Welcome to The Lab's class listings!
You can find information about all of our upcoming classes for kids, teens and adults below. Click on each class name or the photo to take you to the registration page if they are currently being offered.
Kids classes & performances
K-2nd: Improv for Creative Expression
About our curriculum
All youth and teen classes at The Lab (formerly Improv Ambler) are lead by experienced comedians and theater educators with a passion for comedy.
In this six week class, young comedians will learn to use their bodies and voice to take on exciting new characters! Unlocking their natural sense of fun and play, our K-2nd grade students will navigate the exciting world of improv.
Who can join?
Great for new and returning students!
This class is best for: Students that are new to improv or returning to classes and can engage in class with direction and encouragement.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Not currently being offered. We expect to offer this class again in late summer/early fall.
Student Information
A minimum of 4 students is required for enrollment.
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Instructor
Tanya Morgan
In this six-week class we will focus on Be: Motion and Emotion through a series of age-oriented exercises. This course sets up all of the fun of collaboration and building a multi-person scene. Grow from monologue to dialogue, stage 3+ people in a scene, and balance the give- and-take of forming a scene in the moment with the hive mind. Students will have the ability to collaborate with others in a safe, fun environment. This class does not require prior improv experience. All students should be comfortable with in-class participation.
Trust: Script-Free Stage Work
Share: Collaborative Content
Act: Character Creation
Choose: Pushing the Plot
Be: Motion and Emotion
Upcoming Class Schedule
Classes will be held every Monday beginning 4/10 through 5/22, 5:30-6:45pm. There is no class on 5/15 and an optional, end of class show on 5/24 at 6:30pm.
Student Information
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Instructor
Kelsey Hebert
teen classes & performances
In this six-week class we will focus on BE through a series of age-oriented exercises for middle school students.
About the curriculum
All youth and teen classes at The Lab (formerly Improv Ambler) are lead by experienced comedians and theater educators with a passion for comedy. Our curriculum is designed to teach both new and experienced students the principles of improvisation and collaboration through five fundamental concepts:
Trust: Script-Free Stage Work
Share: Collaborative Content
Act: Character Creation
Choose: Pushing the Plot
Be: Motion and Emotion
Who Can Join?
Each session builds upon the other and includes fresh exercises, games and focus points that build on other sessions while still allowing students to join or rejoin as needed. Both new and returning students will build skills and confidence in this class.
About This Session
For the Spring 2023 session, exercises will focus on creation of absurd and grounded characters and balancing individual wants with fellow scene partners.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Classes will be held every Monday beginning 4/10 through 5/22, 7:00-8:15pm. There is no class on 5/15 and an optional, end of session show on 5/24.
Student Information
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Instructor
Kelsey Hebert
Comedic Voice for Teens (8th-12th)
Is your teen interested in standup or live solo performance, or looking to find their voice and confidence in school and on stage?
About this Event
Are you looking for a class to help your teen develop confidence in their comedic voice and at school? In this 6-week class we will take exercises and games from improv and use them to build our unique comedic voices!
This class is best for: Students with some exposure to theater and performance and can be great for those students on the spectrum or who have ADHD.
**For students in grades 8 and above.**
Current Class Schedule
Not currently being offered. We expect to offer this class again in late summer/early fall.
Minimum Enrollment: 4
Instructor: Letitia Viloria
adult classes & Performances
A six-week class focused on learning the founding principles of longform improv as performed in Chicago and NYC.
About this event
In this six-week class we will focus on a blend of introductory concepts (learning the foundations of improvised scene work through "Yes, And") and building on general agreement to create rich scenes. This class is geared towards both new students and those wishing to increase their longform improvisation competency.
Students will have the ability to collaborate with others in a safe, fun environment with the goal of ending the class with the ability to partner in an improvised scene. This class does not require prior improv experience. All students should be comfortable with in-class participation.
Our teaching approach and philosophy centers on Chicago/NYC style "long form" scene improvisation, which focuses on character development, collaborative agreement and world-building similar to what is used in shows like This Week Sucked and Breeders.
There is room for 10 students total, and we will need at least 6 students signed up for the class to make.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Classes will be held every Tuesday beginning 4/11 through 5/16 , 6 - 7:25pm.
Student Information
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Students are eligible to attend shows during their active session for free; available tickets are released at 10 min prior to showtime.
Instructor: Andrea Duffy
Level 2: Longform Improv for Adults
A six-week class focused on learning the scenework principles of longform improv as performed in Chicago and NYC.
About Our Curriculum
Our teaching approach and philosophy centers on Chicago/NYC style "longform" scene improvisation, which focuses on character development, collaborative agreement and world-building similar to what is used in shows like This Week Sucked and Breeders. Some of the most famous actors and comedians you see today were taught longform improvisation, including main characters in Ted Lasso, 30Rock, The Office, MST3K and others.
In this six-week class we will focus on building principles taught in the intro classes, with a focus on techniques for building and sustaining scenes, including character, point of view and environment. This class is for those wishing to increase their longform improvisation competency.
Students will have the ability to collaborate with others in a safe, fun environment with the goal of ending the class with the ability to partner in an improvised scene. This class requires an introductory, longform improv class at an approved school. All students should be comfortable with in-class participation.
There is room for 10 students total, and we will need at least 6 students signed up for the class to make.
Upcoming Class Schedule
Not currently running.
Student Information
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Students are eligible to attend shows during their active session for free; available tickets are released at 10 min prior to showtime.
Instructor: Bob McNichol
About our Curriculum
Our teaching approach and philosophy centers on Chicago/NYC style "longform" scene improvisation, which focuses on character development, collaborative agreement and world-building similar to what is used in shows like This Week Sucked and Breeders. Some of the most famous actors and comedians you see today were taught longform improvisation, including main characters in Ted Lasso, 30Rock, The Office, MST3K and others.
In this six-week class we will focus on advancing the scenework taught in the Level 2 class, with a deeper focus on character, relationship, game, and other aspects of longform scenework.
Students will have the ability to collaborate with others in a safe, fun environment with the goal of ending the class with the ability to partner in an improvised scene. This class requires completion of the Level 2 class at The Lab. If you completed a similar class/curriculum elsewhere and wish to enroll, please reach out to The Lab. All students should be comfortable with in-class participation.
There is room for 10 students total, and we will need at least 6 students signed up for the class to make.
Class Schedule
Classes will be held every Sunday beginning 4/16 through 5/21 , 5 - 6:30pm.
Student Information
Masks are optional. Those showing symptoms of Covid should remain at home, and anyone testing positive three days after attending a class is asked to notify the instructor and school.
Students are eligible to attend shows during their active session for free; available tickets are released at 10 min prior to showtime.
Instructor: Erika McNichol
Adults - Winter/Spring Coached Longform Ensemble (Harold with Siobhan O'Hara)
*This class is now full*
We are currently inviting adults (18+) with formal improv experience to submit for a coached longform troupe to learn/perform Harold.
About our Curriculum
Our mission is to provide committed performers over 18 with a deep interest in comedy and collaboration an opportunity to rehearse and perform with like-minded peers. Our coaches and teachers are working comedians who have trained at Second City, Improv Olympic and Upright Citizen Brigade and beyond.
We are currently inviting adults (18+) with formal improv experience to submit for a coached longform troupe. This session will combine longform classroom instruction with stage time over a 12-14 week period. For this session we will focus on performance of Harold which focuses on character and relationship heightening, and interweaving those to explore themes.
The coached ensemble format is ideal for players that have taken improv classes and are interested in diving deeper into longform. A minimum of 6 players will be required to enroll and no more than 12 performers will be assigned to the ensemble.
Rehearsal Schedule
Class/Rehearsal will be held every Thursday beginning 2/16 through 5/25, 7:30-9pm (except for 2/23 and 4/6 - no classes those nights). Performers are guaranteed 3 shows beginning in March and running approximately monthly on either Wednesday or Thursday nights (8pm+) between March and May.
Student Profile and Info
Prospective troupe members should know the fundamentals of improv and demonstrate good listening and collaboration skills. Class experience can be outside of Improv Ambler/The Lab or another school of acting/comedy.
To Enroll
1) Complete this form to help us validate all registered players have experience: https://forms.gle/oj7GWSrESbHJoTuT7
2) Complete registration for the class via Eventbrite (this event)
If a player who submits does not have the required experience, we will discuss other class options for them at the Lab.
Students are eligible to attend shows during their active session for free; available tickets are released at 10 min prior to showtime.
Coach for this session: Siobhan O'Hara