Levels Two-Nine

Level Two: Performing Games

This second workshop in our introductory series keeps the fun going and invites you to embrace the structure, boundaries, and rules that can help you improvise better faster. We’ll explore the improv fundamentals that get scenes and games going in a strong, brave and effortless way. Class meets six times (2.5 hours each), limit 14 students, culminates with a student showcase for friends and family
(Prereq: Level One)

Level Three: Performing Scenes

In this Level you’ll discover techniques for knocking out satisfying scenes and games (beginning, middle & end). Learn to tell a story with engaging characters and a satisfying twist. Learn to find the funny in the scene and make it bigger. Learn to recognize when you’re not having fun and how to get things back in gear. Class meets six times (2.5 hours each), limit 14 students, culminates with a student showcase for friends and family.
(Prereq: Levels Two)

Level Four: Diagnostic and Feedback

So you’ve decided that this improv thing is for you. The first level of our performance series is an advanced scene study class, building on the foundation you acquired in Levels 1-3 and exploring advanced techniques and strategies for getting out of your own way, keeping the audience in the palm of your hand, making strong choices in games, scenes and longer formats, and recognizing the difference between genuine delight and politely muddling through. Level Four includes a strong scenework diagnostic and direct individual feedback component. Classes run once a week (2.5 hours each), limit 12 students. Level Four culminates in a student showcase for friends and family.
(Prereq: Levels Three)

Level Five: Montage of Scenes

You’ve got the building blocks of improv, and now it’s time to put it all together in a self-directed show consisting of unrelated scenes inspired by an initial audience suggestion (Montage). Learn the tools and tricks to sustain a longform show without a teacher or director controlling the shape of the show. Discover not just how to transition between connected scenes, but also WHEN and WHY. We’ll continue to work on sustaining the playfulness and effortlessness that makes improv come alive for an audience. Classes run once a week (2.5 hours each) for six weeks, limit 10 students. Level Five culminates in a student showcase for friends and family.
(Prereq: Levels Four)

Level Six: Special Formats

In the third class in our performance series you’ll dive headfirst into a single specialized show format and learn it inside out over six weeks. Throughout the year we offer a variety of Level Six sessions exploring different formats. Produce your own shortform show full of games and scenes in Theatresports. Connect with your audience through improv inspired by authentic stories and conversation in Living Room or Armando. Explore a bizarre house full of oddball characters in The Guest Game. And more! Classes run once a week (2.5 hours each) for six weeks, limit 10 students. Level Six culminates in a student showcase for friends and family.
(Prereq: Levels Five)

Level Seven: Telling the Story (Narrative One)

In the intro class of our narrative improv series, you’ll dive headfirst into what might be the most difficult work we do at the Hideout: long-form narrative. Through games, exercises and training formats, you’ll learn the basic elements of improvising a 30-minute story: who is the story about, what kind of story is it, when to explore and when to move things along, and how to get out of your own way and let your natural storytelling instincts take over. Classes run once a week (2.5 hours) for six weeks, limit 10 students. LEVEL SEVEN culminates in a student showcase.
(Prereq: Level Six)

Level Eight: Picking a Genre (Narrative Two)

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time to drill down into a specific genre or narrative format. The second level in our Narrative series will pick a specific style of storytelling (Noir, buddy cop, soap opera, after-school special, etc.) and spend six weeks giving you the tools and techniques to knock it out of the park. Throughout the year we offer a variety of different Narrative 201 classes exploring different formats and genres. Whatever the format, we’ll continue to work on sustaining the playfulness and effortlessness that makes it all fun for the players and fun for the audience. Classes run once a week (2.5 hours) for six weeks, limit 10 students. LEVEL EIGHT culminates in a student showcase.
(Prereq: Level Seven)

Level Nine: Breaking the Rules (Narrative Three)

In the third class in our narrative series, you’ll work on forgetting all the rules and best practices you’ve learned in the first two levels. Or at least letting go of them for a while so you can get back to joyful, playful, mischievious improv that just happens to tell a story over a long period of time. Build the stupid-simple habits necessary to get out of your own way and let the story flow through you. Classes run once a week (2.5 hours) for six weeks, limit 10 students. LEVEL NINE culminates in a student showcase.
(Prereq: Level Eight)