Levels 1-2: Intro to Improv & Free Your Mind

This class is limited to 16 students.

First time taking an improv class? You’re in the right place.

The first half of this intensive will introduce new improvisers to the value of saying “Yes, and” to every idea (especially their own) to become joyful, fearless, and bold performers. Through games and exercises this intensive will teach students to react emotionally and honestly, to trust your gut, to support scene partners and embrace taking risks. These skills are essential to successful improvisation!

For the second half of this intensive, we’re cutting the naysaying voices in your head and slapping you out of whatever may be holding you back. We will look at how we sometimes bail on our choices out of a fear of making the “right or wrong choice" and to instead approach improv with a "fuck it / love it" mentality (because improv is one of the most wonderful things in the world if you don't treat it too seriously). We encourage your artistic freedom with methods to initiate scenes with an emotional point of view, to be specific and surprising in your choices, to support your scene partner, and to confidently navigate the vocabulary and concepts of long-form improv.

This intensive will move quickly, keep you on your feet, and challenge you with personal feedback. It all culminates in a performance for the public.

1-Week Intensive: Monday, June 23rd-Saturday, June 28th

• Monday - Thursday, 6:00 - 10:00 PM

• Friday - See shows at the Theater!

• Saturday, 12:00 - 6:00 PM (with break for lunch)

Where: The BCC DogHouse, Studio #2 (137 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn)

Class Show: Saturday, June 28 @ 7:00 PM @ BCC Pig Pen (144 Boerum Street)

Teachers: Taylor Gonzalez, Maya Sharma, & Philip Markle

Bios:

Taylor Gonzalez has been producing and performing multimedia comedy for over a decade. He is one of the creators and now editor-in-chief of POC satire site FLEXX Magazine and is the Rican half of the duo Havana Club Y Bacardí. He is one of the founding members of the Diverse As Fuck Comedy Festival, Lo-Fi NYC, and youarenotalone, a Latine-themed horror-lit zine. Over the years, he's created and produced many influential comedy shows such as deadass and the Character Clash and has studied extensively at the UCB and PIT. He has been teaching improv since 2012 and specializes in playing to the top of your intelligence, gift-giving, and object work.

Maya Sharma is a Brooklyn-based comedian, writer, and improviser. Since graduating from Oberlin, Maya has studied comedy at The Annoyance, UCB, Second City, and The Brooklyn Comedy Collective, and performs her absurd semi-standup all around Brooklyn. She is a member of The Ladies Who Ranch (LWR), a comedy group that has been written up in Vulture, Buzzfeed, TimeOut and more. LWR have been developing a half-hour animated sitcom with the production company Cowboy Bear Ninja for the past year. In 2019, Maya wrote for and co-hosted The Chris Gethard Presents Podcast (Earwolf). She has co-starred in Tony Zaret’s Relatable Content, as well as Sophie Zucker’s short film Best All Around. She’s also the Programming Director for The Brooklyn Comedy Collective.

Philip Markle is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Philip graduated from Northwestern University and trained in improv in Chicago at The Annoyance, iO, and Second City before moving to NYC in 2013 to launch The Annoyance Theater NY, where he acted as its Director for four years.. As a storyteller, he has performed at The Moth and The Paper Machete - and is a writer on Medium.com with 500k+ reads. He executive produced, wrote, and acted in the digital shorts series "The Annoyance Presents" on IFC's Comedy Crib. Philip first performed his show SPARKLE HOUR to rave reviews in the 2013 NY International Fringe Festival and has regularly produced it since, including at Joe's Pub and twice in the NY Comedy Festival. You can listen to his album of queer comedy songs “AT THE GAY BATHHOUSE” on the streaming music platform that brings you the most joy. Follow him on socials @philipsparkle.

Read student testimonials here.

If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.