Looking to find laughter in this time of social distancing? Use the tabs to the left to check out our online classes for improv, stand-up, sketch writing, acting, producing & so much more!
Student Resources
Black Lives Matter
We have updated our Standards of Conduct, instituted a new ACCESS scholarship for students from diverse backgrounds, & several other measures dedicated to making active strides to become not just inclusive, but actively anti-racist to reach equity of representation and opportunity in all of our spaces.
Please visit the link below to learn more about the steps we are taking, resources, and actionable ways to help.
In order to maintain accessibility, and to acknowledge our role as a gatekeeper of training and knowledge, we’re proud to announce our new free monthly classes. Classes are first come first serve.
3 access scholarship seats will be reserved in each class. Please follow this link to submit an application.
See this month’s free class offering below, and sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when new free classes are up!
Learn what an SNL packet looks like and what they may be looking for. A commercial Parody is the assignment for the class in the SNL format. Under 2 pages in the format.
In July of 1999 I auditioned for SNL. I was at The Second City at the time. I had one week from when I found out to put together 3 characters and 3 impersonations in under 5 minutes to be recorded on the monologue stage at 8H inside 30 Rock. After a day of paralysis and panic, I got to work with my Second City Director Jeff Richmond. What I was able to do there has made all the difference in my life. Don’t wait until you get the call, get ready now. Each student will work on 3 characters, 3 impersonations in 4 minutes or under!
This class will give you the tools to create characters and build out their universe using sketch and improv!
Take your remote level 2 with PIT instructor and @centralia_improv member @thepatrickmac! In this class we’ll slow things down a bit and focus on developing scenes. We’ll get into second beats, explore group game and still have a blast because improv is FUN no matter what level it is.
For the next month we will work on taking your improvisation to the next level. In addition, we will explore The LeRonde as the opening for a mono-scene. Great for use in remote improv shows and your all around performance game. *If you are not interested in participating but still want to sit in and observe the class- register to be an Auditor! Auditors will have their video and audio turned off during class.
In this class you will use scene work and group exercises to explore the joy of improvisation, be more confident, trusting and graceful on stage. Learn “Yes, and…!” until you have to say “No, thank you”. Focus on positive choices to initiate scenes, real-life and character monologues grounded in TRUTH! The PIT’s Intro to Improv class creates a rich and nurturing environment that will benefit your physical, emotional and mental health. A final, remote, graduation performance at the PIT for friends, family, and others. Spread the Word!
Ready to kill it on stage? Let's use quarantine time to become the best improvisers we can be. This class is for experienced improvisers only who want to perfect their craft. Focus will be on scene work, monologues, and duologues as well as copious side-coaching to make you the best improviser you can be.
In this class, we will explore the fundamentals of six different improv forms. We will cover these forms: Slacker, La Ronde, Family Portrait, Meanwhile, Documentary Form, Movie Form: Rom Com. Come out of the quarantine with the knowledge and tools to jump onstage and perform with confidence. There will be a grad show at the end of this class!
Need some JOY? Veteran improv teacher @thepatickmac will provide in this 4 week starter remote improv class @thepitnyc. Celebrate the other person! Make each other feel good! Yes, and!
While improv is almost exclusively spoken about within the comedic world, improvisation can be a huge asset to dramatic acting. In this two hour intensive, we will explore character objective, fears and desires, emotional commitment, and much more. Think of this as an acting class you don’t have to prep a monologue or scene for. There will be a grad show at the end of this class!
We’re going to explore game of the improv scene and how to use it in scene-work. We’ll cover heightening, finding it, playing multiple games at once, distinguishing primary versus secondary games and answering all your questions. Great workshop for those new to playing game and improvisers wanting to brush up their skills.
In this class you will use scene work and group exercises to explore the joy of improvisation, be more confident, trusting and graceful on stage. Learn “Yes, and…!” until you have to say “No, thank you”. Focus on positive choices to initiate scenes, real-life and character monologues grounded in TRUTH! The PIT’s Intro to Improv class creates a rich and nurturing environment that will benefit your physical, emotional and mental health. A final, remote, graduation performance at the PIT for friends, family, and others." Spread the Word!
This class will give you the tools to create characters and build out their universe using sketch and improv!
In Sketch Writing Level 2: Building Your Packet, students will utilize the skills developed in "Sketch Writing Level 1" to write sketches in a series of classic formats. Mastering the modern sketch comedy standards - commercial parodies, character pieces, topical sketches, and many more - is the primary goal of this class, as students will begin to fine-tune and hone their personal sketch comedy voice. By the end of this class, students will have written five original sketches, and will be well on their way to having a polished, professional sketch writing packet.
First timers and those just starting out to stand-up welcome! In this class, we will work on the fundamentals of stand-up and developing a 3 minute set. This will all culminate into a live-stream class show for that your friends and family can enjoy! *If you are not interested in participating but still want to sit in and observe the class- register to be an Auditor! Auditors will have their video and audio turned off during class.
New to stand-up and/or looking to work on those jokes you have? In this drop-in, we focus on joke structure, editing, and polishing. Laughter is healing and let’s make this time productive as well.
First timers and those new to stand-up welcome! Wanna write your first joke or work on those jokes you have? In this drop-in, we focus on joke structure, editing, and polishing. Laughter is healing and let’s make this time productive as well.
New to stand-up and/or looking to work on those jokes you have? In this drop-in, we focus on joke structure, editing, and polishing. Laughter is healing and let’s make this time productive as well.
In this class we will work on best practices for crowd work, dealing with hecklers and being an overall good MC. There will also be in-class simulations for you to practice from. In addition, feel free to bring any new jokes you want to workshop.
First timers and those just starting out to stand-up welcome! In this class, we will work on the fundamentals of stand-up and developing a 3 minute set. This will all culminate into a live-stream class show for that your friends and family can enjoy! *If you are not interested in participating but still want to sit in and observe the class- register to be an Auditor! Auditors will have their video and audio turned off during class.
Taren Sterry is an ICF certified professional coach who has been teaching improv at the PIT for 15 years. In this small group class, you’ll be guided through some powerful exercises that will help you look at fear and the future in new ways. Get ready for some improv, getting out of your comfort zone, and challenging the ways you automatically relate to life and life’s circumstances so you can move forward powerfully. This class cannot be audited, full on-camera participation is required.
In this class we will work on best practices for crowd work, dealing with hecklers and being an overall good MC. There will also be in-class simulations for you to practice from. In addition, feel free to bring any new jokes you want to workshop.
From script to screen award winning NYC Director Joe Whelski will guide you through his tangible blueprint on how to conceive, direct, and produce your own film or video.
For those who want to write a screenplay, award winning NYC director Joe Whelski will give you the knowledge and resources you’ll need to dive in right away!
Award winning director Joe Whelski shares the techniques that will allow your actors both the structure and artistic freedom they need to create dynamic performances.
Learn to break down any scene, for stage or screen using award winning director, producer and actor Joe Whelski’s method.
Taught by veteran improviser and actor @thepatrickmac this class will help you learn how to act for the camera. This class will have monologues and scenes. Comedy and drama.
As the student, you decide which teacher you would like to work with and what you would like to work on. You can purchase 1 session or you can purchase many!
One on One classes are great for people who would like to work in a more private setting, beginners, and people who are interested in honing in on a specific skillset.
Students will need to have ZOOM in order to take remote classes.
One on one classes are 1 hour in length.
Please email classes@thepit-nyc.com to schedule your one on one class(es).
