DC Improv Comedy School: Course Catalog
The courses listed below are offered on a regular basis by the DC Improv Comedy School. Workshops and classes taught by special guest instructors are not included on this list. If a class that you're interested in isn't currently available, you can get on the "wait list" for the next section by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Include the course in the subject line of the e-mail. When the class becomes available, you will be sent a message informing you that you have a chance to register. Please note that all classes are 18 and over, and once you make a tuition payment there are no refunds, exchanges or cancellations.
Guest Instructors: From time to time special travelling guest instructors offer courses through the comedy school. Guest instructors for all disciplines are at the bottom of this list.
Stand-Up Courses
Level 1 | Five Minutes to Funny. Our signature stand-up course. Four weeks of in-person training with instructor Chris Coccia, meeting once a week. Concludes with a graduation show on a DC Improv stage.
Level 1 | Five Minutes to Funny Online. A virtual version of our stand-up course with Chris Coccia. Four weeks of live instruction via video conferencing. Concludes with an online graduation show.
Level 2 | Level 2 Stand-Up. Four weeks of further instruction on the art and business of comedy with instructor Rahmein Mostafavi. Concludes with a graduation show on a DC Improv stage.
Level 2 | Level 2 Stand-Up Online. A three-week version of Rahmein Mostafavi's course, via video conferencing.
Level 2 | Beyond Five Minutes to Funny. A three-hour seminar with Chris Coccia covering various aspects of the comedy industry.
Level 2 | Stand-Up Coaching. One-hour private sessions with Chris Coccia or Rahmein Mostafavi.
Level 2 | The Science of Joke Writing. A three-hour class with Robert Mac highlighting joke structure, writing techniques and more.
Improv Level 1
Level 1 | Beginning Improv. Learn basic improv skills and short form games, with an emphasis on teamwork, creative thinking and having a good time. Five or six weeks. Taught by Anna Bethel, Chris Ulrich or Conor O'Rourke.
Level 1 | Beginning Improv Online. A three- or fourweek version of the introductory course, conducted live via video conferencing. Taught by Anna Bethel or Chris Ulrich.
Level 1.5 | Short-Form Improv for Fun. Learn and practice improv games while having fun playing with other improvisers, without the emphasis on performing for an audience. Four weeks. Taught by Conor O'Rourke.
Improv Level 2
Level 2 | Level 2 Improv. A continued focus on short-form improv, especially building fun and dynamic characters. Ends with a graduation show. Five or six weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich or Conor O'Rourke.
Level 2 | Level 2 Improv Online. A four-week online version of the class, presented via video conferencing. Ends with an online graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 2 | Short Form Improv: Characters and Emotions. In this five week course we explores the development of characters and emotions in a scene. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Anna Bethel or Conor O'Rourke.
Level 2 | Short Form Improv: Relationships and Story. Further exploration of short-form improv, building on the skills developed in Beginning Improv. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Anna Bethel or Conor O'Rourke
Level 2 | Advanced Online Improv: Characters. A three-week version of Anna Bethel's usual level 2 course, conducted live via video conferencing.
Improv Level 3
Level 3 | Reading the Room Workshop. A five-week study of the art of sizing up a crowd and moderating an improv performance. Taught by Anna Bethel.
Level 3 | Advancing the Scene Workshop. Builds on the skills of "yes and," active listening, observation, structure, and support to expand how we approach scenes. Five weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 3 | Advancing the Scene Workshop Online. A four-week, online version of the class, presented via video conferencing. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 3 | Exploring Ensemble. A class for experienced performers, looking to get the most out of performing with a group. Ends with a graduation show. Five weeks. (Harold training is recommended but not required.) Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 3 | Advanced Improv Performance Online. A four-week class specifically to help students create the best online performances they can. Ends with an online graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 3 | Advanced Character Workshop. A five-week class using acting exercises and body language training to develop authentic characters. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 3 | Advanced Short Form. A five-week class incorporating advanced games and building on improv fundamentals. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Conor O'Rourke.
Improv Level 4
Level 4A | Intro to the Harold. This class focuses on the creation of the long-form improv style developed by Del Close. Ends with a graduation show. Five weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4A | Intro to the Harold Online. This class focuses on the creation of the long-form improv style developed by Del Close. Ends with an online graduation show. Four weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advancing the Harold. A further exploration of the Harold long-form format. Ends with a graduation show. Five or six weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advancing the Harold Online. A further exploration of the Harold long-form format. Ends with an online graduation show. Four weeks. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The Armando. Learn "The Armando," which combines storytelling and scene work. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | The Bat: A Harold in the Dark. Long-form improv in the dark! Four weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The Mono-scene. Learn "The Mono-scene," which incorporates multiple actors in a single location without edits. Four weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The LaRontage. Explore a hybrid format of the dynamic character-driven LaRonde and the fun and fast pace vignettes of Montage. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Level 4B | Advanced Improv: The Pretty Flower. Learn to create rich, multi-layered performances in the Pretty Flower format. Five weeks. Ends with a graduation show. Taught by Chris Ulrich.
Sketch and Writing Courses
Level 1 | Intro to Sketch Comedy. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A four-week course that will take you from a premise to a fully realized sketch. You'll walk away with a solid grounding in the foundations of sketch comedy.
Level 1 | Intro to Sketch Comedy Online. Bad Medicine's intro course in an online format, meeting once a week for four weeks.
Level 2 | Level 2 Sketch Comedy. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A six-week writing-focused course that will help you create a portfolio of sketches.
Level 2 | Level 2 Sketch Comedy Online. The sketch troupe Bad Medicine goes online to focus on sketch writing, taking you through various formats and helping you workshop your own sketches. Meets once a week for six weeks.
Level 2 | Sketch Comedy: Page to Stage. Taught by the Bad Medicine sketch troupe. A one-day course with a workshop environment to help you take your comedy writing and convert it into a performance.
Guest Instructors
Improv | David Razowsky. The former artistic director of the Second City Los Angeles has taught three-hour workshops and weekend workshops.
Improv | Stephanie Anderson. Once DC based, Stephanie went on to become an instructor for Second City. She has offered three-hour workshops through the DC Improv.
Sketch | Kevin McDonald. A co-founder of "The Kids in the Hall," Kevin has taught two-day sketch workshops at the DC Improv on two occasions.
Sketch | Ali Farahnakian. A former "Saturday Night Live" writer and founder of the People's Improv Theater, Ali has taught his two-day "SNL Sketch Writing" workshop roughly once a year.