Want to Take Improv Classes in Atlanta?

The Village Theatre offers an extensive 4- level improvisational comedy training program with additional advanced, elective sessions, in addition to occasional workshops.

Over the course of the core program you will learn and continue to improve your understanding of the rules of improv acting and the fun behind improv games. As you progress through the levels you’ll receive instruction from experienced Village Theatre improvisers.

Graduation from the Village Theatre program requires all four levels + two electives. Students may not try out for teams, casts until all four levels and two electives have been completed.

Classes, Sketch & More!

All Classes Electives Workshops Intensives Sketch

Level 1 – Introduction to Improv

Introduction to improvisational acting and the skills you need to begin the study of both long and short form improv comedy. Concepts include warm up, trust, the principles of agreement, and group mind. This course provides a broad overview into these ideas and illustrates how to implement them on stage. The course ends with a graduation show!

Start Date	Class Days	Price
JAN 5th, 2020	SUNDAYS / 1pm – 3pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 5pm	$250
JAN 6th, 2020	MONDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 6pm	$250
JAN 7th, 2019	TUESDAYS/ 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 7pm	$250

Level 2 – Improv Game Theory

Level 2 is all about the theory of Game, becoming a team player, and crushing shortform! Learn the skills to tackle any shortform game, as well as how shortform games can be applied to longform play. This class will expand your improv toolkit while building on the skills from Level 1, and you’ll have a ton of fun doing it! Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 + participation in graduation show or comparable experience.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
JAN 6th, 2020	MONDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 6pm	$250
JAN 7th, 2020	TUESDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 7pm	$250

Level 3 – Scene, Technique, Strategy, Acting and Introduction to Long Form

The only person better than you is someone else! Level 3 continues the focus on “clean scene work” for all improv formats as well as instructs students on simple and complex methods used to create characters and portray them on stage. The course ends with a graduation show! Prerequisite: Completion of Level 2 + participation in graduation show.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
JAN 7th, 2020	TUESDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 7pm	$250

Level 4 – Improv Grad Level

Level 4 combines all previous concepts and utilizes them for performances. New improv games and structures are introduced and implemented. This DIESEL course has a grad show every week after class! Prerequisite: INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL REQUIRED (completion of Levels 1-3 + all grad shows).

Start Date	Class Days	Price
JAN 5th, 2020	Sundays / 3:00pm – 5:00pm Grad Show: Show every Sunday!	$250

Chicago Style Long Form

Chicago Style Long-form with Ryan Archibald – Chicago is famous for its pizza, corrupt politicians and it’s epic comedy scene. Del Close, Charna Halpern and the iO Theater (formerly Improv Olympic) created a new style of improvisation in the 1980’s called “long-form” and it has become popular World wide including right here in Atlanta, GA.

 

Village Theatre artistic director, Ryan Archibald, has 20 years of experience teaching and performing long-form improvisation at iO Chicago and wants to introduce you to why it is so popular & empowering in this 8 week class.

Prerequisite: Completion of Level(s) 1 at Village Theatre or equivalent experience.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
SEP 8th, 2019	SUNDAYS / 10am – 12pm Grad Show: tbd	$250

Master Class with Ryan Archibald

This class will focus on all aspects of modern theatrical improvisation: scene, game, form, satire, acting, entertaining, POV and artistic expression. This class is designed for experienced improvisers, at least a year of study is required, professional and tenured improvisers encouraged and welcomed. The master class is an opportunity to study with someone who can help you get better, understand comedic/stage work more clearly, have more control and connection over your choices and push yourself again. In short, this is professional level instruction from a master improv teacher.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
SEP 9th, 2019	MONDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Thurday, TBD	$250

Workshop: Finding Your Clown, Taught By Justin Baker

Everyone has a unique clown persona inside of them and this workshop is designed to find that persona and develop it. In this two day class, you’ll be working on non-verbal skills to portray a range of emotions and work on opening up the vulnerable and chaotic sides of performing when you play without the use of words.
Communication is universal and in this class we will discover that together as we “birth” your unique clown. Whether you are interested in clowning as an art or not this class will help you with all aspects of your acting life as we delve into what we can communicate when we stop talking and start being. Let’s play.
About The Instructor
Justin Baker has studied for years as an actor, improvisor, and clown all over Los Angeles and Oklahoma. Moving to Atlanta recently after living in Los Angeles for the past 15 years he wants to share with you the various pieces that have helped shape him as a performer. Come clown around and discover some of those pieces for yourself.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
December 2	December 2 & December 3, 7 – 10pm	$100

LEVEL 1 INTENSIVE

Home for the holidays? Why not knock out VT’s level 1 class – IN FOUR DAYS?! A crash course in improv comedy and a blast to your improv fundamentals for experience improvisers. This course takes place over a Sat, Sun (5 hours apiece) as well as Mon, Tues night (3 hours apiece) with an optional Wed night show study session (3 hours). Ends with an epic grad show the following Sunday!

Class schedule: Saturday Dec 7 – 10am – 4pm (1hr for lunch)
Sunday Dec 8 – 10am – 4pm (1hr for lunch)
Monday Dec 9 – 7pm – 10pm
Tuesday Dec 10 – 7pm – 10pm
Wednesday Dec 11 – 7pm – 10pm (optional)
GRAD SHOW – Sunday Dec 15 at 4pm

Prerequisite: NADA

Start Date	Class Days	Price
DEC 7th	Dec 7th – 11th, 2019 Grad Show: 12/15/19 at 5pm	$350

LEVEL 2 INTENSIVE

Already completed Level 1? Then hit up Level 2’s intensives in the same 4 day block! Level 2 is all about the theory of Game, becoming a team player, and crushing shortform! Learn the skills to tackle any shortform game, as well as how shortform games can be applied to longform play. This class will expand your improv toolkit while building on the skills from Level 1, and you’ll have a ton of fun doing it!

Class schedule: Saturday Dec 7 – 10am – 4pm (1hr for lunch)
Sunday Dec 8 – 10am – 4pm (1hr for lunch)
Monday Dec 9 – 7pm – 10pm
Tuesday Dec 10 – 7pm – 10pm
Wednesday Dec 11 – 7pm – 10pm (optional)
GRAD SHOW – Sunday Dec 15 at 4pm

Prerequisite: Level 1 at Village Theatre or similar experience

Start Date	Class Days	Price
DEC 7th	Dec 7th – 11th, 2019 Grad Show: 12/15/19 at 5pm	$350

Sketch 1 with Ryan Archibald

Sketch 1 is an introduction to a unique style of sketch comedy writing, focusing on improvisation as a writing tool for individuals and ensembles. This three hour class will help you redefine your improv toolkit to best serve you as a writer of sketch comedy and cabaret style content. Students will learn “the process” of developing an idea from a simple thought to a fully formed theatrical piece ready for an audience. Students will receive feedback and direction weekly, developing many different styles of comedy including 2 and 3 person scenes, group games and genre scenes.

 

This class has homework and will require time away from class to write & edit.

Sketch 1 is the first of four levels in the Village Theatre Sketch Writing Program. Prerequisite: One year of improv training. YOU MUST HAVE WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF IMPROV TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
SEP 17th, 2019	TUESDAYS / 7:00pm – 10:00pm Grad Show: TBD	$250

Sketch 2 with Ryan Archibald

Sketch 2 – A continuation of Village Theatre’s Sketch Program, which offers a unique combination of improvising and writing as an ensemble – teaching the process of producing a cabaret style sketch comedy revue. Sketch 2 focuses on character development and point of view, both concepts useful in creating satire and protecting it.

 

This class has homework and will require time away from class to write & edit.

Sketch 2 is the second of four levels in the Village Theatre Sketch Writing Program. Prerequisite: Village Theatre’s Sketch 1 or equivalent experience.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
SEP 15th, 2019	SUNDAYS / 1:00pm – 4:00pm Grad Show: TBD	$250

Sketch 3

Sketch 3 is a continuation of Village Theatre’s Sketch Program.

 

This class has homework and will require time away from class to write & edit.

Sketch 3 is the third of four levels in the Village Theatre Sketch Writing Program. Prerequisite: Village Theatre’s Sketch 1, 2 or equivalent experience.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
TBD	TBD Grad Show: TBD	$250

Sketch 4

Sketch 4 is a continuation of Village Theatre’s Sketch Program.

 

This class has homework and will require time away from class to write & edit.

Sketch 4 is the final level in the Village Theatre Sketch Writing Program. Prerequisite: Village Theatre’s Sketch 1, 2, 3 or equivalent experience.

Start Date	Class Days	Price
TBD	TBD Grad Show: TBD	$250

Instructors

Ibanez Downtain

Jessica Young

Julia Jones

Markis Gallashaw

Marc Mooney

Ryan Archibald

What should you know about classes?

Here are the basics:

• All classes are 8 weeks
• Classes are 2 hours each
• Every class level ends with a LIVE performance graduation show
• Instructor approval is required to register for levels 4 and above
• It is going to be fun. You will workout your brain and get silly. You’ll gain superpowers. OK, maybe not that last one…
• More FAQs and student info here!

Still not sure about taking improv classes? Read our blog post detailing exactly why you should move past that fear and just do it! Or, email us any time at classes@villagecomedy.com with questions or concerns and we’re happy to help.

About Refunds: Due to demand, we are unable to issue refunds once you are registered. Your registration guarantees you a spot and spots are limited. We can provide a rain check for upcoming classes in the event your are unable to attend after you register.