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 | SOLD OUT |
| JAN 6th, 2020 | MONDAYS / 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 6pm |
$250 | SOLD OUT |
| JAN 7th, 2020 | TUESDAYS/ 7:30pm – 9:30pm Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 7pm |
$250 | SOLD OUT |
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 ONE SPOT LEFT! Grad Show: Sunday March 8th, 2020 – 8pm |
$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 |
Flip the Switch: Mindset of a Professional Performer Taught by: Jesse Young
Flip the Switch: Mindset of a ProfessionalPerformer“ A professional can and WILL deliver the same caliber of performance, no matter thecircumstances. Period. ”Professional is a state of mind, not a number on a check, and it is a state of mind that can be all yours. Many things get in the way of having a ‘good’ improv show. This class will give you the tools to eliminate those variables in your performance that knock you down before you even hit the stage. A class built to empower the performer, prepare for the curveballs that will come, and help make you an unshakeable stage partner. Students will experience the rigors and develop the skills required for performers that want to continuously grow. Learning to create characters and maintaining consistent performances through any improv group and varying venues.
About The Instructor
Jesse has been improvising for 13 years. She started in college with her campus troupe The Dead Parrots Society, allowing her to travel and learn from artists such as mime Bill Bower and stunt trainer David Boushey. Previously she was a Mainstage player and Host at Ryan Stiles: The Upfront Theatre. While there she worked with Jet City in Seattle and Instant Theatre Company in Canada. Living in New York she played and studied with The Pit and The Upright Citizens Brigade. Later living in Los Angeles, she studied at Groundlings and performed at iO West. And then…A career move took her once again across the country, this time to Atlanta! She found a vibrant improv community, and a new family at The Village Theatre.
Students completing this class will be able to:
- Flip that mental switch to be ‘on’ when on stage.
- Take notes like a boss.
- Maintain consistent level of performance.
- Empower themselves to lead..
- Be gracious enough to follow.
- Confidently communicate their comedic lens.
- Apply the skills of collaboration, communication, and critical thinking in the study and practice of improv.
Want to start your journey towards being an unshakeable performer? Want to hone those veteran skills you already wield? Want to get a rigorous improv workout in with other folks ready to grow? Then join us.
Prerequisite: At least 1 year of Improv Experience.
About The Instructor
Jesse has been improvising for 13 years. She started in college with her campus troupe The Dead Parrots Society, allowing her to travel and learn from artists such as mime Bill Bower and stunt trainer David Boushey. Previously she was a Mainstage player and Host at Ryan Stiles: The Upfront Theatre. While there she worked with Jet City in Seattle and Instant Theatre Company in Canada. Living in New York she played and studied with The Pit and The Upright Citizens Brigade. Later living in Los Angeles, she studied at Groundlings and performed at iO West. And then…A career move took her once again across the country, this time to Atlanta! She found a vibrant improv community, and a new family at The Village Theatre.
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 25, 2020 | SATURDAYS / 3pm – 6pm Showcase Show: February 29 @ 6pm |
$250 |
Advanced Comedic Performance w/ Mark Kendall
This 4-week class will help you develop your unique point of view and translate that into laughs onstage. This class will cover both improv and sketch through movement exercises, writing techniques, and breaking rules. Includes a graduation show.
Mark Kendall is an Atlanta-based comedian. He is an ensemble member at Dad’s Garage Theatre. His one man show, “The Magic Negro and Other Blackness” was produced by the Alliance Theatre and he continues to tour the show around the country. Mark studied film at Northwestern University. He worked at Comedy Central through the Chris Rock Summer School Program for up and coming comedy writers of color. During his time at Comedy Central, he got to pitch jokes to the writing staffs of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Mark was the Readers Pick for Best Comedian in Creative Loafing Atlanta in 2019.
About The Instructor
Mark Kendall is an Atlanta-based comedian. He is an ensemble member at Dad’s Garage Theatre. His one man show, “The Magic Negro and Other Blackness” was produced by the Alliance Theatre and he continues to tour the show around the country. Mark studied film at Northwestern University. He worked at Comedy Central through the Chris Rock Summer School Program for up and coming comedy writers of color. During his time at Comedy Central, he got to pitch jokes to the writing staffs of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Mark was the Readers Pick for Best Comedian in Creative Loafing Atlanta in 2019.
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEB 8, 2020 | SATURDAYS / 1:00pm – 4:00pm Grad Show: Saturday, Feb 29 |
$150 | SOLD OUT |
Musical Improv Essentials w/ Jenny Holden
Feel like taking your scene to the next level? Sing about it!
Musical Improv Essentials will help players heighten any improv scene, long-form and short, through the power of song. Over 8 weeks students will learn the fundamentals of vocal performance, the basic mechanics of songwriting, explore popular musical genres, discover an individual freestyling flow, and gain incredible confidence on and off stage. At the end of the session, students will get to create their own format and perform in the very first Village Theatre Musical Improv Showcase!
Jenny Holden is an actor/improviser from the armpits of northern Georgia. In her near-10-year career, Jenny has had the pleasure of touring internationally with Baby Wants Candy, Mission Improvable, Batsu!, and The Chippendales (yes, those Chippendales). In 2019, she was a member of the Improvaganza International Company in Edmonton, Canada, became a Main Village Cast member, and co-created acclaimed sci-fi duo Cruella. She has trained and performed with Second City, iO, The Annoyance, Laughing Matters, Dad’s Garage Theatre Co. and The Village. She lives with two pups (Ned and Hansel), a worm farm, and a cat she was only supposed to watch for like a month and it’s been a year. Currently, you can see Jenny in Cruella, Main Cast shows, Laughing Matters, Improv A**hole, Improvised Vagina Monologues, Spitball, Etc!, and Inglorious at The Village and around town. Check her out on instagram @willfriedle or the twitter she should use more often @wwesmackcam.
Musical Improv Essentials will help players heighten any improv scene, long-form and short, through the power of song. Over 8 weeks students will learn the fundamentals of vocal performance, the basic mechanics of songwriting, explore popular musical genres, discover an individual freestyling flow, and gain incredible confidence on and off stage. At the end of the session, students will get to create their own format and perform in the very first Village Theatre Musical Improv Showcase!
Can’t carry a tune? Doesn’t matter! This course requires no musical training or skill; however, it is strongly encouraged that students have completed at least two levels of improv training.
About The Instructor
Jenny Holden is an actor/improviser from the armpits of northern Georgia. In her near-10-year career, Jenny has had the pleasure of touring internationally with Baby Wants Candy, Mission Improvable, Batsu!, and The Chippendales (yes, those Chippendales). In 2019, she was a member of the Improvaganza International Company in Edmonton, Canada, became a Main Village Cast member, and co-created acclaimed sci-fi duo Cruella. She has trained and performed with Second City, iO, The Annoyance, Laughing Matters, Dad’s Garage Theatre Co. and The Village. She lives with two pups (Ned and Hansel), a worm farm, and a cat she was only supposed to watch for like a month and it’s been a year. Currently, you can see Jenny in Cruella, Main Cast shows, Laughing Matters, Improv A**hole, Improvised Vagina Monologues, Spitball, Etc!, and Inglorious at The Village and around town. Check her out on instagram @willfriedle or the twitter she should use more often @wwesmackcam.
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3, 2020 | MONDAYS for 8 weeks 7:30-9:30pm | $200 |
LEVEL 1 INTENSIVE
Coming this Summer!
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | $350 |
LEVEL 2 INTENSIVE
Coming Soon
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD, 2020 | $350 |
Improv To Sketch
Improv To Sketch 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, monolgues and genre scenes.
This class has homework and will require time away from class to write & edit.
YOU MUST HAVE WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF IMPROV TO TAKE THIS CLASS.
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEB 2 | SUNDAYS 12-3pm | $250 |
Sketch For Writers w/ Jim Hodgson
Being born funny is nonsense. If you want to be funny, you can be and should be.
Sketch for writers is a class designed to help you find your own comedic voice through writing.
You’ll start with good joke writing, how to view comedy with a critical eye, and understanding WHY something is funny.
From there you’ll get to work over 6 weeks learning
:
- Good writing habits.
- How to write good jokes .
- Creating and relieving tension
- Story structure.
- Sketch writing tools and tips.
- Editing your content.
- Working through a table read and writer’s room.
About The Instructor: Jim Hodgson is a bestselling author. He likes his wife, bikes, cars, and the outdoors. He is an Ironman finisher, an ultramarathon finisher, and has climbed two of the world’s tallest mountains.
| Start Date | Class Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEB 2 | SUNDAYS 10am-1pm for 6 weeks (no class 2/23) | $250 |
Instructors
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.
