Improv Classes
Experience the power of play, and the fun of improvisational comedy in a fun and safe environment with Made Up Theatre’s improv classes. We offer a complete training program, providing students with a strong foundation in improvisation that promotes creativity and personal growth. Learn improv today!
Check out our testimonials to hear what our students are saying!
Please note, our venue at 4000 Bay Street, Fremont, CA is located on the 2nd floor of a historical building and does not have an elevator.
Click the tabs below for more info and registration. Please note, you MUST register in advance and online.
You cannot register at the box office. If you have any issues, please contact us.
Course Description:
Are you interested in taking an improv class but want to see what it’s all about first? Well, come out to the Sampler Class to learn some improvisational skills in a fun, safe environment! This is a one-time commitment, and if you are interested, you can continue your journey by registering for our full Intro to Improv course.
Select Saturdays • 4:30pm – 6:00pm (90 Minutes)
Tuition: $20
Ages: 18+
20 Student Limit
Prerequisite: None
Course Description:
Explore the Elements of Improv in our introductory course. You will learn the core fundamentals and principles of improv, focusing on various games and exercises that encourage trust, communication, agreement (“yes and”); active listening, character, status, and making your scene partner look good. After that, you’ll start to apply these concepts into fully improvised scenes.
Last Intro To Improv Course of 2026!
8 Week Course
Dates: Mondays, October 19th – December 14th 2026
No class on Nov. 23rd
Times: 7:30pm – 9:30pm (2 hours weekly)
Tuition: $239
Ages: 18+
18 Student Limit
Prerequisite: None
*Classes meet once a week.
Please note, unless otherwise noted, all new students are required to start at Intro to Improv.
Course Description:
Now that you’ve learned some of the core fundamentals of improv, it’s time to explore the methods used to sustain a scene beyond the first few lines. Delve into character and relationship work, “heightening,” making bold choices, and using offers to enhance your scene. In addition, you’ll learn various long form formats that will be used in your first improvised showcase for family & friends on the final class.
8 Week Course
Dates: Thursdays, October 22nd – December 17th
No class on November 26th
Times: 7:30pm – 9:30pm (2 hours weekly)
Tuition: $239
Prerequisite: Intro to Improv or equivalent experience at outside school.
Ages: 18+
16 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Course Description:
This class explores short form improvisation as seen in our Laugh Track City show and the hit TV show, “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?”. Students will learn how to act quickly, while applying improvisational skills towards fast-paced scenes, on-the-fly challenges, and impressive guessing games! Students will also be able to showcase their talent in a showcase for family and friends.
7 Week Course
Dates: Tuesdays, October 27th – December 15th
No class on November 24th
Times: 7:30pm – 9:50pm (2 hours and 20 minutes weekly)
Tuition: $239
Prerequisite: Intro to Improv or equivalent experience at outside school.
Ages: 18+
16 Students
*Classes meet once a week.
Elective Class: La Ronde & The Party
La Ronde and The Party are two classic longform improv structures centered on two-person scenes with strong characters. In this class, you’ll learn both forms through lots of stage reps. The curriculum is based on a class by Craig Cackowski (who created both structures) and character-focused techniques from Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre. Perfect for improvisers ready to move beyond the montage, as well as experienced players looking to deepen their character work. Plus, you’ll get to showcase what you’ve learned in a performance on the final day.
7 Week Course
Dates: Sundays, September 20th – November 8th
No class on September 27th
Times: 7:30pm – 9:50pm
Tuition: $279
Prerequisite: Scene Study
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Instructor: Gordon Downs
Gordon joined Made Up Theatre’s main cast in 2025 after starting at the theater in 2024. Trained in LA and Chicago by renowned instructors like Will Hines, Craig Cackowski, Diana Brown, and Mick Napier, he performs throughout the Bay Area with MUT and his indie teams Country Club, BFD, and SCRIPT///NOT/FOUND. He has also dabbled in playwriting, indie films, and clowning, but he likes improv best.
Ages: 18+
14 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Musical Improv 1A: Fundamentals
There’s nothing more fun than musical improv! In this class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of improvising song, including stage presence, projection, taking focus with confidence, and rhyming through set-up/pay-off technique. Through live accompaniment by a professional musician, you’ll apply song structure to both short form games and long form formats. Get ready to sing loud and proud! Can’t sing? Sing louder! This class is open to singers and non-singers alike!
6 Week Course
Dates: Sundays, August 23rd – October 4th
No class on September 6th
Times: 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Tuition: $279
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Instructor: Shawn Amaro
With a passion for creating spontaneous melodies and characters, Shawn Amaro is a co-founder of such electrifying long-form musical improv troupes as Echo, Los Banditos Del Canto, and Worlds Collide. He has performed at Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet Theater, Peoples Improv Theater, and Made Up Theatre as well as festivals like West Coast Musical Improv Festival, Del Close Marathon, and New York Musical Improv Festival.
Musical Director: Grant Ewing
Grant (He/They) has been an active performer and director in the Bay Area since their early teens. He currently directs the Drama Program at Newark Memorial High School, most recently producing StarKid’s new stone age musical; “Firebringer” and Noël Coward’s improbable farce “Blithe Spirit”. In addition to directing and teaching, Grant regularly performs with Made Up Theatre, Worlds Collide, Flash Mob Musical, B.A.T.S., and Phasers on Stun as a musical director and performer.
Pre-requisite: Completion of Intro to Improv or equivalent at outside venue. (Improv Scene Study is recommended but not required).
Ages: 18+
16 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Musical Improv 1B: Short Form Deep Dive
If you’ve taken Musical Improv 1A, we are happy to offer a new additional class to our curriculum…Musical Improv 1B! In this class, you’ll build upon the skills you learned in 1A by applying them to some of the most entertaining musical improv games out there! There will be a big focus on character games, freestyle rapping, implementing set-up/pay-off in impressive fashion, and scenic-based performances to pre-recorded tracks carefully picked out by your instructor and a live accompanist. A big plus about this class is that you’ll be provided with resources to practice on your own at home! Plus, this class concludes with a show for family and friends.
8 Week Course
Dates: Sundays, October 18th – December 13th (ON-SALE DATE: September 15th at 10AM)
No class on November 29th
Times: 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Tuition: $319
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Instructor: Shawn Amaro
With a passion for creating spontaneous melodies and characters, Shawn Amaro is a co-founder of such electrifying long-form musical improv troupes as Echo, Los Banditos Del Canto, and Worlds Collide. He has performed at Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet Theater, Peoples Improv Theater, and Made Up Theatre as well as festivals like West Coast Musical Improv Festival, Del Close Marathon, and New York Musical Improv Festival.
Pre-requisite: Completion of Musical Improv 1A or equivalent at outside school.
Ages: 18+
16 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Musical Improv Level 2: Character-Driven Musicals
Musical Improv Level 2: Character-Driven Musicals is a brand-new long-form musical improv class at Made Up Theatre, designed for performers ready to move beyond isolated songs and start creating cohesive, emotionally engaging musicals. This class focuses on the building blocks of great musical storytelling: character, relationship, and status. Instead of forcing plot or relying on narrative structure, you’ll learn to build shows through strong character choices, evolving relationships, and songs that emerge naturally from emotional truth. Whether you’re looking to perform long-form musicals, join a musical improv team, or simply feel more confident in your scene-to-song transitions, this class will give you the skills to create musicals that feel like real shows—funny, emotionally grounded, and performance-ready.
8 Week Course
Dates: TBD
Times: TBD
Tuition: $349
If class is sold out, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list
Instructor: Shawn Amaro
With a passion for creating spontaneous melodies and characters, Shawn Amaro is a co-founder of such electrifying long-form musical improv troupes as Echo, Los Banditos Del Canto, and Worlds Collide. He has performed at Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet Theater, Peoples Improv Theater, and Made Up Theatre as well as festivals like West Coast Musical Improv Festival, Del Close Marathon, and New York Musical Improv Festival.
Accompanist: Grant Ewing
Grant (He/They) has been an active performer and director in the Bay Area since their early teens. He currently directs the Drama Program at Newark Memorial High School, most recently producing StarKid’s new stone age musical; “Firebringer” and Noël Coward’s improbable farce “Blithe Spirit”. In addition to directing and teaching, Grant regularly performs with Made Up Theatre, Worlds Collide, Flash Mob Musical, B.A.T.S., and Phasers on Stun as a musical director and performer.
Pre-requisite: Completion of Musical Improv 1A or equivalent experience at outside venue.
Ages: 18+
14 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Elective Class: Whose Game Is It, Anyway?
You know the show! Now, learn the games! You’ll learn the games made popular on the hit TV show “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?”. Games like Party Quirks, Weird Newscasters, Hollywood Director, and so much more! Through challenging improv games, you’ll learn all about committing to characters, embracing rather than fearing failure, trimming out the fat of your improv scenes, and getting to the FUN!
6 Week Course
Dates: TBD
Times: TBD
Show on final day.
Tuition: $239
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Prerequisite: Intro to Improv or equivalent experience at outside school.
Ages: 18+
14 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Narrative 1: Creating Stories
One of the most satisfying and challenging improv formats is the Long Form Narrative! It’s improvising a story from start to finish with dynamic characters, exciting story beats, and engaging dialogue and action. You’ll learn how to instantaneously jump into the middle of a story (that doesn’t exist!) and build to a fulfilling conclusion through cause & effect and heightening action. It’ll be challenging, but gosh, is it fun!
8 Week Course
Dates: TBD
Times: TBD
Tuition: $299
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Pre-requisite: Completion of Intro to Improv & Scene Study
Ages: 18+
14 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
Narrative 2: Genre Play
If you’ve taken Long Form Narrative 1, it’s time to jump into Level 2…Genre Play! This class will focus building upon your storytelling skills while also channeling specific genres into them. Heroes and villains will begin to take on more character through bold choices related to cinematic tone, behavior, and action. Western, Fantasy, Horror, and other styles will allow you to transform your improvised narratives into stunning worlds of creativity, humor, and fun!
8 Week Course
Dates: TBD
Times: TBD
Tuition: $299
Prerequisite: Completion of Narrative 1
Please note that you must complete the prerequisite to enroll. If you enroll without completing the prerequisite, your registration will be cancelled with a $10 fee.
If class is SOLD OUT, you can email us at info@madeuptheatre.com to join our wait-list.
Ages: 18+
14 Student Limit
*Classes meet once a week.
We are happy to address some Frequently Asked Questions about our improv classes. Do you have other questions?
Feel free to send us a message and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
What is improv?
Improv is a style of acting, where the performers do not have scripts or pre-planning. They improvise material on the spot, usually based on suggestions or inspiration from the audience. Two types of improv exist: short form and long form. Short form improv is a fast-paced style that includes games and skits that have pre-determined rules attached to them. Short form improv is commonly seen on the TV show “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” or our main stage show Laugh Track City. Long form improv features longer formats that range from a series of scenes inspired by a specific opener to the show to improvised plays, movies, and musicals.
Why should I take an improv class?
Improv classes have many benefits! You might think only comedians or actors take improv class, and sure, they do but most people learn improvisation for other reasons. Here are a few of the biggest benefits of learning the art of improvisation.
- Improve public speaking skills.
- Learn to think quickly and get out of your head.
- Overcome shyness or anxiety.
- Become a better and more active listener.
- Meet new friends.
- Discover new things about yourself.
What can I expect from my first improv class?
Improv classes might seem intimidating, because you do not know what to expect. You might think, “Oh no! Am I going to have to go onstage on the first class? Do I have to be funny?” However, we are here to relieve stress and anxiety and give you some info on what to expect. Here’s what to expect on the first day.
- You’ll play warm-up games and exercises. Our instructors do not want to put anyone on the spot, and we recognize that new students may come to the 1st session with anxiety. The beginning of the first day of class involves warm up games and exercises that are done as a group. The games focus on getting outside of your head, being OKAY with making mistakes, bonding with your new classmates, and just having FUN.
- You do not need to be funny. Sure, improv is associated with comedy, but we consider comedy a byproduct of improv and not the goal. The goal of improv is collaboration, acceptance, and fun. If you think you’re going to have to tell jokes or be funny, don’t worry! In fact, we discourage intentionally trying to be funny. You will naturally be funny by following the fundamentals of improvisation.
- You will fail a lot. This sounds like a negative, but it is one of the biggest positives of improv. People naturally fear failure, and it can even discourage us from trying. But in improv, we encourage failure! There are no scripts in improv, so we treat mistakes as gifts rather than shortcomings. In short, failure is fun in our class system!
- You will have fun. Enough said! Many students have told us that improv is the highlight of their week. Join the FUN!
Do I need any performance/comedy experience?
Nope! Our beginning improv classes are aimed at those who have never done improv before. Most students in our beginning classes have no performance experience, so do not fret!
Are there any perks for taking improv classes at Made Up Theatre?
Yes! Each time you register to one of our improv classes, you’ll receive a few free tickets to check out our shows.
What is your current COVID-19 Policy?
At the present time, up-to-date vaccinations and masks are highly encouraged. This policy is subject to change.