Core Curriculum
Our Core Curriculum brings any new student with no improv experience to stage-ready at our theater. It also helps reinforce and build core improv concepts for all experienced improvisers. Each level teaches a mix of short- and long-form improv comedy. It is this mix that makes our style of improv unique. All students enrolled in a class at LIP receive benefits for the duration of their course(s). Our students receive exclusive discounts for our Drop-In Classes and Workshops. They also can get into shows free on a stand-by basis for the duration of their class.IMPROV 101 – Intro to Improvisation
Most students start with Improv 101. This 8-week long class will teach the fundamentals of improv comedy. Topics covered include agreement with a scene partner, character creation, listening as a character and a performer, and exploring the worlds created in scenes. The class ends with a graduation show where the students can show their friends and family the skills learned. We guarantee that you’ll make them laugh!
Improv 201
Improv 201 is an 8-week long course that focuses on the more advanced skills of long-form improv. Students will learn skills that include the game of a scene, second beats, heightening, and advanced character work. This class focuses on teaching a ton of scene work skills and will help improvisers think beyond the scene they are in. The class ends with a graduation show where the students can show their friends and family the skills learned. This class requires completion of LIP’s Improv 101 as a prerequisite or an exception granted by LIP’s Artistic Director.
Improv 250
Improv 250 is an 8-week long course that focuses on the basics of making an hour-long short-form show. During this class, students will learn about game, multi-person scenes, and different types of short-form games. We’ll go over great ways to structure a short-form show, all while learning several games. The class will end with students selecting their favorite games and performing a short-form show.
This class is great for students who have taken Improv 101 and are interested in learning more about game. Improv 201 is not a required course for this class.
Improv 301
Improv 301 is an 8-week long course that focuses on a specific show format called “The Harold”. Each week works students towards the class show, which showcases this complex, yet hilarious form. This form is tricky at first to learn but builds on lessons learned in earlier classes. This class requires completion of LIP’s Improv 201 as a prerequisite or an exception granted by LIP’s Artistic Director.
Electives
Elective courses are classes between 4 and 8 weeks long. They delve into specific forms, skills, and aspects of improv. LIP offers these less often than our Core Curriculum and are always adding more. Keep an eye out for the next one, more information to come.