Come learn the art of make-em-ups with expert instructors. We teach a fearless, fun, and unique approach that will help you say “f*ck it” to fear, and in turn “love it” as a way of accessing your most playful and realized self. Whether you want to loosen up as a person or become a working comedian, our classes help you become the most badass version of yourself onstage.

This intro class teaches you what the BCC’s approach to improv is all about - how to say both FUCK IT and LOVE IT while performing. FUCK IT means you don’t worry about the outcome or result of your efforts. LOVE IT means you celebrate the whimsy, joy, and delight inherent in making stuff up onstage. Learn to hold both of these ideas in your head at the same time and create fearless, fun, and dumb improv.

If you are new to improv, this workshop will set you up for a fearless way to begin learning. If you are an experienced improviser, this workshop will introduce you to a new philosophy of improv that is different than other improv schools in NYC. Either way you will be challenged and motivated!

full-length CLASSES

All classes end in a class show for the public.

This class will introduce new improvisers to the value of saying “Yes, and” to every idea (especially their own) to become joyful, fearless, and bold performers. Through games and exercises this class will teach students to react emotionally and honestly, to trust your gut, to support scene partners and embrace taking risks. These skills are essential to successful improvisation! Whether you want to be a performer or try out a class to meet new people, this class is bound to boost your confidence and creativity in a safe and supportive environment.

Love what’s happening onstage and you’re bound to have fun and fearless improvisation. This class will help remind you what you love about improv, slap you out of whatever may be holding you back, and cut out the naysaying voices in your head. We will look at how we sometimes bail on our choices out of a fear of making the “right or wrong choice" and to instead approach improv with a "fuck it / love it" mentality (because improv is one of the most wonderful things in the world if you don't treat it too seriously). This class encourages your artistic freedom with methods to initiate scenes with an emotional point of view, to be specific and surprising in your choices, to support your scene partner, and to confidently navigate the vocabulary and concepts of long-form improv. This class will move quickly, keep you on your feet, and challenge you with personal feedback.

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

This class builds on the skills in Level 2, teaching students to be versatile ensemble players who can build long-form pieces organically while keeping the show and audience's experience in mind. By layering more complicated improv techniques and awareness onto already fearless play, students will learn how to authentically ground characters so they feel believable and use curve balls to keep scenes surprising. We’ll explore the dynamics that make up three-person and group scenes and how to augment and balance multiple points of focus onstage. In addition, this class will encourage you to lean into the areas you shy away from and own what makes you unique as a performer through personal notes and individual challenges. And we’ll learn to stay out of our heads while balancing it all.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Level 2 Improv (no exceptions)

This culminating improv class will explore multiple improv forms, focusing on a different one each week, some commonly seen (though not “the Harold,” that’s covered in an elective workshop), and some more experimental and unique. We will dive beyond basic structure, and tease out the universally applicable skills highlighted by each form. Through this exploration of different forms, we'll examine the basic structure of a show, and seek to understand how to build a unified piece, vs a collection of scenes. This class culminates in a 3-week run at BCC.

Prerequisite: Completion of BCC Level 3 Improv (no exceptions)

MUSICAL IMPROV

Learn the art of making up a musical on the spot. Musical improv classes at BCC are taught at an accelerated pace compared to other schools. You will be performing a fully formed narrative musical by the end of class. Taught by veteran musical improvisers from Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, Shitzprobe & more.

You already know how to improvise, but to music? YES YOU CAN! This class will introduce improvisers with at least 1 level of experience how to create 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. Students will learn how to create strong protagonists, antagonists, charm scenes, and finales, while building a toolbox of musical techniques including fugues, and of course classic chorus-verse structures. Strong singing voices are not required! Just a willingness to unleash your inner diva in a joyful and supportive atmosphere.

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

After Level 1, you will have learned all the basic tools you need to do musical improv. Level 2 will delve more deeply into technique to fine tune your skills. 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. This class will push you to grow and prepare you for higher quality shows, all while having tons of silly fun. 

Prerequisite: Completion of Musical Improv 1 at BCC (no exceptions).

In Musical Improv 301, we’ll spend the first 5 classes continuing our skill-building including narrative moves, interview-based songs, finding humor in difficult content, improving harmonies and musicality, walk-ons, and rap battles. Throughout these classes, the students will be asked to think about and devise a pitch for a musical show, which can be a traditional form or an original one. The next 2 classes will give students an opportunity to workshop their original idea for the public, followed by director notes and class-driven analysis to help diagnose issues, ask questions, and strengthen our collective instincts. The class will culminate with a MainStage show, for which students will be expected to come up with a show title, theme/hook, poster, and marketing plan to prepare them for producing their own original shows going forward! 

Prerequisite: Completion of Musical Improv 2 (no exceptions).

TESTIMONIALS

“My 7 weeks of classes at the BCC were the highlight of my week, every week, and certainly the best way to meet people in New York."

"The class has a punk rock feel that will make you a better improviser and more insane, the right kind of insane."

"I learned that my passion for improv is utterly normal and...me want more improv. :-)"

"My first ever foray into improv and it was unforgettable."

"I've been improvising for more than a decade, but never thought I could do musical improv. BCC's class gave me the tools and the confidence to do something I never thought I could do!"