improv comedy classes
core class series
about our core improv comedy class series
Discover the art of quick thinking and on-the-spot creativity in a supportive and friendly environment with our core improv classes (drop-in, basic, intermediate, and advanced). Whether it's a six week class or a weekend intensive, our classes are sure to be full of laughter, spontaneity, and endless fun.
“I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed everyone. The experience was one I won’t forget. Thanks for helping me learn and grow.”
“Fabulous and knowledgeable instructor!”
“The class was great and lots of fun. I became less fearful of improv and plan to continue learning.”
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This is a regular drop-in improv class where both the improv-curious and seasoned improvisers can and come hang out and learn fun games from a new instructor every month! Want to try your hand at improv without a long-term commitment? Our drop-in comedy classes are perfect! Join the Haus of Comedy instructors and learn some of the basics of improv comedy. No experience? No problem!
If you like what you see, sign up for our full comedy classes and get the full experience! -
During this class, students will learn to:
-Revisit and embrace the powers of playfulness and joy in a supportive environment
-Work collaboratively with scene partners to establish, contribute to, and sustain a shared reality through the power of “yes, and…” and "yes, because..."
-Frame “failures” or “mistakes” as opportunities rather than avoiding them
-Proactively and compassionately support their partners through listening, humility, and compassion
-Understand basic story structure and use it as a framework for building improv scenes
-Think outside the box, stretch creative thinking “muscles,” and practice thinking quickly on your feet
-Collaboratively justify any idea within the reality of an established scene
-Commit to ideas with your scene partner(s), even if it seems silly
-Convey emotions during a scene and explore spontaneous emotional reactions
-Construct basic scenes with others, including adding specific details to scenes
-Have fun and be gentle with yourself and others!
No prior experience is required for this class! Beginners welcome and encouraged. -
Students take a deeper dive into scene work and learn the skills it takes to build the perfect scene.
During this class, students will learn to:
-Review foundational/basic improv skills learned in Improv 101
-Understand best practices regarding boundaries and consent when improvising onstage and observe “ouch, oops”
-Incorporate storytelling tools and story structure into scenes
-Practice radical listening and staying present in scenes to provide support
-Implement different types of support onstage during scenes
-Create specific scenes by identifying the “who, what, where, and why” of each scene
-Do basic pantomime/space work in scenes
-Establish and raise the stakes on scenes to keep the audience engaged
Completing our Improv 101 class is recommended but not required. Students should have a knowledge of improv fundamentals. -
During this class, students will learn:
Strategies for bold scene starts that quickly harness the creative energy of the improvisers and ground them in emotion, physicality, location and relationships.
How to create focus in scenes through character desires and objectives.
How to keep conflict fresh and interesting through character actions and tactics.
How to bend time and space within a scene, allowing you to explore a single situation from various angles.
How to land the plane by sensing and initiating a satisfying end to an improvised scene.
Prepare for our next class level: Improv 401, Character Creation and Study
Have fun and be gentle with yourself and others!
Improv 101 and 201 or comparable experience/training. Students should have a grasp of foundational improv skills and scene work.
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During this class, students will learn to:
Learn to create, commit to, and sustain bold, specific characters
Create characters based on inspiration from real life
Master vocal, physical, and point of view of a character and utilize these points of articulation to create a unique character
Create "peas in a pod" and "opposite" characters in scenes
Understand status and objective in scenes
Match the energy of your scene partners' characters
Utilize acting techniques to portray genuine emotions from a grounded character
Prepare for our advanced study classes ("Long form essentials & styles" and "Narrative short form essentials & games")
Have fun and be gentle with yourself and others!
Improv 101 - 301 or comparable experience/training is required. Students should have a solid understanding of organic scene work.
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During this class, students will learn to:
Review improv skills learned in Improv 101 - 401
Review best practices regarding boundaries and consent when improvising onstage and observe “ouch, oops”
Learn different categories of short form improv games
Consistently implement improv and scene work skills to a solid foundation for challenging short form games
Reinforce the three act structure within short form scenes
Utilize characters in every scene
Master onstage and sideline support during games
Learn how to do a solid “set-up” scene for replay games
Learn tips and tricks to best showcase skills during different improv games
Completion of our Improv 101 - 401 classes is recommended, but not required. Students should have solid knowledge of organic scene work, establishing a shared reality (including who/what/where), character work, and other foundational improv skills to enroll.
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Our six week terms are designed for students who want to learn improv comedy skills in Sacramento and come to class on a weekly basis.
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Our weekend intensives are designed for busy improvisers who want to learn new improv comedy skills as quickly as possible! Classes take place over 2 days on the weekends in Sacramento.
what students are saying
“I can highly recommend this class for anyone. The class is taught superbly by Jessilee Windhaus, an experienced improvisor with a lot of experience teaching improv classes. You learn to visualize then express to an audience scenes from anywhere and anytime while also getting the audience to laugh. This was well worth the time invested and the cost of tuition. For me, the most fun was watching others in the class perform. There were a lot of ROFL moments!”
“Jessilee is amazing; the perfect mix of fun, focused and professional! It's a big challenge with amazing rewards!”
“Jessilee was great! I'm so happy to have had this opportunity. Her improv lessons were foundational to the beginnings of a successful improv future. I always felt comfortable and that I was able to express myself and try new things. I was able to step outside of my comfort zone and grow, which was my goal from the start. Very happy with the class!”
“A great opportunity to spend a relaxing time with good people, perform improv, and develop improv and public speaking skills.”
“This was the most fun I’ve had as an adult. Jessilee was super encouraging and got us all to be playful and creative in a way that kept me grinning for days.”
“Jessilee, was amazing. She really took the time to explain improv concepts and made sure we all had a safe space to learn and thrive. This was a completely new experience for me, and I'm so happy with my decision to attend.”
“I learned several useful techniques to unlock the hidden potential in scenes and characters.”
“Jessilee is an excellent instructor who has mastered the ability to both encourage and positively correct students in this crazy art of improv. Nearly all of the participants were completely new to improv and obviously did not know the 'rules.' Although there were many flubs, not once did we feel discouraged or chided; only encouraged in a supportive structure.”
meet your instructors
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Jessilee Windhaus (she/they)
A life-long resident of Sacramento, Jessilee Windhaus (she/they) brings over two decades of expertise in theatre and improv education and leadership. She holds a BA in Theatre from CSUS and is the Co-Founder and former Improv Program Director of Empire Arts Collective and the Founder of That Plus Chips live sketch and improv comedy troupe. Locally, Jessilee has performed at Sacramento Comedy Spot, STAB! Comedy, and ComedySportz Sacramento, where she served as the Director of the High School League program. She has trained with Upright Citizen's Brigade and The Groundlings and mentored young actors nationwide as a Tour Actor/Director with Missoula Children's Theatre. She currently works as a Teaching Artist at B Street Theater as well as CYT Sacramento, and an improv instructor and producer for Haus of Comedy, including serving as the director and coach of the improv group Sharks Barksley and Guess What?
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Andy Sarouhan (he/him)
Andy Sarouhan has been a professional improviser and improv instructor for 25 years. His improvisation journey began in 1992 when he joined his high school improvisation team. That event started a chain reaction that eventually resulted in a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside. From 2003-2019, Andy performed, directed, and coached extensively in San Francisco through BATS Improv, ImprovWorks, and Un-Scripted Theater Company. In 2019, he relocated to Sacramento and has been active in the local improvisation scene as an instructor at B Street Theatre and a performer and producer at STAB! Comedy Theater and Haus of Comedy, where he is a co-owner. For 15 years, Andy has taken the practices and philosophies of improvisation to settings outside the theatre, facilitating skill-building workshops and corporate role-playing experiences for countless professional entities, ranging from public school districts to Fortune 500, and pretty much everything in-between. The dude just likes his work!
