a unified, authored performance.

Lesson 1 • Giving and Receiving Notes

Teaches the culture and mechanics of improv notes sessions after rehearsal or performance. Constructive notes accelerate growth and build ensemble trust.

Lesson 2 • Watching and Analyzing Improv

Trains students to watch improv performances analytically to extract lessons. Deliberate observation accelerates skill development beyond rehearsal time.

Lesson 3 • Building a Long-Term Practice

Establishes habits and strategies for continued growth as an improv performer. Students leave with a personal development plan and community engagement strategy.

Lesson 4 • Performing for a Live Audience

Addresses the unique dynamics of performing improv in front of a live audience. Students learn to use audience energy as fuel rather than a source of anxiety.