Third Coast Training Center Classes
Comprising teachers who have lived, performed, and taught comedy all over the country the Third Coast Training Center exists to cultivate well-rounded, highly-trained performers in the areas of improv, sketch, and stand-up.
CLASS: Meisner for Improvisers
The Meisner acting technique takes its name from actor and teacher Sanford Meisner who asked performers to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Improvisation asks performers to create those imaginary circumstances. The two techniques live in harmony. Learn how to utilize the Meisner technique in order to help you get out of your head, activate your point of view, and commit to each moment with your scene partner 100%. Learn to access tools to make your Improvisation more authentic, honest, and spontaneous.
This is a 4-week course.
Pre-requisite: Third Coast Level 2, Scenework
CLASS: INITIATING SCENES & PLOTLESS IMPROV
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. Join veteran improviser Rich Talarico and 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. Everything that happens in improv is either an obstacle or an opportunity. The choice is yours. Jump and the net will appear.
This is a 4-week course.
All experience levels welcome!
CLASS: INTRODUCTION TO CLOWNING
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.
This is a 7-week course.
CLASS: INTRO TO COMEDY WRITING
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.
This is an 8-week course culminating in a staged reading for friends and family!
LVL 1 – THE FUNDAMENTALS
Prereq.: No Experience Necessary
No experience is necessary to learn the foundational ideas of listening, agreement, and shared construction that make improvisation so much fun to watch and perform.
Dates:
Saturdays @ 3:15 PM, starting May 13
Sundays @ 12:00 PM, starting May 14
LVL 2 – THE SCENE
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 1
Deep dive into character work, scene mechanics, and in particular, acting. Grounded, well-acted scene work provides the context for finding, exploring, and heightening patterns.
Dates:
Fridays @ 3:00 PM, starting May 12
Saturdays @ 12:00 PM, starting May 13
LEVEL 3 – SHORT FORM
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 2
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.
Dates:
Sundays @ 12:00 PM, starting May 14
Mondays @ 6:30 PM, starting May 15
Thursdays @ 3:15 PM, starting May 18
SHOWCASE: Sunday, July 23rd @ 8 PM
LEVEL 4 – ENSEMBLE
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 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).
Dates:
LEVEL 5 – LONG FORM
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 4
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.
Dates:
LEVEL 6 – PERFORMANCE
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 5
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.
Dates:
Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM, starting May 16
SHOWCASES: Sundays, July 16-30 @ 6 PM
MUSICAL IMPROV 1
Prereq.: Third Coast Lvl. 4
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.
Dates:
MUSICAL IMPROV 2
Prereq.: MI 1 + instructor recommendation
By invitation only. The entire 8 weeks will be dedicated to learning how to improvise a full one-act musical. Emphasis is on the structural elements of narrative musical theater form, functions and placement of specific song styles within a musical as well as movement/choreography.
This class requires instructor recommendations to register.
Email mick@thirdcoastcomedyclub.com if you would like to be considered.
Dates: RETURNING JULY 2023!
MUSICAL IMPROV 3
Prereq.: MI 2 + instructor recommendation
A continuation of Musical Improv 2, this 8 week class workshops the performance of a full one-act improvised narrative musical. This class culminates with a 3 week musical performance run in front of a live audience.
This class requires instructor recommendation and an access code to register.
Email mick@thirdcoastcomedyclub.com if you would like to be considered.
Dates:
RETURNING FALL 2023!
SCHOLARSHIPS
Financial aid and diversity scholarships are available through Unscripted for all Third Coast classes. Click HERE for info on scholarships.
MORE CLASSES
Visit Unscripted Improv’s website for even more improv classes, including Improv for Anxiety, Improv for Life, and companion courses designed to complement and enhance your Third Coast experience!
STAND-UP 1
Prereq.: No Experience Necessary
Ever wanted to learn what it takes to work out your original ideas and turn them into a polished stand-up set? This class will teach you the basics, including structure to develop your ideas into stand-up content, performance styles and technique, finding your voice on stage, and more! The class consists of regularly performing your written material with the goal of refinement through constructive feedback.
*This is a 4-week class.*
Dates:
Mondays @ 6:30 PM, starting May 15
STAND-UP 2
Prereq.: Intro to Stand-up or previous stand-up experience.
Build upon your stand-up skills with further development on finding your voice, set creation, performance, and the business side of comedy. During the course you will perform in front of a panel of stand-up comics who will give feedback and offer discussion of helpful tips, tricks, and advice.
*This is an 8-week class and includes a showcase.*
Dates:
Thursdays @ 6:30 PM, starting May 18
SHOWCASE: Sunday, July 16th @ 8pm
SKETCH COMEDY 1
Prereq.: No Experience Necessary
Level 1 is a 7-week course that begins with formatting and structuring your sketches. We discuss the power of variety and getting to the funny faster. Early assignments will include writing short 2 and 3 person scenes. Level 1 also covers ensemble and group styles. Expect weekly assignments and in-class feedback and notes from the instructor. Level 1 is held via Zoom.
Dates: RETURNING SOON!
SKETCH COMEDY 2
Prereq.: Sketch Comedy 1
Level 2 is a 7-week course that continues you on your sketch writing journey. We’ll dig in for more complex sketch styles and deepen your specific voice as a writer. Assignments will include writing Clash of Context, Openers/Closers, and Movement pieces. Level 2 also covers songwriting and rewrites. Expect weekly assignments and in-class feedback and notes from the instructor. Level 2 is held via Zoom.
Dates: RETURNING SOON!
SKETCH COMEDY 3
Prereq.: Sketch Comedy 2
Level 3 is an 8-week course with a 4-week show run. Level 3 takes everything you learned in Levels 1 & 2 and puts them to the test. You will work with a director on casting, editing, rehearsing, producing, and performing a show. You will see first hand how to put a running order together, block scenes, use props, respect a theater space, and use dynamic lighting and sound to mount your one of a kind, original sketch show on stage at Third Coast in front of a live audience.
Level 3 meets in person at Third Coast.
Dates: RETURNING SOON!
Overview
- Unless otherwise noted all courses cost $265 total and consist of eight, three-hour classes that meet weekly.
- Missing more than two classes means you may be asked to repeat the Level. Students are encouraged to attend class on another night to gain the knowledge and skills missed, but doing so is for the student’s benefit and does not excuse the absence.
- Level 1 is required unless you have recently graduated from a formal training program; if you have questions please email the training center
- Third Coast is a safe, creative, and collaborative environment; any behavior to the contrary will be dealt with immediately; if you need to make a report use our Anonymous Reporting Form here.
- Teachers are subject to change without notice.
If you have any questions please email the training center for more information.
