One-off Improv, Musical Improv, Sketch, Character, Stand-up, Clowning classes & more - for you to try out our core curriculum + guest workshops from veteran artists such as Chris Gethard (THE CHRIS GETHARD SHOW), Eric Davis (RED BASTARD), Deanna Fleysher (KING OF DRAG), Sophie Zucker (THE CHAIR COMPANY) & more.
If a class is sold out, register for wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
Broken Box Mime Theater (BKBX) invites artists of all backgrounds to join in exploring the audience's imagination as medium. From the perspective of BKBX's unique brand of mime based in American narrative style, participants will look at body language, basic mime technique, staging metaphor, efficiency in storytelling, and devised process. How can precision, efficiency, and specificity in physical storytelling help to craft our comedy? Over the course of the series, students will craft mime pieces that will be shared in a final showing.
5-Week Class: Sundays, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, November 1st - December 6th, 2026
This class skips Sunday, November 29th for Thanksgiving week.
This class may end between 2:30 PM and 3 PM depending on enrollment.
You will receive a welcome email with your room assignment. Our classes meet at BCC Pig Pen or BCC DogHouse in East Williamsburg.
Class Show: 7:00pm. Sunday, December 6th. BCC Pig Pen (144 Boerum Street).
Teacher: Broken Box Mime Theater
Bio:
This course will be taught by a member of BKBX. Broken Box Mime Theater (BKBX) is a collaborative theater company that performs original work entirely through movement. Our mission is to activate the imaginations of our audiences, contemporize the art of mime, and remind us all of the power of simple storytelling. Based in Brooklyn and founded in 2011, our version of “mime, redefined” blends techniques of French pantomime, cinema, performance art, and contemporary theater. The artists who call BKBX their artistic home believe in making innovative, provocative theater that erases the spoken language barrier and champions the power of simplicity in performance.
Photo by Bjorn Bolinder
Student Testimonials:
Becky made everyone feel welcome and empowered to improve.
Becky was absolutely fantastic in every way!
Becky taught us so many tools and tricks to story telling through physical movement, while also being so fun and supportive!
Becky is such an incredible teacher! Too many strengths to pick one, but a couple that stand out are her unbridled enthusiasm for mime and her capacity to share that with others. She taught us that mime is grounded in trust between the audience and performer, and she brought that same ethos to class. She's the rare teacher who realizes that how you teach has a bigger impact than what you teach, and it's refreshing to be in an education space that starts from a foundation of embracing that we all learn in different ways, and that's great! There's a curiosity to Becky's teaching that's really encouraging - asking students what we want from the class, and adapting her style and lessons to suit us. Class felt like a team effort to learn and discover together. Despite her obvious deep knowledge of the subject, Becky's was still very clearly also interested in our experience and ideas - it made for a fantastic environment for creating and sharing work. Her obvious joy when something clicked for us was infectious. It's a welcome change from traditional education models where an 'expert' relays knowledge to students. Everything about her teaching style makes it clear she's as eager to keep learning and exploring as we are - no gatekeeping in site. Honestly, I think more teachers should take Becky's class to inform their own pedagogy!
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Workshop limited to 12 students.
Character. Persona. Perspective. POV.
These are all things many comedians discuss and debate, but what do they even mean? How do you identify your character? And, more importantly, how do you apply it to your act?
Comedian, Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central, JFL, HBO) will help you answer those questions in a specialized 2-day weekend intensive at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective.
A brief review of joke writing basics will steer into Baron’s one-of-a-kind exercises and techniques designed to help you identify your character, integrate those qualities into your material, and embed them into both your content and delivery with intention.
Through a combination of dialogue and intuitive feedback, Baron will bring you to a new understanding of how to approach your comedy that’ll feel like it was always there waiting for you to take it on vacation.
Prerequisite: You must be available both days of the workshop and have completed at least Stand-Up 1 at BCC or equivalent experience.
Workshop: Saturday, November 7th, 11:00am-3:00pm. Sunday, November 8th, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: Location will be sent to students in welcome email, class & show are at 137 Montrose Ave, 130 Graham Ave, or 144 Boerum Street
Teacher: Baron Vaughn
Bio:
As an actor, he's best known as “Bud”, sharing the screen with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on the longest-running hit Netflix series, Grace & Frankie. Baron lends his voice as "Tom Servo" in the recent seasons of cult-hit, Mystery Science Theater 3000. He's created and cohosted the Comedy Central showcase variety series The New Negroes with Open Mike Eagle. The show shined a light on both established and rising Black artists in comedy and music.
As a stand-up, Baron has been working for more than 20 years. He has two comedy recordings, Raised by Cable and Blaxistential Crisis, both available for streaming on all platforms. Baron's been showcased on Comedy Central's The Half Hour and The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, as well as on HBO's 2 Dope Queens, Showtime's SXSW Comedy, and TBS’ Conan. He’s hosted Syfy Wire's comedy panel/game show The Great Debate (SYFY). Baron's headlining performances at major clubs and colleges throughout the US have led him to perform at renowned festivals including Just for Laughs (Montreal & Vancouver), Life Is Beautiful (Las Vegas), and the New York Comedy Festival. Together with Open Mike Eagle, Baron has taken the live version of their showcase The New Negroes on tour to numerous festivals, clubs, and theaters across the country.
Baron has punched-up shows produced by IFC and Dreamworks, was selected for the inaugural 2016 Sundance New Voices Lab, and of course, wrote on both The New Negroes and MST3K. Baron’s directorial debut, the short film "So Much To Do" featuring Toni Trucks, can be seen in the horror anthology, Scare Package, on Shudder. Baron holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 16 students.
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. You are not judging whether you perform things correctly or whether you make mistakes. You are simply committed to doing what you are doing without worrying whether it is good or not. LOVE IT means you celebrate the whimsy, joy, and delight inherent in making shit up onstage. You remember why you fell in love with improv, one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. 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!
This class is designed for students new to BCC’s approach to improv.
Drop-in Classes: Thursday, October 29th, 7:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: BCC DogHouse, Studio #2 (137 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn)
Testimonials:
Andy is fully committed to helping you learn. His enthusiasm and focus during class helps you raise your own intensity and level of commitment so you come out of each class feeling like you grew as an improviser, teammate, and performer.
The level of enthusiasm and focus Andy brought was infectious. He also gave very detailed notes on scenes and could feel the effort he put in was above and beyond to help you learn.
Andy was really thoughtful in explaining all the different forms. As someone who isn't on a team, I always enjoyed class but struggled with shows, as I don't have as much practice editing and tagging in. He was really supportive in explaining everything I wasn't as familiar with, and allowed us to play around/go with the flow/not be too worried about sticking so stringently to the forms. Great at giving notes!
If a class is sold out, register for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 16 students.
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. You are not judging whether you perform things correctly or whether you make mistakes. You are simply committed to doing what you are doing without worrying whether it is good or not. LOVE IT means you celebrate the whimsy, joy, and delight inherent in making shit up onstage. You remember why you fell in love with improv, one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. 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!
This class is designed for students new to BCC’s approach to improv.
Drop-in Classes: Thursday, November 5th, 7:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: BCC DogHouse, Studio #2 (137 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn)
Testimonials:
Andy is fully committed to helping you learn. His enthusiasm and focus during class helps you raise your own intensity and level of commitment so you come out of each class feeling like you grew as an improviser, teammate, and performer.
The level of enthusiasm and focus Andy brought was infectious. He also gave very detailed notes on scenes and could feel the effort he put in was above and beyond to help you learn.
Andy was really thoughtful in explaining all the different forms. As someone who isn't on a team, I always enjoyed class but struggled with shows, as I don't have as much practice editing and tagging in. He was really supportive in explaining everything I wasn't as familiar with, and allowed us to play around/go with the flow/not be too worried about sticking so stringently to the forms. Great at giving notes!
If a class is sold out, register for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 16 students.
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. You are not judging whether you perform things correctly or whether you make mistakes. You are simply committed to doing what you are doing without worrying whether it is good or not. LOVE IT means you celebrate the whimsy, joy, and delight inherent in making shit up onstage. You remember why you fell in love with improv, one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. 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!
This class is designed for students new to BCC’s approach to improv.
Drop-in Classes: Thursday, November 12th, 7:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: BCC DogHouse, Studio #2 (137 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn)
Testimonials:
Andy is fully committed to helping you learn. His enthusiasm and focus during class helps you raise your own intensity and level of commitment so you come out of each class feeling like you grew as an improviser, teammate, and performer.
The level of enthusiasm and focus Andy brought was infectious. He also gave very detailed notes on scenes and could feel the effort he put in was above and beyond to help you learn.
Andy was really thoughtful in explaining all the different forms. As someone who isn't on a team, I always enjoyed class but struggled with shows, as I don't have as much practice editing and tagging in. He was really supportive in explaining everything I wasn't as familiar with, and allowed us to play around/go with the flow/not be too worried about sticking so stringently to the forms. Great at giving notes!
If a class is sold out, register for the wait list here.
Workshop limited to 14 students.
In this class you will learn how to take the basic fundamentals of improv and work with it to generate scenes, sketches, and characters that you can take and continue to shape. Starting with the core principles of good improv; yes, and, comedic game, and world-building (who, what, where), and combining that with a basic formula for sketch writing, you will be able to start from any base or premise and lead to a functioning scene on the spot.
The course will focus on the two main points of entry of improv-to-sketch that Joe and Eric have found great success in, answering questions and understanding formula. Learning how to spot moments that will lead to better improvised scenes that lead to sketch is a skill that will come from this workshop. The class will be split into two portions. The first of which Joe and Eric will dive into their points of improv-to-sketch, and the second will be active, asking participants to practice the skills and points discusses earlier in the class.
It is recommended that you have a bit of sketch and/or improv experience (classes, performances, writing alone in your basement) before you take this workshop, however it is not required.
If you are interested in learning how to create sketches from improv efficiently and consistently, then this workshop is for you!
Workshop: Sunday, November 22nd, 3:00pm-5:30pm
Where: BCC Pig Pen Theater (144 Boerum Street)
Teacher: Disco Horses
Bio:
"Disco Horses" is an absurd sketch comedy duo comprised of Joe Harrington and Eric Greenbaum. Fresh off of their run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where they received glowing reviews, this show is silly, high-concept, and surprisingly smart.
Eric was a member of the Second City’s Touring Company in Chicago and currently performs with UCB’s Betty and Joe is a sketch/character comedian in New York, notably performing on UCB’s Betty team and improv group Slop.”
Joe is a sketch/character comedian in New York. Together, they have performed at Austin Sketchfest, NYC Sketchfest, UCB, The IO Theater, The Annoyance Theater, Caveat, and many more. As a one-night-only show in NYC, "Disco Horses: A Sketch Revue" is a can't miss!
Together, they have performed at New York Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Flyover Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, DC Sketchfest, Philly Sketchfest, and much more! With shows selling out across the US and UK, Disco Horses is a silly little duo that you can’t miss!”
Read more student testimonials here.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 16 students.
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. You are not judging whether you perform things correctly or whether you make mistakes. You are simply committed to doing what you are doing without worrying whether it is good or not. LOVE IT means you celebrate the whimsy, joy, and delight inherent in making shit up onstage. You remember why you fell in love with improv, one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. 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!
This class is designed for students new to BCC’s approach to improv.
Drop-in Classes: Thursday, November 19th, 7:00PM - 9:30PM
Where: BCC DogHouse, Studio #2 (137 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn)
Testimonials:
Andy is fully committed to helping you learn. His enthusiasm and focus during class helps you raise your own intensity and level of commitment so you come out of each class feeling like you grew as an improviser, teammate, and performer.
The level of enthusiasm and focus Andy brought was infectious. He also gave very detailed notes on scenes and could feel the effort he put in was above and beyond to help you learn.
Andy was really thoughtful in explaining all the different forms. As someone who isn't on a team, I always enjoyed class but struggled with shows, as I don't have as much practice editing and tagging in. He was really supportive in explaining everything I wasn't as familiar with, and allowed us to play around/go with the flow/not be too worried about sticking so stringently to the forms. Great at giving notes!
If a class is sold out, register for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
Do you want to try out one single clown class? Have you been wondering what this joyful world is all about? Come to the drop-in class! In each class students will practice exercises from some of the greats (Lecoq, Conway, Johnstone) while working on taming their ego and bringing out their true inner clown. Come to just one class, come to all of them, do what your heart desires. This is the perfect place to get your feet wet and learn from the incomparable Hannah Mitchell.
All experience levels welcome.
Drop-in Class: Tuesday, November 10th, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM.
Where: BCC Pig Pen, Studio B (130 Graham Ave, Brooklyn)
Bio:
Hannah Mitchell is a performer, theater-maker, and educator whose process is guided by the improvisational arts, especially clown, bouffon & being a human with a body. She regularly collaborates with various ensembles to make new works, including with her clown company, WüfPak, and the experimental theater collective, CHILD. She’s performed at venues around NYC including The Public Theater, The Brick, The Collapsable Hole, Lincoln Center, LifeWorld, The New Ohio, Theater Mitu, HERE Arts, Target Margin, and The Brooklyn Comedy Collective, among others. And regionally/internationally she’s performed at The Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Bard SummerScape, Princeton Seuls en Scène, & The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
"It's you, of course, the clown. And that's important." -Nader Farman
What happens in a clown class? We introduce ourselves, we have a nice long warmup, our feet get squishy and our heads get floaty, we play with tennis balls and hats, we do group games and solo exercises, and we leave room at the end for questions. It’s active and exciting and my face hurts from laughing every time. You’ll probably leave with a new friend.
We're in an era of cognitive dissonance, hence all this clown talk. Absurd times call for an absurd response. Clown is antifascist and you are brave!
All experience levels welcome.
Class: Tuesday, November 3rd, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Where: BCC Pig Pen, Studio B (130 Graham Ave)
Bio:
Riley Soloner (he/him) is an actor, writer and clown living in Queens. As his character Vacation Jason, Riley has performed in venues across the country, on The Chris Gethard Show (TruTV) and for five straight days aboard The Norwegian Pearl for a cruise on which he was not booked to perform. Riley has performed in and produced comedy shows in New York City since 2008 for shows like Harold Night and Cage Match (UCB Theater), Xtremely Serious Wrestling (People’s Improv Theater) and C.L.O.N., (Manhattan Public Access TV). Riley grew up spending summers as a camper, counselor and teacher at Camp Winnarainbow, a Northern California circus arts summer camp for children of groovyhippies. Riley is excited to bring his eclectic mix of theatrical, circus, and humanitarian clown experience to the students of BCC!
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
"It's you, of course, the clown. And that's important." -Nader Farman
What happens in a clown class? We introduce ourselves, we have a nice long warmup, our feet get squishy and our heads get floaty, we play with tennis balls and hats, we do group games and solo exercises, and we leave room at the end for questions. It’s active and exciting and my face hurts from laughing every time. You’ll probably leave with a new friend.
We're in an era of cognitive dissonance, hence all this clown talk. Absurd times call for an absurd response. Clown is antifascist and you are brave!
All experience levels welcome.
Class: Tuesday, November 17th, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Where: BCC Pig Pen, Studio B (130 Graham Ave)
Bio:
Tallie is an educator, clown, director, and award-winning actor based in New York City. Screen credits include EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (A24) and BROAD CITY (Comedy Central) . They founded the ever-popular clown program at Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Tallie’s taught at NYU, Harvard University, Emerson College, the School of Visual Arts, and all over the country. Stage time includes Upright Citizens Brigade NY & LA, Second City NY, Caroline's on Broadway, MoMA PS 1, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and London's SoHo Theatre. Tallie has been featured in IndieWire, the LA Times and the Boston Globe. They're from Alaska.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Workshop limited to 16 students.
Do you sing in the shower? Do you irritate your pets and loved ones with silly lil songs? If you said yes, then this is the workshop for you! During this 2.5 hour crash course, musical improv veteran Ali Reed (Baby Wants Candy) will teach you to nail song structure, choreograph effective stage pictures, and apply improv fundamentals like yes-anding, game recognition and pattern building to MUSIC. Students will leave with the ability to improvise fully realized musical numbers and take center stage with unhinged New York CONFIDENCE, baby! Class is delivered in a high-energy, zero-pressure environment where all levels are welcome and no musical experience is required.
Workshop: Saturday, November 7th, 3:00pm-6:00pm
Where: BCC Pig Pen, Studio B (130 Graham Ave)
Teacher: Ali Reed
Musical Accompanist: TBD
Bio:
Ali Reed is an actor, improviser, producer and educator that dreams of bringing improvised musical theater to Broadway. She has toured globally with productions like Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, and Thrones! The Musical Parody, and performed Off-Broadway in Once Upon A Mattress and Blank! The Musical. Reed has regional credits nationwide and has played on house teams at The Upright Citizens Brigade, The Magnet Theater, and The PIT. A co-creator of Shitzprobe, she showcases Broadway stars in improvised musicals. Reed facilitates musical improv as an artist-in-residence at Carnegie Hall Ensemble Connect, Princeton University, The American High School Theatre Festival, and more. Currently, she performs in NYC with Baby Wants Candy, Shitzprobe, and Your Love Our Musical. Follow @alisreed.
Testimonials:
Ali is a phenomenal teacher. She is energetic, encouraging, and brings so much life to each class.
Ali always made us feel like she believed in us and this was very empowering. Even if she was giving a note it was given with so much love.
I really appreciate Ali’s kindness and passion. She’s so great at bringing the class together while being a natural leader. Her energy is infectious and I’d take a class with Ali again any day.
Read more student testimonials here.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
In this one-day introduction to physical comedy you will be exposed to a few elements of physical comedy vocabulary involving everyday objects, learning new skills that you probably didn't even know existed. With every skill we explore, we will immediately be searching for comedy applications involving character and situation as a stepping stone to creating material. From there we will go on to exploring gag structures such as the escalating gag, the visual gag, the 3-part gag, and the oblivious gag, Participants will get to work on short pieces together since the whole point of the workshop is the integration of technique with story and character. No particular skill level, body type, or background is needed to be in the workshop, which I hope will be useful and FUN for everyone.
Drop-in Class: Saturday, November 21st, 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM (with lunch break).
Where: BCC Mouse Trap (168A Johnson Ave, Brooklyn)
Bio:
John Towsen is a performer, teacher, author, and scholar specializing in physical comedy and clowning. He began performing at age seven on The Red Skelton Show alongside Red Skelton and Jackie Gleason, and is the author of Clowns: A Panoramic History. He holds a Ph.D. in Drama from NYU.
Towsen developed a college course in physical comedy at Ohio University and taught in the Acting Program at The Juilliard School for six years. His students have included Laura Linney, Andre Braugher, Jane Adams, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Michael Stuhlbarg. He served as a professor at Bloomfield College, retiring as Professor Emeritus, and has taught workshops internationally. He was artistic director of the New York International Festival of Clown-Theatre and founded the (Very) Physical Comedy Institute at Celebration Barn Theatre. He co-founded the NYC Physical Comedy Lab and continues to lead its ongoing weekly sessions in Brooklyn.
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.
Each class is limited to 14 students.
Clown: Body, Mask & Gag
Dive into the world of Commedia dell’Arte, exploring iconic archetypal characters and the comic timing and rhythm of the traditional lazzi (stage gags). Through working in half-masks, you'll learn how to expand your physicality and amplify your stage presence—building a foundation of big, clear movement that translates directly to modern clowning, improv, and physical theatre.
All experience levels welcome.
5-Week Course: Wednesdays, 7:00 PM - 10:00PM, October 21st - November 18th, 2026
This class may end between 9:30 PM and 10:00PM depending on enrollment.
You will receive a welcome email with your room assignment. Our classes meet at BCC Pig Pen or BCC DogHouse in East Williamsburg.
Class Show: Thursday, November 19th. 7:00pm. Eris MainStage (167 Graham Ave).
Teacher: Anya Opshinsky
If this class is sold out, sign-up for the wait list here.