OUR PHILOSOPHY

We teach students how to say both F*CK IT and LOVE IT while creating comedy. F*CK IT means we are not going to take ourselves too seriously or beat ourselves up when we make mistakes. Mistakes are the way we get better, and the more stress we put on being perfect, the less relaxed and playful we’ll be. Once we get out of our own way, we learn to LOVE IT. This means we celebrate what you and your fellow players bring to the table. By holding both ideas in our head, we remember why we fell in love with comedy - one of the most wonderful things in the world - while not taking it too seriously.

We believe in community - we want you to find your lifelong friends in a space where nobody is cooler than anyone else. We’re all just a bunch of comedy lovers in Brooklyn having the god-damn time of our lives. Come join the party.

We believe in empowerment - we want you to get on our stages and hone your craft. We’ve found the best comedy comes from people who like each other creating together. Countless students have gone on to pitch us unique shows, and we actively look to elevate them with performance opportunities. Give us your most fun and dumb comedy, baby. Let’s go.

summer Intensives

Level 2

This class lays down our core philosophy: embracing a f*ck it / love it mentality, improvising from an emotional point of view, and creating surprising and specific choices.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Level 1 Improv or similar experience.

Level 3

Learn to stay out of your head while balancing it all. This class dives into the dynamics that make up group scene work, layering advanced improv technique on top of fearless play.  

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Level 2 Improv

Level 4

This culminating improv class will explore multiple improv forms to tease out the universally applicable skills highlighted by each form. This class ends in a 3-week run in the Eris Deep Space.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Level 3 Improv

advanced improv

These classes are designed for improvisers looking to further their training.

Prerequisite: BCC Improv Level 2 or equivalent.

Level 1

This class will introduce improvisers to creating fully formed narrative musicals on the spot. We will begin each class with various rhythmic, rhyming, and listening, exercises, then delve deep into each element of narrative structure.

Level 2

We'll be going deep into effective scene work, strategic gifting, complex song structures, confident characters, rapping and rhyming, nailing genre, improved musicality, and polished choreography.

Prerequisite: Completion of Musical Improv 1 or similar experience.

Have you always wanted to perform stand-up but don't know where to begin? In this class, we will breakdown how to get started writing a stand-up routine and finding your voice as a comedian.

This class is for anyone interested in learning the process of writing sketch comedy. Through improv, finding the “game” of a sketch, and writing characters we will polish sketches that will culminate in a staged class show.

Level 2

Learn how to write a sketch revue as an ensemble with a director. This is a process-driven experience, learning through the act of doing the thang by cranking out material on Day 1 and refining it over the course into a fully-realized thematic sketch show with two performances on the Mainstage.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Sketch 1 or equivalent experience.

CHARACTERS

Want to create a set for an SNL or JFL audition? Working on a solo show? Wanna post your character videos on TikTok and the rest? This workshop will teach you the skills needed to make your characters pop for both live performance and filmed content.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Sketch 1 or Improv 1 or equivalent experience.

5-WEEK CLASS

Level 1

Clown trains us to be fully present. Class curriculum includes exercises from Jacques Lecoq, Jean Taylor, Merry Conway, Nader Farman, Keith Johnstone and more, aiming to move us past ego and toward our shared humanity. Come on out, try on the red nose.

Level 2

In this class, we will learn that anything can be the clown's script. We will lean into the most vulnerable parts of yourself and heighten them to a ridiculous extent. By the end, you will have the tools to begin building your own clown show.

Prerequisite: BCC Clown Level 1 or equivalent clown experience.

Level 3

You’ve started getting laughs as a clown but now how do you do it six days a week and twice on Saturdays for an audience that’s never even heard of clowning? In this class, we’ll use the skills you’ve learned to create a fully realized thematic show, collaboratively created by the ensemble.

Prerequisite: BCC Clown Level 2 or equivalent experience.

There’s no gift like comedy.

This digital gift card can be applied toward any class, rental, or merch at the BCC (but not tickets to shows which are sold exclusively through our Eventbrite). This gift card never expires.

The BCC Diversity Scholarship is dedicated to providing access for marginalized voices who are unable to afford a comedy class.