Improv Classes

In this fun and exciting interactive process, you will gain self-confidence, sharpen your communication skills, and learn the type of teamwork necessary to create something original and brilliant from scratch. Right from the start, our students are on their feet exploring hilarious exercises and skill-driven games in an incredibly supportive and fun environment under the guidance of our caring and experienced faculty,

Unexpected Productions’ teachers instruct the basics of improv, which are not only useful to improvisers, but to anybody wanting to work with others, as a member of a team, as an effective communicator, as a good listener, or simply as a friend!

All 100-600 classes are for ages 18+. Get ready to:

• Discover the joy of spontaneous storytelling
• Conquer fears
• Improve your job skills
• Spark creativity
• Meet people/make new friends
• Become a better listener
• Be a better problem solver
• HAVE A BLAST

Our celebrated education program is the most established improv school in the region. We host classes online. We offer 6 levels of classes with 4 quarters a year. We also offer specialty improv classes, storytelling, sketch and stand-up comedy classes from renowned teachers from around the globe.

Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater

1428 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101

The Improv School – Georgetown Studios

650 South Orcas, Suite 101
Seattle WA 98108

Stage-Worthy Personal Stories with Kent Whipple Starting 1/4

Unleash your inner storyteller and captivate your audience, whether it’s in a professional setting, among friends and family, or on stage. Gain confidence and bring your stories to life. Share your unique narrative and make a lasting impression.

Learn the power of personal storytelling and the art of vulnerability in this fun 8-week class. Develop relatable, engaging, and entertaining personal stories from your life experiences. The workshop explores the art of oral storytelling, including story creation, enhancement, and presentation. You’ll learn simple, practical story guidelines and step-by-step tools to create honest and incredible stories.

Kent Whipple, founder of the storytelling program at Unexpected Productions Improv School, is the instructor. He teaches intro and advanced classes, is the narrative coach for the improv ensemble, and hosts Inside Story, a storytelling show. He was also featured on the PBS show Stories from the Stage, which showcases the power of real stories told by masterful storytellers.

This workshop is suitable for novice storytellers or for enhancing the skills of a seasoned performer. Attendance at the first session is mandatory, as it sets the agenda for the entire class. Please ensure you are vaccinated and bring proof of vaccination to show your instructor at your first class.

Skills taught in class include successful storytelling techniques, identifying story arcs, creating story stakes, identifying story-worthy material, and gaining audience trust. The objective is to create a stage-worthy story to be presented in front of a live audience.

Dates: Eight (8) Saturdays. 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm,

NOTE: Attendance at the first session of your course is mandatory as it sets the agenda for the entire quarter. If you think you will have to miss the first class, please consider registering for the next time the class is offered.

Location: Market Theatre 1428 Post Alley Seattle 98101

Maximum Students: 12

Cost: 285.00 ($297.13 including fees)

Prerequisite: None

Ages: 18+

Improvised Shakespeare Workshop Level 2, Starting 1/5

Continue in the world of the Elizabethan theatre with Alan Hawkins in this Shakespeare Workshop Level Two. This workshop will continue where you left off in the first workshop, exploring the techniques and approaches that will help you paint with all the colors of the world’s most recognized playwright. Students will perform in a Student Showcase the next night, Monday, Jan 6, at the Market Theatre at 7pm 1428 Post Alley 98101.

Improvise scenes, perform monologues and play games based on the exercises in this workshop.

Date: Sunday, 1/5
Time: 10:30 – 3 pm with a half-hour lunch
Location: 5700 6th Ave S Suite 109, Seattle, WA 98108
Maximum Students: 16
Cost: $130.00
Prerequisite: Alan’s previous Shakespeare Workshop
Showcase: Monday, 1/6 at 7 pm at the Market Theater
Location: 1428 Post Alley Seattle 98101

Teacher Bio: Alan Hawkins Improviser/Teacher/Facilitator
Alan Hawkins is an improviser from Los Angeles and Chicago. He has performed, directed, and taught theater and improv since 2004. Alan graduated from The Second City Conservatory, The Second City Musical Conservatory, The iO West Program, The Chicago ComedySportz Training Center, and The Annoyance Program. He has been fortunate enough to participate in many festivals across the US with the three-man group Extra Shelves and has been a guest player with Grand Theft Improv in London, UK. He was also an instructor and director for the Teen Comedy Festival in Chicago. Alan is an ensemble member of Unexpected Productions, the longest-running Theatresports theater in America.

NOTE: Please note that this class has a great deal of movement and action. Please dress accordingly and bring a bottle of water.

Sketch Comedy Writing Through Improvisation with Joe Guppy, Starting 2/2

Discover the art of writing comedy through engaging improv games, instructed by the Emmy-award-winning comedy writer Joe Guppy. This course teaches fundamental improv techniques and how to create a comedic foundation. Students will gather around a writer’s table of support and encouragement, where they’ll learn to rewrite with a focus on story structure. Additionally, we’ll examine scenes from popular TV shows like Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, and Almost Live. This course is ideal for aspiring and experienced improv performers, actors, comedy and screenwriters, and playwrights. The class concludes with a writer’s showcase.

Skills offered in class: Fundamentals of comedy writing, basic scene improvisation, story structure, rewriting, and how to create a comedy premise.

Date: 8 Mondays
Time: 7:00 – 9:30
Location: Unexpected Productions Georgetown Studio, 650 South Orcas St Suite 101, Seattle 98108 The last class will include a showcase performance in the last hour of class.
Maximum Students: 12
Cost: $300.00
Prerequisite: None
Age: 18+

Teacher Bio: Joe Guppy, M.A., won 8 Emmys and a Writers Guild award for comedy writing and performing. He’s a former head writer/cast member for the Seattle comedy show Almost Live, which ran for 15 seasons on KING-TV5, with two runs on Comedy Central. Joe is a founding member of Seattle TheatreSports and has written television scripts in Los Angeles for directors John Landis (Blues Brothers, Animal House) and Blake Edwards (Pink Panther). He’s taught fiction and scriptwriting at Seattle University and is an experienced group leader.

Improvised Shakespeare Workshop Level 3, Starting 2/2

In this Shakespeare Workshop Level Three with Alan Hawkins, students will deepen their understanding of Elizabethan theatre techniques, building on the skills developed in earlier workshops. This advanced class will explore more complex elements of Shakespearean language, character development, and the art of improvisation within the Bard’s world, empowering students to fully inhabit the rich tapestry of his plays. By the end of the workshop, participants will showcase their progress in a live improvised performance, bringing to life an entire Shakespearean story in front of an audience at the Market Theatre on Monday, February 3, at 7 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to perform in the spirit of Shakespeare and test your skills in a true theatrical setting!

Improvise scenes, perform monologues and play games based on the exercises in this workshop.

Date: Sunday, 2/2
Time: 10:30 – 3 pm with a half-hour lunch
Location: 5700 6th Ave S Suite 109, Seattle, WA 98108
Maximum Students: 12
Cost: $130.00
Prerequisite: Alan’s previous Shakespeare Workshop Level 1 and 2
Showcase: Monday, 2/3 at 7pm at the Market Theatre
Location: 1428 Post Alley Seattle 98101

Teacher Bio: Alan Hawkins Improviser/Teacher/Facilitator

Alan Hawkins is an improviser from Los Angeles and Chicago. He has performed, directed, and taught theater and improv since 2004. Alan graduated from The Second City Conservatory, The Second City Musical Conservatory, The iO West Program, The Chicago ComedySportz Training Center, and The Annoyance Program. He has been fortunate enough to participate in many festivals across the US with the three-man group Extra Shelves and has been a guest player with Grand Theft Improv in London, UK. He was also an instructor and director for the Teen Comedy Festival in Chicago. Alan is an ensemble member of Unexpected Productions, the longest-running Theatersports theater in America.

Why Improv for Teens? In Youthprov, students learn the fundamentals of good improvisation through games and exercises. The games are fun and entertaining but they are also a creative process that encourages support, active listening being present, and intelligent risk-taking on and off the stage.
We help teens build self-confidence, public speaking ability, and cooperation all while having a blast! Our classes boost our student’s confidence, curiosity, and creativity.

Improv teaches us to accept mistakes as gifts and communicate thoughts and ideas more effectively. AND, LIKE WE MENTIONED… IT’S FUN!

The focus is on creating ensemble work in a safe, supportive, and fun environment. Students have a blast, make friends and gain incredible life skills.

Students take classes to:
• Improve listening skills
• Improve their public presentation skills
• Gain amazing teaming skills
• Overcome shyness
• Build confidence
• Improve communication skills
• Think on their feet
• Take intelligent risks
• Come out of their shell
• Have a safe place to take risks