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
No kids classes (K-2nd, 3rd-5th) are being taught currently.
teen classes & performances
A 6 week class focused on learning the founding principles of longform improv as performed in Chicago and NYC.
Our teaching approach and philosophy centers on Chicago/NYC style "longform" scene improvisation, which focuses on character development, collaborative agreement and world-building. 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 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 teens that have a basic understanding of improv (short form games, Yes, and) either through camps, classes or classroom experience.
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 and build a 20 minute show from a single suggestion. All students should be comfortable with in-class participation and taking feedback from a director and coach.
There is room for 8 students total, and we will need at least 6 students signed up for the class to make.
Class Schedule
Classes will be held every Wednesday beginning 9/20 through 11/8 , 5:30 - 6:45pm. An optional show will be held on 11/10 at 5pm. There are no classes on 9/27 or 10/25 due to Spaghetti Dinner (Adult Jam).
*Parents will receive a form before class starts to provide details about their student*
Instructor: Shyla Hungerford
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 9/5 through 10/10 , 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
A six week scene-work class will help you sharpen the heightening paths in your improv and let you ‘find the funny faster.’
About our Curriculum
This scene-work class will help you sharpen the heightening paths in your improv and let you ‘find the funny faster.’ Using relationship, status, and environment we will focus on how scenes can present an invisible script for us to follow. We will also work on all the sparkly devices: walk-ons, tap-outs, cut-to’s, and split scenes, that can give your improv sets an extra dimension of play.
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 from 7 - 8:30pm on the following Wednesdays: 9/20, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 11/1, and 11/8.
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: Shyla Hungerford
We are currently inviting adults (18+) with formal improv experience to submit for a coached longform troupe to learn/perform The Bunker.
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 13 week period. For this session we will focus on performance of The Bunker, which is a Monoscene with no entrances or exits. It’s named after the type of episode on a sitcom where everyone gets trapped in a walk in freezer and then remembers past episodes.
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 8 performers will be assigned to the ensemble.
Rehearsal Schedule
Class/Rehearsal will be held every Thursday beginning 9/7 through 12/7, 7:30-8:55pm (with no class on Thanksgiving Day). Performers are guaranteed 3 shows running monthly on Wednesday nights (7pm+) month October - December.
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
Step 1: Complete this form to help us validate all registered players have experience: https://forms.gle/CKigVJ3KCo2hJ6Ni8
Step 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: Nick Elmer