Improv Training
Welcome to the Bird City Improv course catalog. Below is a list of all our regularly offered online classes and workshops. To view our current offerings check out our Current Offerings page.  If you are interested in bringing a workshop to your business, school, or community, please contact or call us. 

Bird City Improv classes are designed to be a fun, affirming, and inclusive learning experience. We  pride ourselves on making improv accessible and engaging for everyone in all experience levels. We practice Anti-Oppression and Liberation by teaching a multicultural history of improvisation, offering diverse learning resources, eschewing stereotyped characters and problematic narratives, honoring student boundaries, advocating personal wellness, practicing compassion, and creating spaces for honest discussion. 
 
If you're new to improv, check out our Intro to Improv workshop. If you're interested in studying improv formally, check out our Core Curriculum classes. If you have prior improv experience and don't want to start at level one, that's ay-okay. Just make sure you have commensurate experience. If you are an activist wanting to use improv as vehicle for social justice, check out our Liberation Focused track. And if you are a total improv nerd, check out one of our Special Topics classes. Lastly, if you're just looking for a safe and supportive space to share with people in your community, check out our Community Focus classes. 

Online Workshops | Improv for Beginners

​

Intro to Improv | Free Workshop

In this online workshop workshop students learn the basics of improv and build their communication skills. Duration: 1.5 hours

​

Core Curriculum | Improv for Everyone

​

IMPRO 101: Scenework

In this online class students learn the basics of improv and how to go with the flow. Duration: Six Weeks

​

IMPRO 201: Characters

In this online class students learn how to create unique characters with strong points of view. Duration: Six Weeks

​

IMPRO 301: Comedy

In this online class students learn how to be funny and navigate conflict. 

Duration: Six Weeks

​

IMPRO 401: Drama

In this online class students learn how to play realistically with honesty and mischief. Duration: Six Weeks

​

IMPRO 501: Narrative

In this online class students learn how to create a fully improvised play. Duration: Six Weeks

​

Arts Activism | Theater for Change

​

ACT 101: Social Justice Improv | Comedic Advocacy

This advanced training for experienced improvisers is an introduction to social justice improv.  This class uses social satire and humor as a vehicle for liberation and allyship, punching up and attacking systems of oppression, creating theatre that is socially conscious.  This class is an introduction to social justice improv. Duration: Six Weeks

​

ACT 201: Staging Social Satire | Theater for Change

This class is an exploration and application of social justice improv techniques for artists interested in producing their own satirical shows. Special emphasis will be placed on style and form. It is open to improvisers that have successfully completed "101: Social Justice Improv." Duration: Six Weeks

​

ACT 301: Writing Political Comedy | Co-Creative Power

This class is a simulation of a writers' room dedicated to liberation, justice, and satire. This class uses non-hierarchical collaboration, co-creative rehearsal techniques, and decentered authority to generate written content. It is open to improvisers that have successfully completed "101: Social Justice Improv." Duration: Six Weeks

​

Special Topic Classes | Improv for Nerds

​

Improvising Change | Practicing Anti-Oppression

Open to any and all experience levels, this class uses roleplay to facilitate dialogue about advocacy, social justice, and allyship. It is a pre-requisite for students - without advanced improv training - who wish to enroll in "101: Social Justice Improv." Duration: Six Weeks

​

Sketch Comedy I | Writing the Funny Stuff

In this introductory class, students learn how to write short comedy scenes like those on Saturday Night Live. Duration: Six Weeks

​

Sketch Comedy II | Going for the Laugh

In this advanced class, students learn how to rehearse and produce their self-generated sketch comedy in a collaborative environment. It is open to students that have successfully completed "Sketch Comedy I" Duration: Six Weeks

​

Group Scenes | Ensemble Improvisation

In this class students learn how to navigate scenes with three or more people. It is open to students that have successfully completed three improv classes or have commensurate experience. Duration: Six Weeks

​

The Deconstruction | Scenes on a Theme

In this advanced class, students learn multiple approaches for exploring theme through an improv structure called The Deconstruction. It is open to students that have successfully completed four improv classes or have commensurate experience. Duration: Six Weeks

​

Community Focus Classes | Improv for Empowerment

​

The Q Group | Improv for TLGBQ+

This class is for anyone who identifies as TLGBQ+.

​

Funny Over Fifty | Improv for Older Adults
This class is for anyone who identifies as an older adult or who would like to work intergenerationally. 

​

Queer Magic | Improv and Spirituality

This class is for anyone who interested in discussing spirituality and its relationship to improv.  

​