Looking to find laughter in this time of social distancing? Use the tabs to the left to check out our in-person and 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.
We’re proud to announce our new free monthly seminars. Seminars are 40 minutes long and are open enrollment.
See this month’s free offering below, and sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when new free seminars are up!
No events found – Join our Mailing List to receive announcements of upcoming events!
Jams are a wonderful place for improvisers of all levels to come together & practice what they’ve been learning in class!
See this month’s free offering below, and sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when new free jams are up!
Come test out your material at the PIT Stop Open Mic! Try out your characters, stand up jokes, & more!
See this month’s free offering below, and sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when the new special is announced!
Bull/Matador (created by former Pitizen Matt Donnelly) is a signature improv scene technique that gets performers out of their heads by reacting to body language rather than over thinking about the dialogue. We’re also 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. Great workshop for those new to playing game and improvisers wanting to brush up their skills.
Be the first to know when discounted seats are available by signing up for our mailing list.
No events found – Join our Mailing List to receive announcements of upcoming events!
See our youth classes offerings below, and sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when new youth classes are up!
Steps to take to sign up for a Youth Class
Please take a moment to follow these steps in order to successfully register for our youth classes.
1. Fill out our Youth Classes Registration Form below. Make sure to indicate on the registration form which class you are interested in taking.
Registration For Youth Classes2. Apply for a Youth Scholarship! There are Access Scholarship seats reserved in each class, as well as a number of 1/2 Off Scholarships available. If you are interested in registering your student for a scholarship seat, please indicate so in the registration form and apply on our Scholarships page. Make sure to indicate on the scholarship application form which class you are interested in registering your student for.
View Scholarships3. Register for the Class. Once you’ve submitted your registration form and applied for a scholarship (if applicable), purchase and reserve a set in your preferred class!
Jump into the magical world of improvisation in this afterschool class for students ages 13-17! Much like The PIT’s Remote Level 1 course for adults, pre teen students will grow in confidence through monologues, short form improv games and long form improv sets. At the end of the course, students will leave with a toolkit of skills that will help them succeed on stage, in the classroom IRL & On-line, and beyond! Great way to meet like minded humans in a fun and nurturing environment. “Yes, and...!” until you need to say “No,Thank You.”
At The PIT, we have a core Improv curriculum consisting of Improv Levels 1-5. If you are interested in completing our core curriculum, you must complete all 5 levels in this order: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5. (Students may enter into higher levels on a case by case basis and must email classes@thepit-nyc.com to complete this process).
Improv classes that are not level based fall under our elective classes. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their improv journey unless otherwise notated in the class description. Some Elective classes require a certain completion of our core curriculum.
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.
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
This class will help students take the basic elements of the IMPROV YOUR LIFE™ philosophy learned in Level One and apply them toward building great scenes that engage an audience. Students will leave this level with an understanding of how to make strong initiations, establish who/what/where, heighten the funniest choices and edit scenes.
Students will learn and practice techniques for starting scenes, enhancing and enriching scenes, finding yourself when you feel lost, and creating characters that are completely unique. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.
(Please note all instructors are subject to change without notice)
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
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!
Jump into the magical world of improvisation in this afterschool class for students ages 13-17! Much like The PIT’s Remote Level 1 course for adults, pre teen students will grow in confidence through monologues, short form improv games and long form improv sets. At the end of the course, students will leave with a toolkit of skills that will help them succeed on stage, in the classroom IRL & On-line, and beyond! Great way to meet like minded humans in a fun and nurturing environment. “Yes, and...!” until you need to say “No,Thank You.”
This workshop is all about the two person improvised scene. We will learn to “take the scene seriously”, discover games and let it rest and be in each moment with our scene partner. Elevate your scene work with this workshop.
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
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!
Bull/Matador (created by former Pitizen Matt Donnelly) is a signature improv scene technique that gets performers out of their heads by reacting to body language rather than over thinking about the dialogue. We’re also 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. Great workshop for those new to playing game and improvisers wanting to brush up their skills.
You will go through the basic forms of improv. Harold without games, Pure Harold,The Deconstruction, The Mono scene. Two weeks will be dedicated to each form and will culminate in doing two class shows.
In level 5 you will be elevating the all the things you have learned and turning your improv into an art form. You will practice slower scenes, new forms, mirror/ transformation and be empowered to create your own form as a group. You will learn how to approach the work in a fearless and joyful way. This is the culmination of it all
This class will help students take the basic elements of the IMPROV YOUR LIFE™ philosophy learned in Level One and apply them toward building great scenes that engage an audience. Students will leave this level with an understanding of how to make strong initiations, establish who/what/where, heighten the funniest choices and edit scenes.
Students will learn and practice techniques for starting scenes, enhancing and enriching scenes, finding yourself when you feel lost, and creating characters that are completely unique. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.
Level 3 is perfect for experienced Improvisers who didn't practice during the pandemic & for the online students who want to begin transitioning their skills to in-person. In level 3 you will continue to focus on strong listening and reacting without interrupting your scene partner. Making sure “the beginning of your sentence doesn’t get in the way of the middle of theirs.” You will reinforce saying “Yes, and...!” Until you have to say “no thank you.” Work on the first, second and third beats of two-person scenes as well as continuing to focus on editing by following your foot connected to your gut and heart to edit scenes at the height. Learn how to “heighten and tighten” a scene organically glued in reality to create “win-win” fun scenes to play to entertain yourself and others while “treating your partner like a genius”
At The PIT, we have a core sketch curriculum consisting of Sketch Levels 1-4. If you are interested in completing our core curriculum, you must complete all 4 levels in this order: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4. (Students may enter into higher levels on a case by case basis and must email classes@thepit-nyc.com to complete this process).
Sketch classes that are not level based fall under our elective classes. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their sketch journey unless otherwise notated in the class description. Some Elective classes require a certain completion of our core curriculum.
Scholarship applications for classes are available here.
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.
In Sketch Writing Level 1: The Basics of Sketch, students will develop the fundamental skills they need to start writing original comedy sketches. Build your sketch toolkit with the essentials - how to come up with a sketch idea, how to employ classic sketch structure, how to create memorable characters, how to clearly communicate your ideas to your audience.
Students will write multiple sketches during the course of this class, with PIT Teacher will guide them through every step of the process with positive, hands-on instruction.
Feedback and collaboration are central to this class that is appropriate for brand new sketch writers, writers who have already completed "Joy of Sketch," or writers with some sketch experience who want to get back to basics.
In Sketch Writing Level 1: The Basics of Sketch, students will develop the fundamental skills they need to start writing original comedy sketches. Build your sketch toolkit with the essentials - how to come up with a sketch idea, how to employ classic sketch structure, how to create memorable characters, how to clearly communicate your ideas to your audience.
Students will write multiple sketches during the course of this class, with PIT Teacher will guide them through every step of the process with positive, hands-on instruction.
Feedback and collaboration are central to this class that is appropriate for brand new sketch writers, writers who have already completed "Joy of Sketch," or writers with some sketch experience who want to get back to basics.
At The PIT, we have a core Stand Up curriculum consisting of Levels 1-5. If you are interested in completing our core Stand Up curriculum, you must complete all 5 levels in this order: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5. (Students may enter into higher levels on a case by case basis and must email classes@thepit-nyc.com to complete this process).
Stand Up classes that are not level based fall under our elective classes. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their Stand Up journey unless otherwise notated in the class description. Some Elective classes require a certain completion of our core curriculum.
Scholarship applications for classes are available here.
Come test out your material at the PIT Stop Open Mic! Try out your characters, stand up jokes, & more!
There’s nothing more exhilarating than performing stand up comedy, it can be intimidating. More of a guide than a conventional class, this goal-oriented program will get you up there doing stand up for the first time. You will come out of this class with disciplined writing tools, informative personal feedback and important advice, as you begin your stand up comedy journey. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced in other walks of comedy life, this class is for you. Class culminates in an online stand-up show, where students present their first 3 minutes of material.
This course is designed to give womxn+ the opportunity to securely develop their comedy chops in a safe, engaging & supportive environment. Classes will serve as a laboratory for creating original stand-up material while discovering your truth and voice. Students will learn how to translate their ideas into a crafted 5 minute set through proper joke structure, writing & editing techniques, all while developing a commitment to their own, unique sense of humor! Students are encouraged to experiment outside their comfort zone and take risks by being specific, vulnerable and having a strong point of view. This class is NOT anti-male nor should it be used to surpass months of open mics. But it will give you the tools you need to both build confidence in the choices you make & in your creative ideas on and off the stage. Course is open to all levels & beginners are welcome!
There’s nothing more exhilarating than performing stand up comedy, it can be intimidating. More of a guide than a conventional class, this goal-oriented program will get you up there doing stand up for the first time. You will come out of this class with disciplined writing tools, informative personal feedback and important advice, as you begin your stand up comedy journey. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced in other walks of comedy life, this class is for you. Class culminates in an online stand-up show, where students present their first 3 minutes of material.
This class is available to those who have previously taken a Womxn+'s course at the PIT or comedians with some stand up experience. In this class, you can expect to polish your existing material, get in-depth feedback for auditions and submissions, challenge yourself to expand with various comedic styles, perfect your persona and learn additional skills like hosting, monologue jokes and warm-up work. This class is for those comics wanting to take that elusive "next step" in their comedy careers. How does one go from doing open mics to becoming a professional working comedian? Learn how to build a brand, market yourself, evolve as a comic and get opportunities within the festival circuit and comedy clubs in your city!
At The PIT, we have a core Storytelling curriculum consisting of Levels 1-3. If you are interested in completing our core curriculum, you must complete all 3 levels in this order: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3. (Students may enter into higher levels on a case by case basis and must email classes@thepit-nyc.com to complete this process).
Storytelling classes that are not level based fall under our elective classes. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their storytelling journey unless otherwise notated in the class description. Some Elective classes require a certain completion of our core curriculum.
Scholarship applications for classes are available here.
No events found – Join our Mailing List to receive announcements of upcoming events!
Classes on this page are considered PIT Elective classes. These classes are not a part of our core curriculum. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their journey unless otherwise notated that said Elective requires a certain completion of our core curriculum.
No events found – Join our Mailing List to receive announcements of upcoming events!
Classes on this page are considered PIT Elective classes. These classes are not a part of our core curriculum. Elective classes are available to students in any stage of their journey unless otherwise notated that said Elective requires a certain completion of our core curriculum.
No events found – Join our Mailing List to receive announcements of upcoming events!
Classes on this page are considered PIT Workshops. These classes are not a part of our core curriculum. Rather, they help highlight & grow a specific trait in your artistic development. PIT Workshops are available to students in any stage of their journey unless otherwise notated that says “Workshop requires a certain completion of our core curriculum.”
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
This workshop is all about the two person improvised scene. We will learn to “take the scene seriously”, discover games and let it rest and be in each moment with our scene partner. Elevate your scene work with this workshop.
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
Classes on this page are considered In-Person PIT Classes. These classes are part of our core curriculum. In-Person PIT classes are meant to help foster comedic growth in a stable & safe environment.
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
This class will help students take the basic elements of the IMPROV YOUR LIFE™ philosophy learned in Level One and apply them toward building great scenes that engage an audience. Students will leave this level with an understanding of how to make strong initiations, establish who/what/where, heighten the funniest choices and edit scenes.
Students will learn and practice techniques for starting scenes, enhancing and enriching scenes, finding yourself when you feel lost, and creating characters that are completely unique. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.
(Please note all instructors are subject to change without notice)
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH
We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES AGAIN!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
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!
There’s nothing more exhilarating than performing stand up comedy, it can be intimidating. More of a guide than a conventional class, this goal-oriented program will get you up there doing stand up for the first time. You will come out of this class with disciplined writing tools, informative personal feedback and important advice, as you begin your stand up comedy journey. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced in other walks of comedy life, this class is for you. Class culminates in an online stand-up show, where students present their first 3 minutes of material.
This workshop is all about the two person improvised scene. We will learn to “take the scene seriously”, discover games and let it rest and be in each moment with our scene partner. Elevate your scene work with this workshop.
$30 COST: $10 ONLINE(plus taxes/fees)/$20 CASH We ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES!! DROP-IN Classes are meant for improvisers of all levels to come into one community & practice exercises that develop into masterful scenes!
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!
Bull/Matador (created by former Pitizen Matt Donnelly) is a signature improv scene technique that gets performers out of their heads by reacting to body language rather than over thinking about the dialogue. We’re also 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. Great workshop for those new to playing game and improvisers wanting to brush up their skills.
In Sketch Writing Level 1: The Basics of Sketch, students will develop the fundamental skills they need to start writing original comedy sketches. Build your sketch toolkit with the essentials - how to come up with a sketch idea, how to employ classic sketch structure, how to create memorable characters, how to clearly communicate your ideas to your audience.
Students will write multiple sketches during the course of this class, with PIT Teacher will guide them through every step of the process with positive, hands-on instruction.
Feedback and collaboration are central to this class that is appropriate for brand new sketch writers, writers who have already completed "Joy of Sketch," or writers with some sketch experience who want to get back to basics.
You will go through the basic forms of improv. Harold without games, Pure Harold,The Deconstruction, The Mono scene. Two weeks will be dedicated to each form and will culminate in doing two class shows.
In level 5 you will be elevating the all the things you have learned and turning your improv into an art form. You will practice slower scenes, new forms, mirror/ transformation and be empowered to create your own form as a group. You will learn how to approach the work in a fearless and joyful way. This is the culmination of it all
This class will help students take the basic elements of the IMPROV YOUR LIFE™ philosophy learned in Level One and apply them toward building great scenes that engage an audience. Students will leave this level with an understanding of how to make strong initiations, establish who/what/where, heighten the funniest choices and edit scenes.
Students will learn and practice techniques for starting scenes, enhancing and enriching scenes, finding yourself when you feel lost, and creating characters that are completely unique. There will be a final graduation performance at The PIT for friends, family and others.
Level 3 is perfect for experienced Improvisers who didn't practice during the pandemic & for the online students who want to begin transitioning their skills to in-person. In level 3 you will continue to focus on strong listening and reacting without interrupting your scene partner. Making sure “the beginning of your sentence doesn’t get in the way of the middle of theirs.” You will reinforce saying “Yes, and...!” Until you have to say “no thank you.” Work on the first, second and third beats of two-person scenes as well as continuing to focus on editing by following your foot connected to your gut and heart to edit scenes at the height. Learn how to “heighten and tighten” a scene organically glued in reality to create “win-win” fun scenes to play to entertain yourself and others while “treating your partner like a genius”
Classes on this page are considered Online or Virtual PIT Classes. Become a PITizen from anywhere in the world with our completely remote classes held on ZOOM!
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 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.
This course is designed to give womxn+ the opportunity to securely develop their comedy chops in a safe, engaging & supportive environment. Classes will serve as a laboratory for creating original stand-up material while discovering your truth and voice. Students will learn how to translate their ideas into a crafted 5 minute set through proper joke structure, writing & editing techniques, all while developing a commitment to their own, unique sense of humor! Students are encouraged to experiment outside their comfort zone and take risks by being specific, vulnerable and having a strong point of view. This class is NOT anti-male nor should it be used to surpass months of open mics. But it will give you the tools you need to both build confidence in the choices you make & in your creative ideas on and off the stage. Course is open to all levels & beginners are welcome!
There’s nothing more exhilarating than performing stand up comedy, it can be intimidating. More of a guide than a conventional class, this goal-oriented program will get you up there doing stand up for the first time. You will come out of this class with disciplined writing tools, informative personal feedback and important advice, as you begin your stand up comedy journey. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced in other walks of comedy life, this class is for you. Class culminates in an online stand-up show, where students present their first 3 minutes of material.
This class is available to those who have previously taken a Womxn+'s course at the PIT or comedians with some stand up experience. In this class, you can expect to polish your existing material, get in-depth feedback for auditions and submissions, challenge yourself to expand with various comedic styles, perfect your persona and learn additional skills like hosting, monologue jokes and warm-up work. This class is for those comics wanting to take that elusive "next step" in their comedy careers. How does one go from doing open mics to becoming a professional working comedian? Learn how to build a brand, market yourself, evolve as a comic and get opportunities within the festival circuit and comedy clubs in your city!
In Sketch Writing Level 1: The Basics of Sketch, students will develop the fundamental skills they need to start writing original comedy sketches. Build your sketch toolkit with the essentials - how to come up with a sketch idea, how to employ classic sketch structure, how to create memorable characters, how to clearly communicate your ideas to your audience.
Students will write multiple sketches during the course of this class, with PIT Teacher will guide them through every step of the process with positive, hands-on instruction.
Feedback and collaboration are central to this class that is appropriate for brand new sketch writers, writers who have already completed "Joy of Sketch," or writers with some sketch experience who want to get back to basics.