Level 0: The Joy of Improv

Instructor: Taren Sterry

Dip your toe into the joyous pool of improv! Level 0 means 0% fear, 100% fun. This is the perfect place for absolute beginners to get acquainted with the art of longform improvisation. Every week you will play in a safe and positive class environment with group exercises and scenework. It's the perfect spoonful of improv, come have a taste! Please note that there is no graduation show for this class.

August 12-September 2 (4 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$150

TAREN STERRY is a writer and performer in NYC. Her current play, 180 Days, is in its fourth extended sold out run at Stage Left Studio. Taren performed improv at the PIT for three years with Fancy Dragon and Tomahawk! Taren is a 2008 Manhattan Monologue Slam Winner and wrote, produced and starred in the totally hilarious "Totes Hilare." In 2009, Taren was a winning model on Bravo's The Fashion Show (long story). Taren can be seen every month performing original material at Stage Left Studio and teaches improv at the The PIT.

Level 0: The Joy of Improv SOLD OUT

Instructor: Pete LePage

Dip your toe into the joyous pool of improv! Level 0 means 0% fear, 100% fun. This is the perfect place for absolute beginners to get acquainted with the art of longform improvisation. Every week you will play in a safe and positive class environment with group exercises and scenework. It's the perfect spoonful of improv, come have a taste! Please note that there is no graduation show for this class.

August 1-August 22 (4 weeks)

Sundays, 6-9pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$150

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

PETE LEPAGE has been doing Stand-up, Sketch, and Improv in New York City since 1999 - Performing at Comic Strip Live, Stand-up New York, Gotham, Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade and The PIT. He has worked with Colin Quinn, Billy Merrit and performed with Jack McBrayer. He is currently a head writer and founding member of the Nefarious Popes sketch troupe, ensemble member of the PIT house team Mrs. Estherhouse, and co-host of the acclaimed show Comic Book Club and Pulp Secret webcast. In 2006 Pete was voted the ensemble member of the year at the PIT.

Level 1: Intro to Improv

Instructor: Sarah Nowak

This class incorporates movement-based exercises, scenework and group exercises to explore the primary fundamentals of improvisation, making you more confident, trusting and graceful on stage. The class emphasizes creating a rich environment for your scenes, committing to your decisions and your scene partner and beginning with the body as inspiration. There will be a final graduation performance at the PIT for friends, family and others.

August 5-September 23 (8 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$325

Class show: Thursday, September 30th at 7pm

SARAH NOWAK is a graduate of the Second City Improv Conservatory in Toronto and has studied improv with Ali Faranakian, Ptolemy Slocum, Kurt Braunholer, Pat Shay and many others. Since moving to New York, she has performed with the improv groups Jesus Chrysler, Chicken Ranch, Team Fernandez, The Strange Box of Dr. Oddbody, Kill Secretary, Kill, and currently performs every Wednesday with The PIT’s improv house team The Baldwins.

Level 1: Intro to Improv

Instructor: Kevin Scott

This class incorporates movement-based exercises, scenework and group exercises to explore the primary fundamentals of improvisation, making you more confident, trusting and graceful on stage. The class emphasizes creating a rich environment for your scenes, committing to your decisions and your scene partner and beginning with the body as inspiration. There will be a final graduation performance at the PIT for friends, family and others.

August 9-October 4 (8 weeks, no class Sept. 6)

Mondays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$325

Class show: Monday, October 11th at 7pm

KEVIN SCOTT trained with the world-famous Second City, where he also taught sketch and improv. Kevin founded the sketch and improv group Bang Bang Spontaneous Theater, which included at one time or another, Tracy Letts (Pulitzer Prize), Greg Kotis (Tony Award), Michael Shannon (Academy Award Nominee), Reggie Hayes, Paul Dillon, Amy Pietz and a host of other Chicago theater luminaries. Kevin has been working in New York City for a decade including time with the legendary Burn Manhattan under the direction of Shira Piven. He now improvises with Centralia, an ensemble dedicated to expanding the possibilities of improvisational theater and comedy. Kevin was the director of The Royal We (www.theroyalwe.org) for their live sketch reviews and their pilot for TV Land Network as well as writer-director for several web series, including TMI, Shouting News!, Successorize, and Law & Order: Interns. He has also directed Minimum Wage (www.miniwage.com), Massholia (www.theatreflective.com) and numerous short films (funnyordie.com, youtube.com/potatopix, potatopix.com) He has also has done print and motion design for various productions in New York including Waterwell (www.waterwell.org) and Marc Maron (www.marcmaron.com).

Level 1: Intro to Improv SOLD OUT

Instructor: Rhea Ramey

This class incorporates movement-based exercises, scenework and group exercises to explore the primary fundamentals of improvisation, making you more confident, trusting and graceful on stage. The class emphasizes creating a rich environment for your scenes, committing to your decisions and your scene partner and beginning with the body as inspiration. There will be a final graduation performance at the PIT for friends, family and others.

July 25-September 19 (8 weeks, no class Sept. 5)

Sundays, 5-8pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$325

Class show: Sunday, September 26th at 7pm

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

RHEA RAMEY (aka Rhea Dates) began her improv career 10 years ago when she began performing with Possible Side Effects, now known as THREAT (with Rebekka Johnson, Matt Donnelly and Patrick Shepherd). She continued her studies of improvisation and comedy at the UCB Theater here in NY where she performed with the comedic dream team Optimist International. Rhea has also appeared with the Neutrino Video projects as a guest actor, and can be seen performing with Ali Farahnakian and the illustrious PIT faculty on Wednesday evenings. For the last six years, Rhea has been coaching and teaching improvisation classes for actors, comedians, children, corporations, etc. She also teaches creative writing at Rutgers University in NJ.

Level 2: Scenework

Instructor: Ashley Ward

This class will help you create great scenes that engage the audience. Students will learn and practice techniques for starting scenes, enhancing and enriching scenes, finding yourself when you feel lost, and creating characters that are completely unique. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.

August 3-September 21 (8 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 1 improv

$325

Class show: Tuesday, September 28th at 9:30PM

Ashley Ward holds a BFA from Webster University in Musical Theater and was trained in improv all over the city including The PIT, UCB, the Magnet and the Second City Training Program. She's a member of the PIT's ECNY award winning improv group Big Black Car, musical improv giant Baby Wants Candy and the Striking Viking Story Pirates, as well as several other groups including Best New Artist, Cragg and Ward and Poopy Poopy Fart Fart. She's been in numerous sketch shows, short films, web series and plays and hopes to continue doing all of the above.

Level 3: Intro to Longform

Instructor: Scott Eckert

This class is an introduction to the art of creating whole improvised pieces. Building on a solid foundation of relationship-based scenework, students will learn to seek out patterns and connections between characters, scenes and ideas. Longform techniques such as initiating and editing, second beats, pacing, tag-outs, walk-ons and group games (to name a few) will help students create entire pieces with richer scenes. In addition, the class introduces the basic history of longform (including the Harold) and expands students' improv vocabulary, allowing them to examine not only individual scenes but entire shows. There will be two final graduation performances at the PIT for friends, family and others.

August 23-October 18 (8 weeks, no class Sept. 6)

Mondays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 2 improv

$325

Class show: Sunday, October 17th at 8PM & Monday, October 25th at 8PM

Scott Eckert has been improvising since 1999 and currently performs every Wednesday at The PIT with The Faculty and Big Black Car (2007 D.C. Comedy Festival Selection, 2006 Chicago Improv Festival Selection, 2005 ECNY Best Improv Group). In addition to improvising, Scott co-wrote and performed seven two-person shows with Ellie Kemper and two sketch shows with As Sparks Fly Upwards; he has also appeared in eleven original plays by the Old Kent Road Theater. Scott studied improv in New York and Chicago (Ali Farahnakian, Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Miles Stroth) and wrote his senior thesis on the theory and history of American improvisation at Princeton University, where he also directed the improv group Quipfire!

Level 3: Intro to Longform SOLD OUT

Instructor: Nate Starkey

This class is an introduction to the art of creating whole improvised pieces. Building on a solid foundation of relationship-based scenework, students will learn to seek out patterns and connections between characters, scenes and ideas. Longform techniques such as initiating and editing, second beats, pacing, tag-outs, walk-ons and group games (to name a few) will help students create entire pieces with richer scenes. In addition, the class introduces the basic history of longform (including the Harold) and expands students' improv vocabulary, allowing them to examine not only individual scenes but entire shows. There will be two final graduation performances at the PIT for friends, family and others.

July 27-September 21 (8 weeks, no class Sept. 7)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 2 improv

$325

Class show: Sunday, September 12th at 7PM & Tuesday, September 28th at 7PM

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

NATE STARKEY hails from Denver Colorado, where he was first introduced to the world of improv while doing shows at The Comedy Works. He performed over 1000 shows with Comedy Sports of Denver before moving to Orlando to perform improv at Disney's Comedy Warehouse, Disney's MGM Studios, and at SAK Comedy Lab. For the last six years Nate has been performing improv and sketch comedy at venues all over New York City and was recently a 2007 Andy Kauffman Award semi-finalist. Nate has been teaching improv almost as long as he has been performing it. He taught Comedy Sports Workshops in Denver, was a teacher/coach at Disney and now coaches New York improv ensembles. Nate has also introduced executives at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Booz Allen Hamilton, and others to the power of improvisation in professional development with the company Performance of a Lifetime. Nate received his improv training from such notables as Keith Johnstone, Ali Farahnakian, Burn Manhattan, Armando Diaz, and the Second City training program. You can see Nate perform with Big Black Car at 8pm every Wednesday night at The PIT.

Level 4: Advanced Longform SOLD OUT

Instructor: Scott Eckert

This class will teach students to flex their scenework muscles and their longform muscles simultaneously. With a focus on improvising emotionally, students will dive deeper into advanced longform techniques such as monologues/soliloquies, creative editing, organic openings, painting scenes, and overall group mind. This level is an evolving curriculum where students have the opportunity to work on longform conventions they are interested in or have observed. There will be two final graduation performances at The PIT for friends, family and others.

September 2-October 21 (8 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 3 improv

$325

Class show: Sunday, October 17th at 7pm & Thursday, October 28th at 7pm

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

Scott Eckert has been improvising since 1999 and currently performs every Wednesday at The PIT with The Faculty and Big Black Car (2007 D.C. Comedy Festival Selection, 2006 Chicago Improv Festival Selection, 2005 ECNY Best Improv Group). In addition to improvising, Scott co-wrote and performed seven two-person shows with Ellie Kemper and two sketch shows with As Sparks Fly Upwards; he has also appeared in eleven original plays by the Old Kent Road Theater. Scott studied improv in New York and Chicago (Ali Farahnakian, Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Miles Stroth) and wrote his senior thesis on the theory and history of American improvisation at Princeton University, where he also directed the improv group Quipfire!

Level 5: Advanced Scenework

Instructor: Ali Farahnakian

This class will take everything you have been working on in the world of longform improvisation and bring it together. You will learn how to cut to the chase and get to what the scene is really about while focusing on listening and reacting. Discover how to find all the callbacks and connections in an organic fashion, and cultivate your own personal Improv Samurai. Nothing suffices like the truth, that is where all the funny comes from. There will be two graduation performances for friends, family and others.

September 13-November 1 (8 weeks)

Mondays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 4 improv

$325

Class show: Sunday, October 31st at 6pm & Monday, November 8th at 7pm

ALI REZA FARAHNAKIAN (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic (IO). He was also a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City in Chicago he was part of the Jeff-nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include all the Law and Order's, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and 30 Rock. He has been in many films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance and one went to Cannes. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater (aka The PIT). Spread the Word!

Level 5: Advanced Scenework

Instructor: Ali Farahnakian

This class will take everything you have been working on in the world of longform improvisation and bring it together. You will learn how to cut to the chase and get to what the scene is really about while focusing on listening and reacting. Discover how to find all the callbacks and connections in an organic fashion, and cultivate your own personal Improv Samurai. Nothing suffices like the truth, that is where all the funny comes from. There will be two graduation performances for friends, family and others.

September 14-November 2 (8 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 4 improv

$325

Class show: Sunday, October 31st at 7pm & Monday, November 8th at 8pm

ALI REZA FARAHNAKIAN (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic (IO). He was also a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City in Chicago he was part of the Jeff-nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include all the Law and Order's, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and 30 Rock. He has been in many films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance and one went to Cannes. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater (aka The PIT). Spread the Word!

Improv for Kids

Instructor: Rachel Oakes

Ages 9-12. This class is about fun! The instructor will use theatre games and physical exercises to teach kids the basics of improvisation. Students will be encouraged to use their imaginations as they learn to create characters, build scenes and invent whole worlds without ever using a costume, prop or set piece. Students will also practice teamwork and listening skills to help them work as an ensemble and learn the discipline of performance. The class culminates with a graduation show for friends and family.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

RACHEL OAKES has been an improviser for ten years. She is a graduate of the two-year conservatory program at New Actors Workshop where she studied under Paul Sills and Kathy Hendrickson, among others, and has studied at Upright Citizens Brigade with Sean Conroy. Rachel has worked with various troupes around New York, focusing mostly on her two main groups, Present Elevation and God Freedom Fantastic. In 2005, Rachel became Manager of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL. As Manager of Improvisation, she taught all levels of adult classes, as well as leading teen and children's classes and camps. She also acted as a teaching artist in the Write-A-Play program, which conducts in-school workshops, using improvisational tools to teach children about playwriting. While in Florida, Rachel performed weekly with FST IMPROV in the 109-seat Goldstein Cabaret, playing to mostly sold out audiences.

Improv For Teens

Instructor: Rachel Oakes

Ages 14-17. This class utilizes theatre games, scene work and group exercises to teach teens the fundamentals of improvisation. Students are offered an overview of different kinds of improvisation, giving them a toolbox of skills. With a focus on building an ensemble, students develop their teamwork and listening skills. They will learn to relax and react on stage while building a scene with depth of relationship, environment and character. They are able to explore and expand their creativity in a safe and respectful environment. This class culminates with a graduation show for family and friends at Simple Studios.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

RACHEL OAKES has been an improviser for ten years. She is a graduate of the two-year conservatory program at New Actors Workshop where she studied under Paul Sills and Kathy Hendrickson, among others, and has studied at Upright Citizens Brigade with Sean Conroy. Rachel has worked with various troupes around New York, focusing mostly on her two main groups, Present Elevation and God Freedom Fantastic. In 2005, Rachel became Manager of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL. As Manager of Improvisation, she taught all levels of adult classes, as well as leading teen and children's classes and camps. She also acted as a teaching artist in the Write-A-Play program, which conducts in-school workshops, using improvisational tools to teach children about playwriting. While in Florida, Rachel performed weekly with FST IMPROV in the 109-seat Goldstein Cabaret, playing to mostly sold out audiences.

Master Class: The Mosaic

Instructor: Scott Eckert

This class explores one of the most challenging, exciting and fulfilling improv forms: The Mosaic. Students will learn how to perform improvised "chapters"--five to ten minute mini-forms, each with a beginning, middle and end and with unique conventions, patterns and themes. Each chapter is its own piece, inspired by a relationship-based source scene that runs throughout the show. What might you call a noir murder mystery, an epic clown show, and a thematic assault on the institution of marriage, each based on a heartfelt scene about two high-school friends? A Mosaic. An outstanding class for improvisers interested in developing long-form skills essential to free forms and montages.

August 5-August 26 (4 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 5 improv

$150

Class show: Saturday, September 11th at 6pm

Scott Eckert has been improvising since 1999 and currently performs every Wednesday at The PIT with The Faculty and Big Black Car (2007 D.C. Comedy Festival Selection, 2006 Chicago Improv Festival Selection, 2005 ECNY Best Improv Group). In addition to improvising, Scott co-wrote and performed seven two-person shows with Ellie Kemper and two sketch shows with As Sparks Fly Upwards; he has also appeared in eleven original plays by the Old Kent Road Theater. Scott studied improv in New York and Chicago (Ali Farahnakian, Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Miles Stroth) and wrote his senior thesis on the theory and history of American improvisation at Princeton University, where he also directed the improv group Quipfire!

Scene Building 1 slot left!

Instructor: Gary Austin

In this workshop we will use improv techniques to develop, flesh-out and expand relationships between characters and to build scenes, scripted and semi-scripted. Even for the finest actors and improvisers, there are moments where split second choices make all the difference in performance. Learning to be comfortable in those choices is the key. This workshop frees the actor to make choices that work by committing to the unknown, getting out of her head, and being in the present moment. That freedom allows the actor to create more vibrant, real performance in both improvised and written scenes. Please note this workshop is open to new students, or repeat students as a continuation course.

August 21-August 22 (Two-Day Workshop)

Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$180

GARY AUSTIN is the founder and original director of THE GROUNDLINGS, Los Angeles' premier character-based improv company. He began his professional career as a performing member of San Francisco's famed improv company, THE COMMITTEE, where he worked with SECOND CITY'S Del Close. Gary conducts workshops and develops projects with actors and writers in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Washington DC, with special guest visits to cities all over the world. He's a frequent guest-instructor at THE PIT in New York, and at SECOND CITY in Chicago and New York. Some notable artists to come from THE GROUNDLINGS are Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman), Laraine Newman, Kathy Griffin, Cheryl Hines, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, Julia Sweeney, Phil LaMarr, Ana Gasteyer, Mindy Sterling and the late Phil Hartman. Gary's other students include Oscar winner Helen Hunt, Jennifer Grey, Helen Slater, Lindsay Crouse (Oscar nominee), Casey Wilson (SNL) and Tony winner Lillias White. Gary and his work have been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air," in major trades, and in several books, including "Acting Teachers of America" by Ronald Rand, "The Actors Guide to Qualified Acting Coaches" (both LA and NY) by Larry Silverberg, and "The Funniest One in the Room - The Lives and Legends of Del Close" by Kim "Howard" Johnson. www.garyaustin.net

Musical Improv

Instructor: Larry Rosen and Noel Katz

You don't have to be a good singer to create great songs-on-the-spot. (In fact, you really don't have to sing at all.) This class breaks down the fundamentals of songwriting and shows you how to use them to easily compose instant hits. Group games and exercises make for a safe, supportive and fun environment that will have you improvising everything from hip-hop to showtunes before you know it. The term will culminate in a class show at The PIT for friends and family. Prior musical training is not required for this course. There will be live piano accompaniment at each of the 8 classes as well as the graduation show.

September 11-October 30 (8 weeks)

Saturdays, 3-6pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Improv Level 1 or equivalent experience

$360

Class show: Monday, November 1st at 7pm

LARRY ROSEN has been teaching, coaching, producing, and directing improv, theater, storytelling, and sketch comedy since 1994, most recently through The PIT, The Moth, and The Second City Training Center. He is a co-creator of the sketch comedy ensemble Drop Six – veterans of five comedy and theater festivals and winners of Second City’s first-ever “Best of the Fest” award at the 2006 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival – and produced and directed the troupe for four years. An actor/performer since 1978, Larry has worked in regional, cabaret, and children's theaters throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and was a founding member of L.A.'s first touring all-musical improv troupe, Impromptune. He served for two years as Producing/Artistic Director of Artistic New Directions, a not-for-profit production company specializing in the development of new work.

NOEL KATZ has worked extensively in improvisational theatre, as a teacher and accompanist, starting with the then-undiscovered Robin Williams at Off the Wall. He created song forms for The Chainsaw Boys, and a musical prank with Upright Citizens Brigade. For Second City in New York, he wrote the scores for five revues, and used improvisation in the creation of the musical comedies, On the Brink, The New U. and Area 51. His most recent show, Such Good Friends, about early television comedians, won Talking Broadway's Citation as the Best Musical of 2007.

Characters and Their Voices

Instructor: Gary Austin

In this workshop, Gary Austin helps actors create and develop characters with unique physical and vocal characteristics, mannerisms and behaviors. Learn to be comfortable with dialect, accents, physicality, and other radical character changes. You'll walk away with characters you can use in your work. This workshop gives you the opportunity to create unique characters and embody them in performance. The work Gary will move you through helps you stand out amongst the thousands of other actors up for your role and allows you to be at the top of your game.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

GARY AUSTIN is the founder and original director of THE GROUNDLINGS, Los Angeles' premier character-based improv company. He began his professional career as a performing member of San Francisco's famed improv company, THE COMMITTEE, where he worked with SECOND CITY'S Del Close. Gary conducts workshops and develops projects with actors and writers in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Washington DC, with special guest visits to cities all over the world. He's a frequent guest-instructor at THE PIT in New York, and at SECOND CITY in Chicago and New York. Some notable artists to come from THE GROUNDLINGS are Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman), Laraine Newman, Kathy Griffin, Cheryl Hines, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, Julia Sweeney, Phil LaMarr, Ana Gasteyer, Mindy Sterling and the late Phil Hartman. Gary's other students include Oscar winner Helen Hunt, Jennifer Grey, Helen Slater, Lindsay Crouse (Oscar nominee), Casey Wilson (SNL) and Tony winner Lillias White. Gary and his work have been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air," in major trades, and in several books, including "Acting Teachers of America" by Ronald Rand, "The Actors Guide to Qualified Acting Coaches" (both LA and NY) by Larry Silverberg, and "The Funniest One in the Room - The Lives and Legends of Del Close" by Kim "Howard" Johnson. www.garyaustin.net

Advanced Improv Performance Workshop

Instructor: Gary Austin

In this workshop we will work with improvisational techniques and processes to build scenes and monologues, IMPROVISED, scripted and semi-scripted. We will develop, flesh-out and expand relationships betweencharacters. We will create a show from the work that happens in the workshops-- and then perform it in front of an audience.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

GARY AUSTIN is the founder and original director of THE GROUNDLINGS, Los Angeles' premier character-based improv company. He began his professional career as a performing member of San Francisco's famed improv company, THE COMMITTEE, where he worked with SECOND CITY'S Del Close. Gary conducts workshops and develops projects with actors and writers in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Washington DC, with special guest visits to cities all over the world. He's a frequent guest-instructor at THE PIT in New York, and at SECOND CITY in Chicago and New York. Some notable artists to come from THE GROUNDLINGS are Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman), Laraine Newman, Kathy Griffin, Cheryl Hines, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, Julia Sweeney, Phil LaMarr, Ana Gasteyer, Mindy Sterling and the late Phil Hartman. Gary's other students include Oscar winner Helen Hunt, Jennifer Grey, Helen Slater, Lindsay Crouse (Oscar nominee), Casey Wilson (SNL) and Tony winner Lillias White. Gary and his work have been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air," in major trades, and in several books, including "Acting Teachers of America" by Ronald Rand, "The Actors Guide to Qualified Acting Coaches" (both LA and NY) by Larry Silverberg, and "The Funniest One in the Room - The Lives and Legends of Del Close" by Kim "Howard" Johnson. www.garyaustin.net

IMPROV(ED) LEGAL SKILLS

Instructor: Tommy Galan with Scott Eckert

Improv(ed) Legal Skills is a New York State Continuing Legal Education accredited course where participants earn three (3) CLE credits in the “skills” category while developing the ability to win more cases, negotiate higher settlements and attract new clients. Most attorneys are not aware that “thinking fast and reacting in the moment” can mean the difference between success and failure as a lawyer. This course will cover dealing with the unexpected, intuition, listening, agreement and other critical legal skills that are supported by the fundamentals of improvisation. While most CLE “skills” courses simply give you information, Improv(ed) Legal Skills gives you the opportunity to practice in a safe and comfortable environment. (This course is approved for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys. For a copy of our financial aid policy, or to apply for financial aid please contact Tommy Galan at GalanLaw@aol.com). Past students had this to say about Improv(ed) Legal Skills:

The class was awesome and so much fun! I highly recommend it to everyone"

"Informative and different from usual legal CLE."

"It was so much fun and so many useful tricks for court room presentation...Attorneys, you MUST not miss it!!!"

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

TOMMY GALAN began performing in 1993, and studied improvisation and theatre at SUNY at Stony Brook before earning his juris doctorate from Touro Law School in 2001. He continues to study improvisation at The PIT and UCB. Tommy writes and performs with the comedy troupe FUCT and his work has been featured in the New York Comedy Festival at Caroline’s on Broadway sponsored by Comedy Central, The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre and The Cherry Lane Theatre. In 2008, he won “Best Troupe” in the New York Skit Skat Comedy Festival, and in 2009 his work was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for the production of Cirque Du Quoi?!?. As an attorney, Tommy realized that his skills as an improviser and performer gave him an edge in the legal field. He designed Improv(ed) Legal Skills as a Continuing Legal Education course to share this skill, and he is proud to partner with The PIT to offer this exciting, new course.

SCOTT ECKERT has been improvising since 1999 and currently performs every Wednesday at The PIT with The Faculty and Big Black Car (2007 D.C. Comedy Festival Selection, 2006 Chicago Improv Festival Selection, 2005 ECNY Best Improv Group). In addition to improvising, Scott co-wrote and performed seven two-person shows with Ellie Kemper and two sketch shows with As Sparks Fly Upwards; he has also appeared in eleven original plays by the Old Kent Road Theater. Scott studied improv in New York and Chicago (Ali Farahnakian, Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, Miles Stroth) and wrote his senior thesis on the theory and history of American improvisation at Princeton University, where he also directed the improv group Quipfire!

Exploring Short Form Improv

Instructor: Nate Starkey

This four-week course explores the philosophies of performing short form improvisation and the specific rules and techniques of many popular and entertaining short form games. This workshop is for those who have performed short form before and are looking to get tuned up and back on stage, or for the person who has performed long form and has always wanted to dip their toe into the short form pool. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

NATE STARKEY'S extensive experience with both short form and long form improv give him a unique perspective on how to bridge the gap between the two disciplines. Nate Starkey performed over one thousand shows with Comedy Sports of Denver in the early 90's, he then moved on to perform short form with the Who What Where House at Disney's Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island. Along with short form notables like Wayne Brady, Nate was also an ensemble member at SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida where he received training from Keith Johnstone. Nate has been performing long form here in New York for nearly a decade and is on the ECNY award winning PIT house team Big Black Car.

Improv Over 50

Instructor: TBA Coming Soon

This 4-week class is specifically geared towards individuals over the age of 50 who are interested in learning the art of longform improvisation and prefer to be in a class with their peers. Dip your toe into the joyous pool of improv! This is the best class for absolute beginners. Every week you will play in a safe and positive class environment with warmups, group exercises and scenework. It's the perfect spoonful of improv, come have a taste! Please note that there is no graduation show for this class. (Please note: any student over the age of 18 is able to register for ANY improv class at The PIT regardless of age).

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

(Bio Coming Soon)

Twoprov

Instructor: Nate Starkey

This class is for improvisers who are ready to try a two-person show, or for existing duos that are looking for some direction. The focus will be on creating a tight two-person ensemble and finding your “voice". You will leave the class with a distinct form and the knowledge of how to bring out the best in your partner. Whether you are looking to stretch your abilities as a performer, refine an already strong comedic team or even explore new ways of creating comedy material for you and your writing partner, it can all be accomplished in this class. There will be a final graduation show at The PIT for friends and family. YOU MUST REGISTER WITH A PARTNER. CONTACT THE PIT ONCE YOU SIGN UP TO VERIFY THE NAMES IN YOUR TWOPROV TEAM.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

NATE STARKEY hails from Denver Colorado, where he was first introduced to the world of improv while doing shows at The Comedy Works. He performed over 1000 shows with Comedy Sports of Denver before moving to Orlando to perform improv at Disney's Comedy Warehouse, Disney's MGM Studios, and at SAK Comedy Lab. For the last six years Nate has been performing improv and sketch comedy at venues all over New York City and was recently a 2007 Andy Kauffman Award semi-finalist. Nate has been teaching improv almost as long as he has been performing it. He taught Comedy Sports Workshops in Denver, was a teacher/coach at Disney and now coaches New York improv ensembles. Nate has also introduced executives at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Booz Allen Hamilton, and others to the power of improvisation in professional development with the company Performance of a Lifetime. Nate received his improv training from such notables as Keith Johnstone, Ali Farahnakian, Burn Manhattan, Armando Diaz, and the Second City training program. You can see Nate perform with Big Black Car at 8pm every Wednesday night at The PIT.

Improv Coaching Workshop

Instructor: Nate Starkey

Do you want to start coaching improv groups, or have you just started to coach? This 6-hour workshop will help you develop your coaching style and approach. Coaching and teaching helps you become a better improv performer while inspiring others to be better themselves. A good teacher knows not only how to critique a scene or build a student's improv muscles but how to bring the best out of each student. Learn to be your students' guide to discovering their own path to being the best improviser they can be. You will not only leave this class with an assortment of exercises and warm ups, but also ideas about how to promote yourself as an improv coach. Please come prepared with 2 warmups that you can lead. Bring a notebook, pen and your improv game face.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

NATE STARKEY hails from Denver Colorado, where he was first introduced to the world of improv while doing shows at The Comedy Works. He performed over 1000 shows with Comedy Sports of Denver before moving to Orlando to perform improv at Disney's Comedy Warehouse, Disney's MGM Studios, and at SAK Comedy Lab. For the last six years Nate has been performing improv and sketch comedy at venues all over New York City and was recently a 2007 Andy Kauffman Award semi-finalist. Nate has been teaching improv almost as long as he has been performing it. He taught Comedy Sports Workshops in Denver, was a teacher/coach at Disney and now coaches New York improv ensembles. Nate has also introduced executives at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Booz Allen Hamilton, and others to the power of improvisation in professional development with the company Performance of a Lifetime. Nate received his improv training from such notables as Keith Johnstone, Ali Farahnakian, Burn Manhattan, Armando Diaz, and the Second City training program. You can see Nate perform with Big Black Car at 8pm every Wednesday night at The PIT.

Level 1: Intro to Sketch Writing SOLD OUT

Instructor: Alex Zalben

This is an intro level sketch class, pure and simple, geared towards the student who has never written sketch before, or even a writer who wants a refresher in the basics. Working off the idea that anyone can start writing sketch comedy, you'll learn the formulas that will let you start writing sketch now. You will not need to have pre-existing work to take this class — it will involve practical assignments in individual and team writing. By the end of class, you'll not only have a truckload of sketches, you'll also be prepared to strike out and write great sketch on your own. The class will culminate in a reading of your material by professional comedians.

July 29-September 2 (6 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$360

Class show: Tuesday, September 14th at 7PM

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

ALEXANDER ZALBEN is an award-winning sketch comedian who has performed and taught all over the United States, as part of the sketch group Elephant Larry. He has written for Modern Humorist, Jest Magazine, McSweeneys, and is the co-creator of the comedy website X-Ball Online, which receives over 20,000 visitors per month. His one-act play, All's Swell That Ends, Will, was performed at the Telluride Theatre Festival. He is also the producer of SketchFest NYC, the Big Red Comedy Festival, and the groundbreaking Neutrino Video Projects. His live talk show Comic Book Club has been featured in the New York Times, and at San Diego Comic Con. He currently hosts the online show "The Stack." One time, he took a class with, and then got slapped by, John Cleese.

Level 2: Intermediate Sketch Writing

Instructor: Joe Schiappa

In this class we will examine sketch forms ranging from traditional forms such as game show sketches, talk show sketches, parodies and character sketches; to the offbeat and absurd sketch forms more typical of Python, The State or Kids In The Hall, as well as a short video script. The class will focus on writing, rewriting and group critique. Each week students will be given a new assignment to present to class. In addition, students will continually rewrite their sketches throughout the session. Also we will have guest speakers. Class culminates in a reading of sketches for family and friends at The PIT.

August 18-September 22 (6 weeks)

Wednesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 1 or equivalent experience

$360

Class show: Sunday, September 26th at 8pm

JOE SCHIAPPA is a writer and improvisationalist in New York City. He is a recent winner of the Sierra Mist Melrose 63 Creative Lab. His work has appeared at the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, Joe's Pub, The People's Improv Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. He recently wrote a screenplay with Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Knocked Up). Backstage has called Joe's work "hilarious." Joe is an alumni of The Second City Training Center and has studied with Shira Piven of the Piven Theater. You can easily direct your web browser to www.joeschiappa.com

Level 3: Sketch Comedy Workshop SOLD OUT

Instructor: Kevin Allison

In the class we:

• Learn how to use or break formulas for jokes and scene structure
• Brainstorm, write, re-write, pitch and rehearse collaboratively
• Learn about sketch acting
• Function as a sketch comedy group
• Write, produce and perform a complete sketch show at the PIT

Students include working comedians and absolute beginners. We learn about adding dimension to the comic premise, developing beats of action, fleshing out comic characters and playing with end twists. In sessions, we maintain a supportive dynamic between students who collaborate to make one another’s material fresher and funnier, beat by beat. If the class chooses to create video sketches to include in the class show, that is encouraged.

July 12-August 30 (8 weeks)

Mondays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Level 1 and 2 recommended but not required

$360

Class show: Monday, September 13th at 8pm

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

KEVIN ALLISON is a member of the groundbreaking sketch comedy group The State. He is also the creator and host of the popular storytelling show and audio podcast RISK! at www.risk-show.com. Kevin's recent film and TV appearances include Reno 911!: Miami, The Ten, Wedding Daze, VH1’s Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Viva Variety and Stella, and HBO’s Flight of the Conchords. Behind the scenes, Kevin has written for Blue Man Group Productions and JibJab. He has served as the Artistic Director of The Peoples Improv Theater in New York and teaches comedy writing there, at New York University and at The Philly Improv Theater. Kevin is collaborating with producer Jonathan Stern (The Ten, Horrible People, Children’s Hospital) on the development of new TV series and writing a memoir.

Packet Writing for Lady-People SOLD OUT

Instructor: Tamara Federici

Tamara became a staff writer for “Important Things with Demetri Martin” by simply having a great packet. How does she know? Because they told her so. Women submit far less frequently than men to late night and comedy TV shows. While the reasons “why” are currently a hot-button issue, one thing we CAN change is the numbers. So if you’ve been thinking of submitting but need that extra push, we need you here! We’ll cover all the big shows in New York (The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman) and 1-2 LA shows that we'll choose together. If you’ve got one you’re dying to submit to we’ll address that, too. It’s a great low-pressure environment, and we may even feature some guest speakers from current shows along the way.

September 12-October 17 (6 weeks)

Sundays, 5-8pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$400

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

TAMARA FEDERICI (WGA) has written and produced television for 10 years. Staff Writer, “Important Things with Demetri Martin.” Senior Writer, HBO’s “This Just In.” Associate Producer, “Chappelle’s Show,” working directly for co-creators Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan. Writer and Story Editor, “Blue’s Room” (Blue’s Clues spin-off). In 2008, Comedy Central commissioned her to write, direct, and produce the animated web short “Antourage.” As a freelancer, she created a segment for “The Daily Show” called “I on News” in 2001. Written work has appeared in Mad magazine, online at 23/6 and vh1.com, and over radio waves for Public Radio International. Previously, Tamara spent 5 years in Chicago studying improv with Del Close, Mick Napier, Joe Bill, and Gary Rudoren while performing at iO and the Annoyance. Along with Pat Shay, she co-wrote/performed the two-person show “Scary Baby” at Second City’s Skybox. With “The Neighbors,” she co-wrote/performed “Evolve or Die!” a topical sketch comedy show set in the 1850’s. Tamara has taught sketch comedy writing and 10-minute playwriting regionally for five years. She is currently writing a book and growing a mustache, because that is what you do if you live in Brooklyn.

Writing For SNL

Instructor: Ali Farahnakian

This class is for anyone who has EVER wanted to try their hand at sketch comedy writing but was afraid to make the leap. The class will focus on commercial parodies, one-page sketches and two-person sketches. You will be shown what an SNL-type sketch should look like and how to take your ideas and flush them out into sketches in a very nurturing environment.

Ali's SNL writing class is so valuable for 2 reasons: First, where else in NYC, or the planet for that matter, can you take a sketch writing class taught by someone who has actually written for the show? Just hearing what his packet consisted of and how he got his foot in the door is phenomenal. Secondly, his notes ALWAYS focus on the positive rather than the negative. Even if you bring a crappy or hastily thrown together sketch, he can usually pick out the one funny nugget, concept or idea — even just a single line or joke sometimes — and say, "that's it, that's what your sketch is about... write about that." That right there's worth the price of admission for any writer who wants to get better. And for me personally, when a TV writing opportunity came my way, he took the time after class to read over my submission, give me notes, and wish me luck. Now I'm writing jokes and getting paid for it. Kick ass. — Andrew Goldstein

September 1-October 6 (6 weeks)

Wednesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$400

ALI REZA FARAHNAKIAN (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic (IO). He was also a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City in Chicago he was part of the Jeff-nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include all the Law and Order's, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and 30 Rock. He has been in many films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance and one went to Cannes. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater (aka The PIT). Spread the Word!

Writing For SNL 2

Instructor: Ali Farahnakian

This class is for the thousands of people who have taken Writing for SNL with me over the past decade. It is for students who are looking for a reason to write and need a deadline, and those looking for guidance from someone who has read over 10,000 sketches. In this class we will continue where we left off in Writing For SNL Level 1 by helping students put together a packet of 2-4 sketches to submit to sketch comedy-related shows. We will work on commerical parodies, cold opens, guest host monologues, weekend update pieces, and talk show/game show parodies. SNL starts looking at packets around June and July, so this is the time to start putting something together.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

ALI REZA FARAHNAKIAN (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic (IO). He was also a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City in Chicago he was part of the Jeff-nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include all the Law and Order's, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and 30 Rock. He has been in many films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance and one went to Cannes. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater (aka The PIT). Spread the Word!

Screenwriting Workshop

Instructor: Randy Pearlstein

In this class you will take your first major steps towards writing a feature length screenplay (any film genre you choose). You will start by learning all of the basic concepts of writing a film: three act structure, the elements of narrative storytelling, and character development. The class will focus mainly on the outline, which is an essential and invaluable part of the screenwriting process and will incorporate all of the elements of a finished script. By the end of the course, the goal is for you to have completed a 5-page detailed outline of your screenplay. You can look forward to writing exercises, film clips and readings from classic movies.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

RANDY PEARLSTEIN has written numerous screenplays including Lions Gate's CABIN FEVER and CABIN FEVER 2. He has written for many television shows and specials, and currently teaches Film and Television Writing at Rutgers University. Most recently, Randy has been a cast member on the Michael and Michael Have Issues show for Comedy Central (with Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black), and was a regular cast member on Chappelle's Show. His sketch group, New Excitement, can be seen regularly at The PIT.

Writing For The Colbert Report

Instructor: Tom Purcell

"Mean what you say, and say what you mean" are words to live by. (Unless you want to write for Comedy Central's The Colbert Report or a host of other satirical shows!) This class will teach students to structure thoughtful, well-reasoned arguments without meaning a word of it. Students will learn how to write for untrustworthy narrators and characters whose worldview is radically different from their own. By the end of six weeks, the class will be creating pieces reminiscent of Swift's "A Modest Proposal," Pope's "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot," and Colbert's "Threat #1: Bears." Students will also learn all the elements to create a writing packet for The Colbert Report from a man who has read a lot of writing packets for The Colbert Report.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

TOM PURCELL is currently the head writer (supervising producer) for The Colbert Report. Before that, Tom worked as a writer on sitcoms like Cosby, and Grounded for Life. Tom began his career as a performer. Highlights include the National Touring Company of the Second City and a commercial for racial equality he did while in kindergarten.

Sitcom Writing Class

Instructor: Sarit Catz

This class will teach students how to write for sitcoms like Everybody Loves Raymond and Entourage. Through entertaining instruction, writing assignments, real-life (well, real-TV) examples, and feedback, students will learn to construct stories, scenes and dialogue that work. At the end of the course, students will have a working spec script.

November 2-December 7 (6 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: none

$400

SARIT CATZ has been a writer/producer on numerous TV series including Coach, Full House, Soul Man, Talk to Me, The Crew, Cafe Americain, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and others. She created two original series, Girls' Night for UPN and Click for Big Ticket Television, a division of Spelling Entertainment. In the feature film arena, Sarit wrote and sold options on two original screenplays currently being marketed to studios by producers. She has won three Writers' Guild of America Awards as well as being named a semi-finalist in the ScriptapaloozaTV screenwriting contest. As a stand-up comic, Sarit has played top comedy clubs including The Comic Strip, Stand-Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club, The Improv, and many others. Sarit's radio comedy aired in every market in the nation when she created, wrote, and produced three award-winning comedy services for ABC Radio Networks. www.princessofcomedy.com

Writing For a Comedy-Variety Series

Instructor: Joe Toplyn

Special summer intensive edition -- complete the entire class in only a week! Want to learn how to write for a late-night show like the ones hosted by Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Ferguson, and Jimmy Fallon? This class will teach you how. Through easy-to-understand instruction, writing exercises, and constructive feedback you'll learn how to craft monologue jokes, desk pieces, sketches, reality-based comedy segments, and more. This class will give you all the tools you need to put together a strong submission packet for the comedy-variety show of your choice. You'll also pick up skills you can use in writing comedy for game shows, reality shows, and other formats.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

JOE TOPLYN (WGA, AFTRA) has written and produced television comedy for over fifteen years. A former editor of the Harvard Lampoon, he wrote for Late Night with David Letterman, winning four Primetime Emmy Awards. He went on to become co-head writer of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, head writer of The Late Show with David Letterman, and head writer of The Caroline Rhea Show. His other writing credits include staff positions on In Living Color and on the situation comedies Doctor, Doctor, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Scorch, and Charlie Hoover. He also wrote and produced sitcom and comedy/variety pilots for Fox, Columbia, the USA Network, Comedy Central, and Paramount. In addition to his Emmys, Joe is honored to have received over a dozen Emmy nominations and three Writers Guild Award nominations. Most recently, Joe was on the writing staff of the hit USA Network show Monk.

Funny Business (Free One-Day Seminar)

Instructor: The Savvy Actor

Find out how entrepreneurial thinking can turn your unique sense of comedy into a career! This free seminar will provide an overview of business, branding, and marketing strategies essential to all performers. Learn the power of a Brand and why it works. Discover the advantages of creating a Brand for your yourself or your improv, sketch or comedy group and the importance of having a marketing strategy behind that Brand. We'll even get you on-your-feet to help it all make sense. Call 212-563-7488 to rsvp for this FREE seminar.

One-Day Workshop: Thursday, July 29

7-8pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$0

About The Savvy Actor

Founded by actors Jodie Bentley and Kevin Urban, The Savvy Actor mission is to empower actors to think like small business owners by creating and implementing an effective business plan, branding their unique product, and developing marketing strategies that get them noticed. Kevin and Jodie have almost 20 years of combined experience in the acting business; Kevin has a degree in PR/Marketing Communications and prior to The Savvy Actor, Jodie built and ran her own NYC based Marketing and Sales company from the ground up. Savvy leads seminars and workshops for universities and professional acting schools including New York University, Baldwin Wallace, UC Irvine, The York Theatre, The Network, The PIT, and Weist Barron. Clients have booked Broadway shows, national commercials, film and television work, and signed with agents. More at www.thesavvyactor.com.

"What's Your Funny?"

Instructor: The Savvy Actor

You’re funny. But can you describe it? Do you know how to market it? Here’s the deal, whether it’s a career in commercials, tv/film, stand up, sketch or improv - you need to name what you’re selling in order to market yourself effectively. In this two-week class, you’ll explore what makes you unique and plays to your strengths. Through improv exercises and marketing techniques you’ll become clear on your product and your Brand of funny! Once you have your brand, how do you get the word out? On week two, you'll pitch your product to your peers. You’ll walk away from class knowing ‘What’s Your Funny’, and finally be able to market yourself with clarity.

August 12-August 19 (Two-Day Workshop)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$125

About The Savvy Actor

Founded by actors Jodie Bentley and Kevin Urban, The Savvy Actor mission is to empower actors to think like small business owners by creating and implementing an effective business plan, branding their unique product, and developing marketing strategies that get them noticed. Kevin and Jodie have almost 20 years of combined experience in the acting business; Kevin has a degree in PR/Marketing Communications and prior to The Savvy Actor, Jodie built and ran her own NYC based Marketing and Sales company from the ground up. Savvy leads seminars and workshops for universities and professional acting schools including New York University, Baldwin Wallace, UC Irvine, The York Theatre, The Network, The PIT, and Weist Barron. Clients have booked Broadway shows, national commercials, film and television work, and signed with agents. More at www.thesavvyactor.com.

Improv Your Public Speaking SOLD OUT

Instructor: Taren Sterry

"I have confidence in ME." --Julie Andrews

In this fun and supportive class, students will learn how to improve their public speaking skills and gain confidence by applying improv techniques in public speaking situations. In a safe yet challenging environment, students will be led through group games and individual exercises that will help them be more comfortable in front of a crowd and give them the skills to relax in the midst of "performing." Focus will be on breath, diction, movement, relaxation and confidence while remaining present. Want to be more savvy when going through a Power Point Presentation for the Board? Want to learn to project your voice to a crowd of 250? This class will address each student's specific needs and give them the opportunity to work on current projects.

August 3-August 24 (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: none

$150

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

TAREN STERRY is a writer and performer in NYC. Her current play, 180 Days, is in its fourth extended sold out run at Stage Left Studio. Taren performed improv at the PIT for three years with Fancy Dragon and Tomahawk! Taren is a 2008 Manhattan Monologue Slam Winner and wrote, produced and starred in the totally hilarious "Totes Hilare." In 2009, Taren was a winning model on Bravo's The Fashion Show (long story). Taren can be seen every month performing original material at Stage Left Studio and teaches improv at the The PIT.

Standup Comedy Workshop SOLD OUT

Instructor: Tom Shillue

Standup comedy is the most raw form of comedy and can be the most rewarding. The risks are great, but the rewards are priceless. Nothing is more exhilarating than walking on a stage by yourself and owning it. In this 6-week class, you will create a 5-minute standup routine that reflects your thoughts, opinions, worries, and anything else that makes you tick. The class will be an intense workshop of writing and performing, the culmination of which will be a show at a REAL New York comedy club. Do you have an act you've been wanting to polish? Great! This class will kick it into shape. You've been wanting to try Standup, but so far, you got nothing? Don't worry. With Tom's guidance, you will build an act from the ground up. In addition to learning the craft, you will learn about the business side of Standup Comedy from one of the most successful comics in New York City. Are you up for the challenge?

August 3-September 7 (6 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$360

Class show: (To be determined during the class)

THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

TOM SHILLUE is one of the most respected comics around. He is a headliner who works in both the mainstream and alternative comedy clubs, and his autobiographical monologues have garnered a cult following at downtown shows like Moonwork, on the internet and on satellite radio. His latest solo show Supernormal recently began a run at The Green Room at The Bleeker Street Theater. Tom has appeared in his own Comedy Central Presents special, as well as Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comics Unleashed, NBC Late Friday, Premium Blend, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and can currently be seen hosting TVLand Prime Movie on Friday nights.

Voice Over Tricks and Techniques

Instructor: Ed Lewis (Arcieri and Associates)

Are you interested in Voice Overs but don't know where to start? You aren't alone. Voice Overs are a hard nut to crack. Ed Lewis, a Voice Over agent at Arcieri and Associates, will use his no-nonsense style to take all of the guess work out of this often confusing world. In the class, you will work on extensive commercial copy, and learn the skills and tricks to make Voice Overs work for you. Ed comes from an acting background and will teach you how to apply your acting skills to make comercial copy stand out. Each student will receive an mp3 of their work in class along with Ed's feedback once the session ends.

August 10-August 31 (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$175

ED LEWIS is a Voice Over agent with Arcieri and Associates. Ed was a Casting Director for many years and just recently brought his skills as a Casting Director to his work as an agent. While in Casting, Ed worked on animated features for PIXAR and Disney Animation as well as animated TV shows for Nickelodeon. He also cast some great comedies, having worked on Strangers With Candy, Human Giant and Chappelle's Show. Ed also comes to us having formerly taught Acting for Film and Television at the William Esper Studio. Ed takes all of this experience and his experience as an actor to de-mystify the world of Voice Overs.

FLYING SOLO Level 1: Start your Engine

Instructor: Peter Michael Marino

Have you been dreaming up characters and stories, but just haven’t found a way to wake them up? If so, this introductory solo performance class is for you! Using improv and writing techniques in an environment that’s safe, fun and full of possibilities, we’ll find truth in your characters and shape your stories to go from A-Z, resulting in an engaging 6-8 minute piece. Whether you’re just thinking about a story, show, or character, or starting to put your work “out there”, the Flying Solo class is the place to rev up your creative engine and get your ideas off the ground while getting out of your own way. This exciting class culminates in a performance of your piece at the PIT.

Peter Michael Marino was voted Favorite Comedy Class Teacher by Backstage Readers!

September 7-October 26 (8 weeks)

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$360

Class show: Tuesday, November 2nd at 9:30pm

PETER MICHAEL MARINO has been writing, performing, directing and developing solo shows for 15 years. He honed his improv skills with Theatresports New York where he co-created the long-running “Character Witness”, which led the to development of 50 original characters. He received the Backstage Bistro Award for his critically acclaimed Lance Jonathan cabaret spoof shows, and performed Off-B’way in the global smash STOMP. Peter conceived and wrote the musical “Desperately Seeking Susan” featuring the hits of Blondie, which played London’s West End and Tokyo and is currently prepping for a European tour. His directing, writing, development and solo show work has been seen at The PIT, Ars Nova, EST, TADA, IO West, Chashama, The Duplex, Don't Tell Mamma, American Globe Theatre, Village Theater, The Writers Theater, Buffalo’s ALT Theatre, and Youtube. www.petermmarino.com

FLYING SOLO Level 2: Ready to Launch

Instructor: Peter Michael Marino

You’ve created a few characters and written some stories and monologues, but you don’t necessarily know what to do with your material. The Flying Solo Level 2 class is the place to put it all together! We’ll focus on editing your work, finding through-lines and themes, and begin to assemble the jigsaw puzzle into a smart, engaging show. As a class, we’ll explore each other’s pieces and offer creative solutions for the bumps in the road that pop up. We’ll see what sticks, edit the rough spots, and shoot for outlining a 30-minute show to get you on your way to performing and sharing your material with the world. Students will perform excerpts of their show at the end of the 8 weeks and are also guaranteed one 30-minute slot at the PIT at a later date to perform their full show. If you have questions about your eligibility for this class, please email Peter Michael Marino at petermichaelmarino@mac.com.

Peter Michael Marino was voted Favorite Comedy Class Teacher by Backstage Readers!

September 8-October 27 (8 weeks)

Wednesdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Flying Solo Level 1, DIY Level 1, or equivalent experience

$360

Class show: Monday, November 1st at 9:30pm

PETER MICHAEL MARINO has been writing, performing, directing and developing solo shows for 15 years. He honed his improv skills with Theatresports New York where he co-created the long-running “Character Witness”, which led the to development of 50 original characters. He received the Backstage Bistro Award for his critically acclaimed Lance Jonathan cabaret spoof shows, and performed Off-B’way in the global smash STOMP. Peter conceived and wrote the musical “Desperately Seeking Susan” featuring the hits of Blondie, which played London’s West End and Tokyo and is currently prepping for a European tour. His directing, writing, development and solo show work has been seen at The PIT, Ars Nova, EST, TADA, IO West, Chashama, The Duplex, Don't Tell Mamma, American Globe Theatre, Village Theater, The Writers Theater, Buffalo’s ALT Theatre, and Youtube. www.petermmarino.com

How To Pitch and Sell TV Shows

Instructor: James Murray

You’ve got a killer idea for a TV show, but how do get your foot in the door, pitch it to production companies and networks, and sell the show? In this 6-week class, students will learn all the fundamentals of how to pitch and sell TV shows. To date, four students have sold their ideas and pitched them to networks as a result of the class! Topics covered include: getting your hands on the latest network intel; what production companies and networks are currently buying; creating a sellable idea that multiple networks will want; writing a compelling treatment; shooting a great sizzle tape; and perfecting the pitch itself. Whether you’re a beginner looking to break into TV or a producer looking to sharpen your pitch skills, this class will help with all aspects of the pitch process, from development to sale. Students will refine their ideas in class, and practice pitching every week.

September 9-October 14 (6 weeks)

Thursdays, 7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$360

JAMES MURRAY is a television producer and Director of Development for NorthSouth Productions (www.NorthSouth.tv), where he develops and pitches reality TV programs to all networks. He has produced shows for A&E, Spike TV, TLC, TruTV, ABC and Buena Vista Television. He is currently executive producing a television pilot for TruTV based on his comedy troupe, The Tenderloins, who have generated millions of plays of their sketch comedy videos online. The Tenderloins also produced a pilot for Spike TV, and James executive produced and created the A&E comedy TV pilot, “I Never Said That” starring Tim Meadows. James teaches How To Pitch & Sell TV Shows and the Viral Video class at the PIT, and to date, his class has generated millions of hits online with internet hits such as “Cooties” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6ylxWcwkUM.

Alexander Mackendrick on Film-making

Instructor: Paul Cronin

Paul Cronin, editor of the book ON FILM-MAKING: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CRAFT OF THE DIRECTOR by Alexander Mackendrick, presents a comprehensive workshop based on Mackendrick's influential teachings. This in-depth seminar is an excellent opportunity for any filmmaker who wishes to learn more about film-making from one of the masters of the medium. Alexander Mackendrick's practical approach serves as one of the best introductions to the craft of film-making available today. The weekend is structured around the illustrated lecture MACKENDRICK ON FILM, which features footage of Mackendrick discussing his approach to film-making, interviews with some of his former students and colleagues who discuss his ideas in detail, and a host of film clips. This 3-day workshop gives students an opportunity to immerse themselves in Mackendrick's ideas and engage with other participants. Please note that this is a seminar-based workshop, not a practical hands-on weekend.

October 1-October 3 (Three-Day Workshop)

Friday-Sunday, 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: The PIT Theater (154 W. 29th St, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: None

$250

Paul Cronin is the editor of interview books with Werner Herzog, Roman Polanski and Arthur Penn, and has made documentaries for the BBC, PBS and the Sundance Channel. He has spent ten years researching in Mackendrick's archive, and has lectured on Mackendrick's teachings worldwide. Alexander Mackendrick (1912-1993) was the director of The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit and Sweet Smell of Success, and founding dean of the film school at the California Institute of the Arts. His book On Film-making: An Introduction to the Craft of the Directors used at film schools around the world, and includes among its enthusiasts Martin Scorsese and David Mamet.www.alexandermackendrick.com

Viral Videos

Instructor: James Murray

In this 6-week class, students will learn how to write, produce and edit effective comedic viral videos, discuss what the current market is like for distributing your work, learn how to capitalize financially and professionally on going viral, and learn how to develop a "brand" for your company. Students will write short sketches, analyze/sharpen them in class, and shoot/star in/edit the videos that have the greatest chance of going viral. Students will then build a comedic brand, distribute the completed sketches on the internet, and track the videos' success. Videos from recent sessions of this class (such as "Cooties") have generated millions of plays on YouTube, MySpace, and Yahoo!, been featured on television and radio, screened for NBC Casting execs, and several videos have been licensed to MTV Networks. In addition, "Cooties" won the 2007 Best Comedic Video of the Year on Yahoo. Also, the Viral Video class is currently being developed as a docu-series targeted for a major cable network, meaning even greater exposure for your work.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

JAMES MURRAY is a television producer and Director of Development for NorthSouth Productions (www.NorthSouth.tv), where he develops and pitches reality TV programs to all networks. He has produced shows for A&E, Spike TV, TLC, TruTV, ABC and Buena Vista Television. He is currently executive producing a television pilot for TruTV based on his comedy troupe, The Tenderloins, who have generated millions of plays of their sketch comedy videos online. The Tenderloins also produced a pilot for Spike TV, and James executive produced and created the A&E comedy TV pilot, “I Never Said That” starring Tim Meadows. James teaches How To Pitch & Sell TV Shows and the Viral Video class at the PIT, and to date, his class has generated millions of hits online with internet hits such as “Cooties” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6ylxWcwkUM.

Advanced True Storytelling

Instructor: Kevin Allison and Michelle Walson

Ever wonder how master storytellers like Mike Daisey, Mike Birbiglia, or the late Spalding Gray transform their real-life experiences into stories that entertain audiences for hours? In Advanced Storytelling, instructors Kevin Allison and Michelle Walson (creator/host and producer of the ECNY-award-winning storytelling show RISK!) will help you find the subtler nuances of your own unique voice and create pieces that go beyond mere anecdotes to tap into universal themes. Each student will develop at least two 12-15 minute stories, and while class time limits story length, the skills you’ll learn will apply to pieces of any scope. We will spend the majority of class time listening to and critiquing student stories. We’ll also listen to and analyze sample stories to learn more advanced techniques for structuring longer pieces such as plot/subplot, story within a story, and non-linear story structure. The class will culminate in two shows at The PIT for friends and family.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

KEVIN ALLISON is a member of the legendary sketch comedy troupe The State and is the creator and host of the storytelling show RISK! (See risk-show.com) His recent film and TV appearances include Reno 911!: Miami, The Ten, Wedding Daze, VH1’s Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Viva Variety and Stella, and HBO’s Flight of the Conchords. Behind the scenes, Kevin has written for Blue Man Group Productions and JibJab. In the print world, Kevin’s writing has appeared in The Village Voice, Giant, Premiere and Film Journal. He has served as the Artistic Director of The Peoples Improv Theater in New York and teaches comedy writing there, at New York University, at The Philly Improv Theater and online at www.filmlab.ca.

MICHELLE WALSON is the producer of RISK!, a storytelling show created and hosted by Kevin Allison and featuring stories by Janeane Garofalo, Rachel Dratch, Marc Maron, David Wain, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, et al. Other projects include assisting Michael Showalter (The State, Stella, Michael & Michael Have Issues) with his upcoming memoir Mr. Funny Pants and directing the musical comedy variety show Of The Moment. She collaborated with Tim Ellis on the web series The Human Condition and is currently developing a stage show and screenplay based on the duo comedy of Tim Ellis and Matthew Park. Michelle is a MFA candidate in Film Production at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and holds a BA in Creative Writing from Brown University and a MS in Television Production from Boston University.

Do It Yourself

Instructor: Jen Nails

For those who have ever felt compelled to write and perform solo material, do it! You will explore different techniques for developing clean, honest characters and full, detailed stories. Emphasis will be placed on gaining confidence while on stage alone as well as on writing freely, without editing yourself. We will work toward structuring your material into a solid 6–8 minute piece. The class will culminate in a performance of your work at the PIT.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

JEN NAILS has performed and taught improv and solo performance all over the U.S. and at international festivals in the Netherlands, Scotland, and Zimbabwe. Her directing work has been seen in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and at Harvard, Duke, and Columbia Universities. She has written and researched for many publications and media including the Oxygen Network, SELF Magazine, and Nickelodeon. She's currently working toward an MFA in Creative Writing at the New School. Jen's first book, a young adult novel called Next to Mexico, was published in August of 2008 with Houghton Mifflin. Her biggest and most favorite project is her son, Zachary Nails Gold. www.jennails.com

Do It Yourself 2/3

Instructor: Jen Nails

For those who have completed DIY at the PIT, or for anyone who has put up a solo show for the first time and would like to bring things to the next level, this course is for you! As a class, we'll work on editing and shaping your piece and creating a flow. We will identify all of the most important bits in your writing and save those, and help you to let go of the rest. Be prepared to work on, think about and consider your fellow classmates' material nearly as much as your own as part of this "director collective." Students will perform an excerpt of their pieces in a class show at the end of the session, and are also guaranteed one 30-minute slot at the PIT at a later date to perform their full show. *Students who have taken DIY2 or DIY3 before are welcome to register to continue workshopping their piece.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

JEN NAILS has performed and taught improv and solo performance all over the U.S. and at international festivals in the Netherlands, Scotland, and Zimbabwe. Her directing work has been seen in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and at Harvard, Duke, and Columbia Universities. She has written and researched for many publications and media including the Oxygen Network, SELF Magazine, and Nickelodeon. She's currently working toward an MFA in Creative Writing at the New School. Jen's first book, a young adult novel called Next to Mexico, was published in August of 2008 with Houghton Mifflin. Her biggest and most favorite project is her son, Zachary Nails Gold. www.jennails.com

Storytelling: Wowing a Crowd With True Tales

Instructor: Kevin Allison

Just as stand-up exploded in the 80's, true storytelling is all the rage now. The Moth, This American Life, Sleepwalk With Me and dozens more shows tap into the zeitgeist and have audiences wild for performers who keep it real. Think you don't have amazing tales to tell? Think again. Kevin Allison (a member of The State) and Michelle Walson (director of Of The Moment) are the creators and producers of RISK!, the live show/podcast where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share in public. In this class, they will teach you how to choose story topics, recreate dramatic events, master dialogue, and build suspense, emotion and meaning out of your memories. This is the class where performers learn how rewarding it is to be onstage being yourself! Each student will come away with at least two stories to take to a Moth slam and several stories to submit for consideration for the RISK! podcast or live show. This class culminates in a performance at The PIT for friends and family.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

KEVIN ALLISON is a member of the groundbreaking sketch comedy group The State. He is also the creator and host of the popular storytelling show and audio podcast RISK! at www.risk-show.com. Kevin's recent film and TV appearances include Reno 911!: Miami, The Ten, Wedding Daze, VH1’s Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s Viva Variety and Stella, and HBO’s Flight of the Conchords. Behind the scenes, Kevin has written for Blue Man Group Productions and JibJab. He has served as the Artistic Director of The Peoples Improv Theater in New York and teaches comedy writing there, at New York University and at The Philly Improv Theater. Kevin is collaborating with producer Jonathan Stern (The Ten, Horrible People, Children’s Hospital) on the development of new TV series and writing a memoir.

Characters

Instructor: Kimmy Gatewood

Expand your improv artillery! Discover the different dimensions of character inside yourself, on the spot! Drawing from theatre and improv methods, you'll explore a new realm of character types, with emphasis on theatrical, believable, and "real world" characters. Continuing to build on the characters in your repertoire, we will focus on breaking bad habits, self awareness, and creating good scene work. You will also develop 1 character monologue to take to your next audition. Outside work is required. This class is absolutely the most fun you'll ever have.

This workshop is perfect for beginners or returning students.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

KIMMY GATEWOOD is an accomplished writer, director, producer and performer. She was named Best of Time Out NY, ECNY Best Musical Act Winner, ECNY Best Director Nominee and Andy Kaufman Award Semi-Finalist. She has performed at The Peoples Improv Theater, Second City NY, UCB Theatre, Westside Comedy Theatre and the Off-Broadway show Chicago City Limits. Her writing credits include ESPN, Fox Atomic, The Oxygen Network, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jokes, and numerous industrials. She is a partner at Vaguely Qualified Productions, the feature documentary film "Nerdcore Rising" (SXSW Film Festival). Her critically acclaimed and award winning comedy group The Apple Sisters is taking the world by storm. They are currently developing a television show with Hugh Jackman's Company, Seed Productions. Kimmy is also a member of the Story Pirates. She currently lives in Los Angeles with a view of 53 palm trees.

SNL Audition: Characters and Impersonations

Instructor: Ali Farahnakian

An SNL audition consists of three characters and three impersonations, plain and simple. In this class we will work on a character a week for the first three weeks and an impersonation a week for the last three. Students will come prepared with original characters and impersonations already in mind (not necessarily developed, but thought-out). For characters, we will work on in-depth backgrounds and histories, ultimately putting together something that works in 45 seconds. For the impersonations, we will find the celebrities that you are best suited for by your natural vocal range and similar look. Students will also improvise with each other as the characters and the people they are impersonating. The class will culminate in a show where each member of the class will put together a 5 minute piece to be performed live.

Dates of next session TBA. Please email the PIT to be put on the waiting list for the next class session.

ALI REZA FARAHNAKIAN (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic (IO). He was also a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City in Chicago he was part of the Jeff-nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include all the Law and Order's, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and 30 Rock. He has been in many films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance and one went to Cannes. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater (aka The PIT). Spread the Word!

Friday Drop-In: Scenework

Instructor: Geoff Grimwood

This ongoing class will focus on many of the fundamentals of great scenework such as relationships, strong choices and heightening. We will work on building scenes one line at a time, as well as exercises that help with callbacks and second beats. The goal of the class is to get you out of your head and into the scene and keep you playing, not scripting. Let's have fun!

Fridays (ongoing)

7-10pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Improv Level 1 or equivalent experience

$20 per person per class (cash only) (Since this is an ongoing class, there is no online registration. Simply show up!)

GEOFF GRIMWOOD has performed and studied improv in New York and his native Chicago since 2002. In Chicago he studied at ImprovOlympic and the Annoyance Theater, and performed in ensembles at ImprovOlympic (Dystopia 10, Children of God, Switchgrass, Triple Play), pH Productions (pHrenzy, pHamily, What’s Your Problem, Owl?), and Dirty South Improv’s The Beatbox. In New York he has studied improv at the PIT, the UCB, acting at William Esper Studio, and performed in the groups Fancy Dragon, Bandolero, the Sitcom, and can currently be seen weekly with his PIT house team, Zoltar.

Saturday Drop-In: The Work Out

Instructor: Pete LePage

This ongoing class is open to ALL improvisers. Each week students will examine and practice different longform fundamentals with improvisers of other backgrounds and levels. From the simplest games to the most advanced exercises, this Saturday class is more fun than a day at the zoo! NO CLASS JULY 3.

Saturday (ongoing)

3-6pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Improv Level 1 or equivalent experience

$20 per person per class (cash only) (Since this is an ongoing class, there is no online registration. Simply show up!)

PETE LEPAGE has been doing Stand-up, Sketch, and Improv in New York City since 1999 - Performing at Comic Strip Live, Stand-up New York, Gotham, Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade and The PIT. He has worked with Colin Quinn, Billy Merrit and performed with Jack McBrayer. He is currently a head writer and founding member of the Nefarious Popes sketch troupe, ensemble member of the PIT house team Mrs. Estherhouse, and co-host of the acclaimed show Comic Book Club and Pulp Secret webcast. In 2006 Pete was voted the ensemble member of the year at the PIT.

Sunday Drop-In: Long Form Improv

Instructor: Brett Wean

What do we all associate most with Sundays? That’s right...brunch! Wait. Did you say brunch? The correct answer is IMPROV! In this fun, super-delicious class, tailor-made for a (perhaps post-Brunch) Sunday afternoon, we’ll be whipping up a fluffy omelette of scenework, character-building exercises, and longform structure...all designed to aid you in making your scenes heartier and more satisfying. We’ll be pancaking together skills such as listening, Yes-And-ing, heightening, status, and taking care of yourself as well as your scene partner. Everything you need to make the mimosa out of your scenes...no reservation required. NO CLASS JULY 4.

Sundays (ongoing)

3-6pm

Location: Simple Studios (134 W. 29th Street, 2nd fl)

Prerequisite: Improv Level 1 or equivalent experience

$20 per person per class (cash only) (Since this is an ongoing class, there is no online registration. Simply show up!)

BRETT WEAN is a writer and actor who has performed improv at various New York theaters and is happy to call The PIT his home. Growing up outside Philadelphia, Brett attended The Haverford School (all-male), where he learned to wear a jacket and tie whilst experiencing puberty. He later studied film and acting at Vassar College, which was formerly an all-female school but still manages a pretty sweet ratio -- Hello! Brett has been a member of several PIT house teams, most recently of which is the long-running group The Baldwins. He has studied commercial acting with casting directors Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan of House Productions, and has since done commercial work for VH-1 and Mars. Until recently, Brett worked in the glamorous world of book publishing, and has written pieces for Time Out New York, as well as a syndicated career-related humor column called The Worker Bee (I know, I know.) He has performed in the Del Close Marathon, greatly enjoys coaching improv (he is on the Official PIT Approved Coaches List), and is fascinated, just fascinated, by the comic strip Cathy, which annoys his wife greatly.