Whether you are a new improviser or a pro, you deserve proven, experienced training. That’s what you’ll get at the Philadelphia School of Improv. We’ve been doing improv for over 25 years, and we’re pretty good at it.

Improv uses the same basic skill set regardless of what format or form you are doing. That being said, each form uses a different muscle and we believe, to be well-rounded performer, you should be exercising as many improv muscles as possible. That is why The Philadelphia School of Improv (PSI) offers classes on multiple forms. Click here to see our full curriculum and philosophy.

Scroll down or click the buttons below to find which class or workshop appeals to you as a performer and start there. We’ll be adding more classes as time goes on, so be sure to sign up for our PSI Mailing List to find out when new ones are added.

 
 

Students are required to see at least one show (either ComedySportz or a special show) during the course. Students receive 4 comps/semester to see shows for FREE (unless specified).

Spring Schedule (By Day)

 
Monday Tuesday Wednesday
CSz 101 LF 201 CSz 101
CSz 301 - LF 301
Thursday Friday Saturday
CSz 201 None -
Intensive - -
 

COMEDYSPORTZ CURRICULUM

You want to perform improv like the Players in ComedySportz? Then this is the track for you! You’ll learn the basics and apply them to our game-based format of improv that is faster and varied in style.

CSz 101: INTRO TO IMPROV

In CSz 101, you will learn the basics of improv, focus on agreement (“yes, and-ing”), active listening, commitment, and being present in the moment. You will then start to apply these skills towards ComedySportz style improv. In this class, you will learn and play some of our favorite ComedySportz games, utilizing the basic skills and learning to trust yourself, all while making people laugh and having a lot of fun! If you’ve never done improv before, or you’d like to revisit the fundamentals of playing CSz style improv games from another perspective in an inclusive, safe, and fun environment, this class is for you. The class ends in a showcase for friends and family. No pre-requisite.

Intro to Improv A - SPRING 2024

When: Monday, March 25 - May 13, 2024
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Susannah Beckett
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Susannah Beckett has been a performing member of ComedySportz since 2007. She received her theater degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Following college, she toured the east coast in original productions with The KingFisher Theatre Company. She joined her first improv troupe in Boston Massachusetts, Kitsch-in-sink, in 2005, and has been delighted to be part of the art form ever since. As an instructor she has worked teaching improv classes at Hedgerow Theater. She has taught teacher and student workshops for the Non-Profit “ Yes! And…” and the group Story Up! -both organizations that work to improve student’s learning skills through the use of the arts. Through her work with ComedySportz , Susannah has had the opportunity to lead Team Building workshops for camps, corporate groups and others, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Girl Scouts. In her other work, environmental restoration, Susannah is delighted to use her improv skills to lead students on nature hikes and volunteers in forest restoration efforts.

Intro to Improv B - SPRING 2024

When: Wednesday, March 27 - May 15, 2024
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Tom England
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Tom England (he/him) is Philadelphia-based improvisor, playwright and musician. Tom has over ten years of experience in the Philadelphia improvisation and theatrical communities performing and training with PHIT, CrossRoads Comedy Theater, Playpenn, Theatre Exile, Applied Mechanics and the Philly Fringe Festival. You can see Tom as a regular player with ComedySportz Philly, Hallmarkable: an Improvised Hallmark Movie, and Off the Record.

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

CSZ 201: SCENEWORK STUDY

This course introduces you to the building blocks of scene work, giving you the tools to create honest relationship-driven scenes on stage. A few of our most popular games will be used to strengthen your listening, teamwork, and scene-building muscles as you become a stronger, faster more bionic improviser. Prerequisite: CSz 101, equivalent from another improv school, or permission from the Education Director, siobhan@comedysportzphilly.com

Scenework Study - SPRING 2024

When: Thursday, March 28 - May 23, 2024 (No class on 5/2)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Don Montrey
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 26 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Don Montrey joined ComedySportz in 2002. He created and hosted the comedy shows DIE, ACTOR, DIE, The Dirtiest Sketch in Philadelphia and the NED Talks: Funny People Talking About Funny Things. For 13 years, Don was the Head News Writer for 1812 Productions’ This Is The Week That Is.

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

CSZ 301: CHARACTER AND RELATIONSHIPS

This class continues to build your scene work ability through establishing characters and a strong understanding of relationship. You will explore how character work can push a scene/game forward utilizing a character’s want, need, and drive. Prerequisites: CSz 101 and 201, equivalent from another improv school, or permission from the Education Director, mary@comedysportzphilly.com

Characters and Relationships - SPRING 2024

When: Monday, March 25 - May 13, 2024
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Jake Lucas
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Jake Lucas (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary artist and educator based in Lenni-Lanape land (Philly) since 2016. They currently serve as ComedySportz Philly's Education Coordinator. Their specialty in play, game, and social and emotional learning (SEL) helps ensure everyone can put the imp in impulse. Jake has improvised, devised, and consulted with the City of Philadelphia, Playworks, Fab Youth Philly, Pseudonym Productions and more. You can see them performing in the cast of RollPlay, Hallmarkable, Be Kind, The Neighborhood, and, of course, ComedySportz.

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

CSZ 401: PRINCIPLES OF PERFORMANCE

Now that you have a strong understanding of scene work, character, and relationship, we will push you toward directly applying them into your performance ability. Direct critique and side coaching will allow you to begin exploring who you are personally as an improviser and especially as a performer. Prerequisites: CSz 101 through 301.

Principles of Performance

😞 There is no CSz 401 this semester. Sorry.

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Coming Soon!

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

CSZ CONSERVATORY

The CSz Conservatory is a class for students who have completed CSz 101-401 and are looking to improve their performance skills. Instructor Josh Holober-Ward will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a performer and will work with you to bridge your gaps and sharpen your skills. You’ll get the rigorous and supportive training you need followed by high-level feedback that is designed to cut right to the issue. And you’ll have fun doing it! Each class has two ComedySportz performances for friends and family. Prerequisite: completed CSz 101 thru 401 or permission of Education Director.

😞 There is no CSz Conservatory class this semester.

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

LONG FORM CURRICULUM

Long form improv is a series of scenes, based on a single suggestion, that are loosely connected and come together to make a cohesive, satisfying show. In our long form improv classes, you will learn the improv basics and apply them to scene work. As you progress, you will start to incorporate other techniques of the form.

LF 101: INTRO TO LONG FORM

In Long Form 101 you’ll start with the fundamentals of improv: agreement (“yes, and-ing”), active listening, emotional commitment, playing characters, making your scene partner look amazing, and being present in the moment. You will then start to apply these skills to scene work. No prerequisite.

Intro To Longform - SPRING 2024

😞 There is no LF101 class this semester.

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Coming Soon!

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

LF 201: SCENE STUDY

In 201, students will dive deeper into scene work, explore second beats, explore tag-outs and callbacks, learn different openings, and practice different approaches to improv, such as finding, playing, and heightening the game of the scene. Students will get to perform what they have learned in a class show for family and friends. The class ends in a showcase for friends and family. Pre-requisite: Long Form 101

Scene Study - SPRING 2024

When: Tuesday, March 26 - May 14, 2024
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Tanya Morgan
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

+ Meet Your Instructor!

Tanya Morgan is a director, performer, writer, teaching artist, and host. She began her career acting on stage and in films and commercials. Tanya has been writing and performing sketch comedy with her sketch team The Rhubarbs since they were thrown together as part of a competition more than three years ago. Tanya's last acting performance was at Allen’s Lane Theatre as Suzanne in the hilarious comedy “Dearly Departed”. Tanya performs comedy improv regularly with indie improv teams: Daddy Issues, the N Crowd, Not Yet Rated, No Diggity and Nyteshift. Tanya became a teaching artist in 2018. Since then, she has taught acting and improv classes and workshops at the Philly Improv Theater, Crossroads Comedy Theater, Pulley and Buttonhole Theatre Company, Philly Dance Fitness, The Unscripted Project and Philly Young Playwrights (as an actor). Tanya has also started her own organization in New Jersey, Sawubona Creativity Project, LLC, where she uses improv to teach social-emotional learning skills in a fun and interactive way, to students of all ages.

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

LF 301 - The Harold

In Long Form 301, students focus on the Harold, the most renowned long form structure, developed by Del Close. In this class, students will learn about this long form structure and why it works, how to play group games, how to do a great run, and how to put the whole thing together. Students will get to perform the entire Harold for their class show. Prerequisite: Long Form 201 or permission of Education Director. Please contact the Education Director before you sign up if you have not recently taken the Long Form 201 class.

THE HAROLD - SPRING 2024

When: Wednesday, March 27 - May 15, 2024
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Frank Farrell
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 19, 2024 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

Tuition

$225 • $275 • $295
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

INTENSIVES

You have completed a number of classes. Or you are an experienced improviser with some years of performing under you belt. You now have the tools to take your skill set up a notch in PSI’s Improv Intensives. These classes are intense which means you hit the ground running and don’t stop until the final showcase. Get ready to work and have fun.

Musical Improv (8 Weeks)

DAVID DRITSAS

Take your improv to the next level by learning the skills of musical improvisation!

In this class you will learn the basics of how to create different song structures on the fly, whether it’s by yourself, in a duet, or as part of a group. Students will learn how to incorporate music into short form improv games, as well as long form scenes. Best of all, you do not have to be a perfectly trained singer to be a part of this class, just a willingness to take the stage with the voice you have.

Instructor: David Dritsas (ComedySportz Philadelphia, ComedySportz Chicago, and The Second City TourCo).

Prerequisites: Due to the intensive nature of this class, all students are required to have taken CSz 201 or Long Form 201 (or equivalent). If you have not completed CSz or Long Form 201, you need permission from the Education Director: siobhan@comedysportzphilly.com. 

MUSICAL IMPROV - SPRING 2024

When: Thursday, March 28 - May 23, 2024 (No class on 5/2)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  David Dritsas
Accompanist: Dan Perlman
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, May 26 @ TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 3/18/24

Tuition

$300 • $350 • $370
Enroll earlier and save more!
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.
Multi-class discount eligible.
Take 15% off additional classes in the same semester.
Email or call us for details.

+ Meet Your Instructor!

David Dritsas has been performing improv and sketch comedy professionally for 20 years, working at ComedySportz in both Philadelphia and Chicago. He also worked for The Second City Theatricals department, performing in various shows and aboard cruise ships. He has performed at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago in the long-running hit show, Hitch-Cocktails. He's now back in Phillly and regularly performs with popular improv shows such as Murder Manor, Roll Play, Puppets Here & There, Timeprov, and more. He also has over 15 years of experience using improv to conduct corporate training workshops, both large and small.

WORKSHOPS

Finding your Fool

Danielle Levsky

Discover your inner fool through clowning in this highly interactive 3-hour workshop! Using writing exercises, discussions, and physical comedy activities, you'll explore fundamental clown archetypes like the trickster, the naive, and the fixer. Discover how your identity shapes your natural humor and comedic perspective.

Through ensemble-building exercises, you'll develop chemistry with other students as you play with nonverbal storytelling and physicality. The workshop culminates with each student creating and performing a short solo or duo "clown act", allowing the whole class to embrace your inner fool.

By the end, you'll gain:

  • Knowledge of clown personas/archetypes

  • Improved skills in physical comedy and nonverbal communication

  • The beginnings of an original comedic character rooted in your personal style

Whether you're a seasoned improv performer or just looking to access your playful side, "Finding Your Fool" will help you discover a new side of yourself.

Finding your Fool

When: Sunday, June 2, 2024
Time: 12 PM - 3 PM
Instructor: Danielle Levsky
Location: CSz Philadelphia (2030 Sansom Street)

TUITION

$100 • $125
Enroll earlier and save more! Early Bird ends 5/26/24.
Check out our Diversity Scholarship.

+ Meet Danielle Levsky!

Danielle Levsky (she/they) is a multidisciplinary theater artist whose creative practice focuses on clown and physical theatre, poetry, and movement education. They specialize in facilitating workshops on fundamental clown techniques and their original embodied class that combines yoga practice with clown training, The Fool's Yoga. Danielle received her clown teaching certification through The Clown School in Los Angeles and received her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification through a Vinyasa Flow program conducted through the Lab Yoga Studio in Chicago. They have additional clown training from teachers from Cirque de Soleil and Theater Unspeakable, as well as individuals like Avner Eisenberg, Aretha Sills, Antonio Fava, Eric Davis, and more. With a background in both clown pedagogy and yoga instruction, Danielle aims to create a playspace that encourages mindfulness, self-expression, and connecting with one's inner fool.

IMP100: Improv For Fun

Siobhan O’Hara

Jake Lucas

Want to try something new, but worried about committing too much too soon? IMP100: Improv for Fun is a simplified version of our 101 Intro to Improv course.

Part open-house, part workshop, come spend an evening with supportive and talented instructors who can help you dip your toe in the improv waters! No need for floaties, we'll be staying in the shallow end.

Bring a friend, or make some new ones, as you learn about the magic of improv and play some silly little games. 

IMP100: Improv For Fun (January)

When: Thursday, January 11, 2024
Time: 7pm-9pm
Instructors: Jake Lucas and Siobhan O’Hara
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Fee: $35

IMP100: Improv For Fun (February)

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Time: 7pm-9pm
Instructors: Jake Lucas and Siobhan O’Hara
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Fee: $35

+ Meet Your Instructors!

**Siobhan O’Hara ** is a Philly based comedian performing improv for 10 years in New York and Philadelphia. In addition to ComedySportz, Siobhan worked as a cast member of The She-Quel and Dun-Dun: Improvized Crime Unit. Siobhan has performed at Philly Improv Theater, Crossroads Comedy Theater, performs in This Week Sucked at The Lab in Ambler and is a member of the indie improv team, Daddy Issues. She is also the co-author of The Comedy Improv Handbook.

Jake Lucas (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary artist and educator based in Lenni-Lanape land (Philly) since 2016. They currently serve as ComedySportz Philly's Education Coordinator. Their specialty in play, game, and social and emotional learning (SEL) helps ensure everyone can put the imp in impulse. Jake has improvised, devised, and consulted with the City of Philadelphia, Playworks, Fab Youth Philly, Pseudonym Productions and more. You can see them performing in the cast of RollPlay, Hallmarkable, Be Kind, The Neighborhood, and, of course, ComedySportz.

Details You Need To Know

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

PSI and CSz Philadelphia have implemented Safety Protocols to protect employees and patrons. Please read our Safety Protocols before enrolling in a class.

In-Person and Online

PSI offers in-person and online classes. In-person classes take place at our theater (2030 Sansom Street). All in-person students are required to follow our COVID policies while in the theater. Please read our Safety Protocols before enrolling in a class or workshop.

All of our online classes are done using ZOOM, the FREE video conferencing software. Participants will be able to see and be seen, hear and be heard, and interact with the Instructors and fellow students. After you purchase your class, you will get an email with the link to join the class before it starts. To learn more about ZOOM, click here.

To determine if a class is in-person or online, please look at the LOCATION field under the course description.

PSI is proud to offer LIVE CLOSED CAPTIONING for our online classes and workshops.

TUITION

Prices are listed on the enrollment page. Just click the ENROLL NOW button next to the class. (Don’t worry, you won’t be enrolled by clicking.)

Sign up by the Early Bird Deadline and you’ll receive the biggest discount. If you sign up after that date, you’ll still get a discount, but not as big. If you sign up on the day of the class, you’ll pay full price.

You can also put a $100 deposit down and pay the difference on the first day of class! Please Note: The deposit is non-refundable.

Sign up for more than one class per semester and you’ll get a 15% discount on all secondary classes (discount cannot be combined with Scholarship classes).

Email or call us for details before you purchase a class.

DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

CSz Philly is proud to offer scholarships to the diverse population of Philadelphia. In addition, we have partnered with the Black Improv Alliance. If you would like to apply for a Diversity Scholarship, please click below.

FAQ

Have a question not covered here? Try our FAQ page. Learn more>

If you have any questions about our online classes, please email the Education Director.