Weekly Improv Classes

HUGE Theater has classes for students at all levels! Recommended by 365 Twin Cities MN.  You can travel through all four levels here at HUGE, or, because our classes compliment other training programs in town, your experience at other training centers qualifies you for commensurate levels here.

ATTENTION TEACHERS:  Continuing Education credit certificates may be available! 

Classes at HUGE are designed to help improv students take it to the next level. Your instructors are working professionals who've toured the country performing long-form improv.  These classes are two hours a week, for ten weeks, with a focus on individual student needs and skill-building.

Improv Basics (HUGE 101).  Sundays 1PM-3PM April 15 - July 8 (no class on Mother's Day 5/13, Father's Day 6/17 and TCIF 6/24). For two hours a week, you're free to be creative and spontaneous! This workshop covers introductory improvisational comedy skills: trust, agreement, give and take, and basic scenes with fun guidance. 10 weeks, $200. Register

Creating Characters and Scenes (HUGE 201). Tuesdays 7PM-9PM April 10-June 5. In this workshop we'll learn to create characters using Jill Bernard's toolkit, VAPAPO, to give participants the ability to create strong, compelling characters that they can hang onto through the whole scene. This session will focus on using Voice, Attitude or Posture, and Animal, Prop or Obsession to build instant characters. Participants will use these tools to fearlessly initiate scenes, create relationships and find agreement.  We'll also cover patterns, games, and basic edits as tools for scenework. 10 weeks, $200. Register

Advanced Scenework (HUGE 301). Tuesdays 7PM-9PM April 10-June 5. This course will cover group scenes, split scenes, other basic and non-basic edits to up your game. Will also include personal diagnostics. 10 weeks, $200. Register

Long Forms (HUGE 401). Sundays 1PM-3PM April 15 - July 8 (no class on Mother's Day 5/13, Father's Day 6/17 and TCIF 6/24).  This class is a survey of many traditional long forms. In the last weeks you'll create your own brand new form! 10 weeks, $200. Register

Please fill out the registration form by clicking on this link: Register!. Payment plans and box office trade hours available. Please email workshops@hugetheater.com with questions or financial concerns. 

General Schedule 2011-2012
December Master Class Series
January 15 - March 18
Spring Master Class Series
April 8  - June 17
July 8 - September 9 (includes break for Fringe)
September 15 - November 25

There are other places in town that teach improv comedy too! Some are The Brave New Workshop's Student Union, ComedySportz, Stevie Ray's, and YesAnd Studios.

Workshops To Go 

Not all of our workshops are for performers: improv skills are useful in all disciplines.  We offer two basic workshops, and an infinite number of custom workshops. In our FIREBALL THEORY: HUGE IDEAS ON DEMAND workshop, we can train you to think faster and harder than you can judge yourself.  Whenever we find ourselves at the beginning of an endeavor, we're filled with self-doubt and judgement.  

Using theater games and scenarios, we'll replace the voice in your head that says, "It'll never work" with a voice that says, "Yee haw!"  In our IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY: WORKING BETTER THROUGH PLAY workshop, participants will learn the joy and success that follows doing exactly what tickles them.  Too often a work day is a tedious chore, filled with rough decisions and good and bad choices.  A disgruntled employee will waste 15 minutes of every hour.  If having fun for five minutes a day keeps your employees happy, 400 minutes are saved in a week, and retention improves in the long-term.  Studies show employees work better together when they know each other -- loosening up and having fun creates a spirit of intimacy without all the personal details and HR risks.  This workshop will use theater games and scenarios to teach you and your team to play together so you can work together more effectively.

Jill Bernard is the Director of the program and the primary instructor.  She began teaching improv in 1997, and has since taught in over 30 states, two continents, and on an episode of MTV Made.  Contact workshops@hugetheater.com for prices and details. 

Wednesday Drop-In Class with Jill Bernard

Improv Drop-In with Jill Bernard, Wednesdays 5PM-6:45PM. An ongoing investigation of improvisational scenework with award-winning instructor Jill Bernard, all experience levels except absolute beginners. $10 a week, pay as you go.