Initiating Scenes & Plotless Improv (2023-3)
Take away the pressure of having to think up the entire premise of your scene BEFORE you initiate. That’s not improv. That’s invention. Improv is about cooperation and discovery. Learn from 30-year improv veteran and pioneer Rich Talarico who co-created shows like Dasariski, Trio, and the Close Quarters form. Rich also performed The Harold for 10 years at iO (Improv Olympic) and co-created five original sketch revues as a resident member of Second City, Chicago. Abandon the flamethrower method of starting a scene. Learn the two-sticks rubbing together method to light the fire of scene and character discovery. With a focus on group mind, small thankless moves, and cooperation & discovery, you’ll learn to create and sustain strong, smart, funny scenes. Walk the plotless path. “We don’t serve plot, plot serves us.” Meditations and group mind exercises will help you realize that –everything that happens in improv is either an obstacle or an opportunity. The choice is yours. Jump and the net will appear. — More at richtalarico.com Open to all experience levels This is a 4-week class Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately Fridays 6:30-9:30 pm starting May 12th (Class will be held May 12 & 19 and June 2 & 9) at Third Coast Comedy Club.
Introduction to Clowning, Sundays @ 3:15pm (2023-3)
Face your fears, bust a move, support your comrades, and let your clever self fall away as you tap into your inner fool. Learn to meet the audience where they are, respond more honestly to the world around you, and express yourself with emotional depth, openness, and abandon by practicing tools that build a more physical and visual performance style, making the leap into surreal, absurd, imaginative, unconventional storytelling, finding yourself deep in sh*t along the way. You’ll fail big, win big, belly laugh a lot, and experience the pure joy of connection. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. This is a 7-week class. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Sundays 3:15-6:15 pm starting May 14th (Session 3 runs from May 12-July 18 with no classes May 28, June 18, or July 2) at Third Coast Comedy Club.
Intro to Comedy Writing, Tuesdays @ 6:30pm (2023-3)
Rich Talarico shares insights and techniques from his 30 years experience in comedy and many years in late night TV (SNL, MADtv, Key & Peele, The Tonight Show) and from having written five resident company shows for Second City in Chicago. Students will learn comedy essentials: how to write jokes, desk pieces, blackouts, how to brainstorm and pitch, story structure, how to use proper format and write sketches, as well as how to contribute to other students work, a valuable writers’ room skill. Class will teach how to break writers block and find inspiration for comedy pieces. FINAL CLASS INCLUDES A STAGED READING OF THE BEST OF YOUR MATERIAL FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! “I seriously don’t think I’ve had the chance to absorb that much good content in a small amount of time ever… even in college!” — Jessica Christopher, Student “I learned more about sketch writing in this class than any other class I’ve taken in the past.” — Mirejah Cruz, Student “Rich knows how to write sketches – that much is obvious. But it was clear that he loves helping people get better too. . . I have never had a sketch class that helps people so much with how to think about comedy. Don’t wait to find a better sketch class. It might not come along.” — Tim Marks, The KC Improv Company & Co-Founder of Fountain City Sketch Company Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm starting May 16th at Third Coast Comedy Club. This is an 8-week class. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately.
Musical Improv 1, Saturdays @ 12pm (2023-3)
This class is designed to raise the student’s comfort level while performing improvised songs. Emphasis is on phrasing, song structure, heightened emotional commitment, background support, and song styles.Pre-requisite: Third Coast Improv Level 4 All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Saturdays 12:00-3:00 p.m. starting May 13th (Session 3 runs from May 12 – July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club.
Improv Level 6, Tuesdays @ 6:30pm (2023-3)
Part workshop, part performance, this class serves as the culmination of your training. Time spent in class will be spent developing and rehearsing a fully improvised show. This class features three performances in front of friends, family, and strangers. ​ All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Tuesdays @ 6:30-9:30 pm starting May 16th (Session 3 runs from May 12 – July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club. ***Showcases: Sundays, July 16-30 @ 6 PM***
Improv Level 5, Wednesdays @ 6:30pm (2023-3)
Long form improvisation is a series of improvised scenes that prioritizes teamwork, emotional honesty, and patience. Unlike short form improv, which employs multiple fast & funny games, long form improv often focuses on creating a series of thematically-related scenes or an improvised play. Here you will learn to weave a single suggestion into a spontaneous one-of-a-kind piece of theatre. Students will study numerous essential long form structures and techniques, creating authentic and hilarious characters and storylines. All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Wednesdays @ 6:30-9:30 pm starting May 17th (Session 3 runs from May 12 – July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club.
Improv Level 4, Wednesdays @ 6:30pm (2023-3)
Once the basics have been introduced we’ll want to move into group play as it’s part of what makes improvisation so electric. Give and take, balance, tempo, repetition, the discovery and constant unfurling of the moment—the stuff that might very well take you out of your comfort zone (which is OK). All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Wednesdays @ 6:30-9:30pm starting May 17th (Session 3 runs from May 12 – July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club.
Improv Level 3, Thursdays @ 3:15pm (2023-3)
Students will explore the world of short-form improv: well-defined games that provide a structure within which to improvise. Scenic, narrative, time-based, guessing, the list goes on. Short-form builds on the fundamentals learned and helps in honing specific skills. Always a crowd-pleaser, this level will include a showcase. All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Thursdays @ 3:15-6:15 pm starting May 18th (Session 3 runs from May 12-July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club. ***Showcase: Sunday, July 23rd @ 8 PM***
Improv Level 3, Mondays @ 6:30pm (2023-3)
Students will explore the world of short-form improv: well-defined games that provide a structure within which to improvise. Scenic, narrative, time-based, guessing, the list goes on. Short-form builds on the fundamentals learned and helps in honing specific skills. Always a crowd-pleaser, this level will include a showcase. All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Mondays @ 6:30-9:30 pm starting May 15th (Session 3 runs from May 12-July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club. ***Showcase: Sunday, July 23rd @ 8 PM***
Improv Level 3, Sundays @ 12pm (2023-3)
Students will explore the world of short-form improv: well-defined games that provide a structure within which to improvise. Scenic, narrative, time-based, guessing, the list goes on. Short-form builds on the fundamentals learned and helps in honing specific skills. Always a crowd-pleaser, this level will include a showcase. All classes are 3 hours long and each level lasts 8 weeks. Students receive free admission to most improv shows at the theater all session long. Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the level. Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately. Sundays @ 12:00-3:00 pm starting May 14th (Session 3 runs from May 12-July 18 with no classes May 26-30 and June 28-July 4) at Third Coast Comedy Club. ***Showcase: Sunday, July 23rd @ 8 PM***
