Welcome to The PIT Comedy School!

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.

Details

Frequently Asked Questions

After you register for a remote class, you will receive a confirmation email. Your confirmation email will include: receipt of purchase, class dates, grad show date (if applicable) and all necessary ZOOM links.

*Oftentimes your confirmation email will go to your spam folder. Please check your spam folder before emailing us.

Due to COVID-19 and the temporary closure of our spaces, we are offering online remote classes via Zoom taught by a live instructor.

In-person classes would usually take place at Simple Studios, located at 134 W 29th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001.

You do not have to be based in NYC to take our classes! We connect and teach students from all over the world. All you need is a stable internet connection and the device you’re using to read this web page.

If you purchased an “Auditor” ticket, that means you have agreed to pay a reduced price to observe a class only. Your audio and video will be turned off by the host.

Multiple session classes can range anywhere between 3-8 classes and 55 minutes-3 hours in length, depending on the class. Multiple session classes might also have remote grad shows. Grad shows provide students the opportunity to perform what they have been working on in class with their friends, family and peers.

Single session classes are one day only. They can range anywhere between 55 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the class.

Drop-in’s are single session classes that run for a total of 55 minutes.

*All classes require students to have ZOOM in order to participate.
*Depending on overall class size, the overall session time may be cut shorter at the discretion of the instructor.

Why yes we do!

Learn More About Our Scholarship Opportunities

Check out our Free Monthly Classes!

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!

Remote Auditioning for an SNL Type Show 7/27

FREE CLASSES

Monday 7/27 7:00 pm

Instructor: Ali Reza Farahnakian

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!

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Remote Remote Level 2 Improv 7/6

Multiple Session Classes

Monday 7/6 – Friday 7/31

Instructor: Patrick McCartney

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.

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Remote Advanced Improv: The Mono Scene 7/6

Multiple Session Classes

Monday 7/6 – Monday 7/27

Instructor: Chris Griggs

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.

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Remote Remote Level 1: Introduction to Improv 7/7

Multiple Session Classes

Tuesday 7/7 – Friday 7/31

Instructor: Dana Shulman

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!

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Remote Fundamentals of a Form 7/16

Multiple Session Classes

Thursday 7/16 – Friday 7/31

Instructor: Kimberly Alu

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!

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Remote Approach to Dramatic Improv 7/20

Multiple Session Classes

Monday 7/20 – Tuesday 8/4

Instructor: Kimberly Alu

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!

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Remote Remote Level 1 Improv: Introduction to Improv 8/4

Multiple Session Classes

Tuesday 8/4 – Friday 8/28

Instructor: Dana Shulman

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!

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Remote Your One Man Band – A Character Class 7/22

Multiple Session Classes

Wednesday 7/22 – Friday 8/28

Instructor: LaGina Hill

Learn the basics of writing a solo sketch character. This class is ideal for people who want to explore the original characters in their heads with the goal of having a solo show or character reel. By the end of the class, you will have one solid character that you will perform that can be the basis of your future solo character show. Depending on your drive, you may end the class with up to three characters (fully fleshed out or the skeleton/idea). Session One: students will bring three character pitches. We will use improv exercises to initiate character premises based on the pitches and participate in a pitch round table. Session Two (and beyond): we will perform first drafts and get notes. Students will have homework between every session (re-writes, punch ups, or a new/ or previously pitched character). By Session 4: you will decide on one character to take forward to the Grad Performance. Grad Performance: The last week meets twice for a Tech and the live performance.

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Remote Sketch Writing Level 2, 7/23

Multiple Session Classes

Thursday 7/23 – Thursday 8/27

Instructor: Matt Prigge

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. 

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Remote Intro to Stand Up: The Class, 7/5

Multiple Session Classes

Sunday 7/5 – Sunday 8/9

Instructor: Chris Griggs

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.

Register
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Remote Intro to Stand-Up: The Class 7/25

Multiple Session Classes

Saturday 7/25 – Saturday 8/29

Instructor: Chris Griggs

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.

Register
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Remote Small Group Life Coaching 7/14

Single Session Classes

Tuesday 7/14 7:00 pm

Instructor: Taren Sterry

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.

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Want to learn with an instructor just One on One? Check out our private coaching offerings below!

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).