In CSz 101, you will learn the basics of improv, focus on agreement (“yes, and-ing”), active listening, commitment, and being present in the moment. You will then start to apply these skills towards ComedySportz style improv. In this class, you will learn and play some of our favorite ComedySportz games, utilizing the basic skills and learning to trust yourself, all while making people laugh and having a lot of fun! If you’ve never done improv before, or you’d like to revisit the fundamentals of playing CSz style improv games from another perspective in an inclusive, safe, and fun environment, this class is for you. The class ends in a showcase for friends and family. No pre-requisite.

Intro to Improv - A - WINTER 2025

When: Wednesdays, January 8 - March 5, 2025 (No class 2/12)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Intro to Improv - B - WINTER 2025

When: Thursday, January 9 - March 6, 2025 (No class 2/13)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Tuition

This course introduces you to the building blocks of scene work, giving you the tools to create honest relationship-driven scenes on stage. A few of our most popular games will be used to strengthen your listening, teamwork, and scene-building muscles as you become a stronger, faster more bionic improviser. Prerequisite: CSz 101, equivalent from another improv school, or permission from the Education Director, siobhan@comedysportzphilly.com

Scenework Study - WINTER 2025

When: Monday, January 6 - March 3, 2025 (No class 1/20)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Tuition

This class continues to build your scene work ability through establishing characters and a strong understanding of relationship. You will explore how character work can push a scene/game forward utilizing a character’s want, need, and drive. Prerequisites: CSz 101 and 201, equivalent from another improv school, or permission from the Education Director, siobhan@comedysportzphilly.com

Characters and Relationships - WINTER 2025

When: Wednesdays, January 8 - March 5, 2025 (No class 2/12)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Tuition

Now that you have a strong understanding of scene work, character, and relationship, we will push you toward directly applying them into your performance ability. Direct critique and side coaching will allow you to begin exploring who you are personally as an improviser and especially as a performer. Prerequisites: CSz 101 through 301.

😞 There is no CSz 401 class this semester.

Tuition

The CSz Conservatory is a class for students who have completed CSz 101-401 and are looking to improve their performance skills. Instructor Josh Holober-Ward will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a performer and will work with you to bridge your gaps and sharpen your skills. You’ll get the rigorous and supportive training you need followed by high-level feedback that is designed to cut right to the issue. And you’ll have fun doing it! Each class has two ComedySportz performances for friends and family. Prerequisite: completed CSz 101 thru 401 or permission of Education Director.

😞 There is no CSz Conservatory class this semester.

Tuition

In Long Form 101 you’ll start with the fundamentals of improv: agreement (“yes, and-ing”), active listening, emotional commitment, playing characters, making your scene partner look amazing, and being present in the moment. You will then start to apply these skills to scene work. No prerequisite.

Longform FUNDAMENTALS - WINTER 2025

When: Monday, January 6 - March 3, 2025 (No class 1/20)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Tuition

In 201, students will dive deeper into scene work, explore second beats, explore tag-outs and callbacks, learn different openings, and practice different approaches to improv, such as finding, playing, and heightening the game of the scene. Students will get to perform what they have learned in a class show for family and friends. The class ends in a showcase for friends and family. Pre-requisite: Long Form 101

When: Tuesday, January 7 - March 4, 2025 (No class 2/11)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor:  TBA
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

Tuition

In Long Form 301, students focus on the Harold, the most renowned long form structure, developed by Del Close. In this class, students will learn about this long form structure and why it works, how to play group games, how to do a great run, and how to put the whole thing together. Students will get to perform the entire Harold for their class show. Prerequisite: Long Form 201 or permission of Education Director. Please contact the Education Director before you sign up if you have not recently taken the Long Form 201 class.

😞 There is no LF 301 class this semester.

Tuition

Has something like this ever happened to you?

1. Your scene partner declares you’re the worst painter in the world, and instead of rolling with it, you insist you’re secretly Banksy.

2. You’re cast as a character who’s always late, but you can’t stop trying to prove you’re a time-management guru.

3. You meant to say, “I’m the CEO of this company,” but instead, you proudly announced, “I’m the C-3PO of this company”.

4. Your entire scene devolves into a long, awkward argument about who burnt Thanksgiving dinner—and you know it was your scene partner.

The only thing harder than winning in life? Losing on stage—especially when your ego would rather fight to the bitter, unfunny end.

This 8-week class is all about embracing the comedy goldmine of losing. Whether it’s leaning into character flaws, finding fun in failure, or preventing scenes from becoming arguments which go nowhere, you’ll discover how to turn life’s little defeats into big laughs. Think of it as improv therapy for your inner perfectionist.

“How to Lose Like a Champ” began as a workshop created by your instructor, Nick Elmer, who—after years of improv—realized performers have a natural resistance to “losing” on stage. We all want to win, even if it’s just an imaginary game of chess where you’re playing a raccoon. But real comedy lives in the joy of losing spectacularly—and hilariously.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a famous loser, this class will give you the tools to lose with confidence, charm, and comedic flair. After all, no one remembers the hero of a scene; they remember the person who said, “Yes, and I did burn the turkey—on purpose!”

HOW TO LOSE LIKE A CHAMP - WINTER 2025

When: Thursday, January 9 - March 6, 2025 (No class 2/13)
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Instructor:  Nick Elmer
Location: CSz Green Room (2030 Sansom Street)
Showcase: Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Time: TBA
Early Bird Deadline: 12/23/24

TUITION

The Fool's Journey: Crafting Narrative in Physical Comedy

In this 2-day workshop, you will dive into the world of storytelling through the lens of clowning. Drawing inspiration from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, participants will explore how classic narrative structures can be applied to create compelling performances.

Over the course of our time together, we will:

• Dissect famous bits/acts using the Hero's Journey model, discovering and understanding the universal storytelling elements that make them resonate with audiences

• Engage in a series of playful exercises designed to help you physicalize different stages of the narrative arc, from the 'call to adventure' to the 'return with the elixir'

• Collaborate in small groups to devise and perform original clown-inspired pieces that incorporate key storytelling elements

• Learn techniques for developing clown personas and conveying complex relationships without relying on dialogue

• Discover how to build and resolve conflict through physical comedy

This workshop is perfect for clowns, physical theater performers, and improvisers looking to deepen their storytelling abilities and expand their range of expression. By the end of our time together, you'll have new tools for crafting engaging narratives, a deeper understanding of story structure in physical comedy, and at least one original clown bit incorporating elements of the Hero's Journey.

Come ready to play, fail gloriously, and discover the epic story hidden within you!

TUITION

Want to try something new, but worried about committing too much too soon? IMP100: Improv for Fun is a simplified version of our 101 Intro to Improv course.

Part open-house, part workshop, come spend an evening with supportive and talented instructors who can help you dip your toe in the improv waters! No need for floaties, we'll be staying in the shallow end.

Bring a friend, or make some new ones, as you learn about the magic of improv and play some silly little games. 

IMP100: Improv For Fun

When: New Classes Coming Soon!
Time: 7pm-9pm
Instructors: Siobhan O’Hara
Location: CSz Mainstage (2030 Sansom Street)
Fee: $35