Classes at the UCB Training Center

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The Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center offers two programs of study: Improvisation and Sketch Comedy. Classes currently registering are listed in the right column. More detailed information about the courses we offer can be found in our Course Catalog

Improvisation Program

The Improvisation Program is designed to teach our students about the basics of long-form improvisation. Long-form improvisation is a performance in which a group of people mutually creates interconnected scenes, on the spot, from a single audience suggestion.

Our Improvisation Program teaches our students to build these scenes around “the game.” The concept of “the game” is central to the method taught in our program. “The game” is the single, specific comedic idea that makes a scene funny. We teach our students how to work together to discover that specific idea and then explore it as many different ways as they can imagine throughout the course of one improvised scene.

The goal of the Improvisation Program is to teach our students how to work as a group to use “the game” to perform the original long-form improv performance piece called “the Harold.” The Harold is a series of interconnected scenes inspired by a single suggestion. Characters, ideas, and themes appear and reappear throughout the piece and eventually connect, completing the piece.

The Improvisation Program is comprised of four core courses, Improv 101, 201, 301, and 401. In order to complete the Improvisation Program, students must successfully complete all four of the core courses.

In addition to the core courses we also offer instructor-driven, master class

courses, as well as performance workshops in which students learn and or create a unique form of improvisation.

We also offer various special workshops in improvisation. These workshops cover a diverse range of topics and can be anywhere from one day workshops to four-week sessions.

Sketch Comedy Program

Our Sketch Comedy Program is designed to give our students instruction on the basics they need to write and refine short, comedic scenes. These scenes are built around “the game,” a single, specific comedic idea. Our core sketch courses expose students to a variety written sketch formats.

Our sketch courses are designed to help our students develop a writing portfolio, the discipline to rewrite their work, and their individual voice. Our courses also allow our students to experience writing in a professional environment, giving them an opportunity to both give feedback to others, as well as incorporate feedback into their own work.

The goal of the Sketch Comedy program is to teach our writing students to take their pieces from first draft, all the way through a staged sketch performance.

We offer advanced and elective courses in specialized areas of writing that include writing a one person show, writing in the style of Saturday Night Live, sitcom writing, and preparing a writing packet.

More detailed Course Descriptions can be found in the Course Catalogue.