Intro to Improv - Intensive
Sat, May 16, 2026 @ 4:00 PM EDT + 1 more • Multiple prices
All Included Dates
Description
Please note that due to scheduling conflicts, we will only be able to offer our intensives a couple of times a year, so we encourage you to sign up early if it fits your schedule and you're interested! If you're interested in getting started with improv classes RIGHT NOW, we try to make it as easy as possible, and we encourage you to drop in to any weekly class!
Have you ever wanted to try out improv, but you're not sure where to start? Don't have the time to commit to our other improv classes because of scheduling conflicts? Sign up for this intensive Intro to Improv course!
Have you ever wanted to try out improv, but you're not sure where to start? Don't have the time to commit to our other improv classes because of scheduling conflicts? Sign up for this intensive Intro to Improv course!
This is a two-day course. Each session lasts 3 hours.
The course times and dates are listed above, so put them in your calendar!
Improv classes will teach you valuable communication lessons, introduce you to a new community, and bring out your inner social butterfly. By the end of this Intro to Improv course, you'll have a solid foundation of the skills necessary to be a successful improviser, and you'll be ready to move on to our workshops. In this course, you'll learn CONFIDENCE, LISTENING, AGREEING, and CREATING.
Who Should Take This Class?
In short, anyone who wants to improve their listening skills, think faster on their feet, be more present, and get comfortable with uncertainty. But a more-specific answer is below!
In short, anyone who wants to improve their listening skills, think faster on their feet, be more present, and get comfortable with uncertainty. But a more-specific answer is below!
- Shy and socially anxious people
- We provide a safe, supportive, and low-stakes environment to practice speaking up, being vulnerable, and connecting with others.
- Perfectionists
- Improv is all about accepting mistakes and using them as gifts ("There are no mistakes, only opportunities"). It forces you to be in the moment instead of overthinking.
- New-in-town residents
- Improv is a fantastic, fun, and unique way to meet new people and immediately establish a sense of camaraderie and trust.
- People who want to be funnier
- While improv doesn't strictly teach joke telling, it teaches the mechanics of comedy: finding the game, making connections, and commitment.
- Corporate professionals
- Improv will improve your public speaking, quick thinking during meetings, collaboration, and creative problem-solving under pressure. It's excellent for developing comfort with "failing fast" and pivoting ideas.
- Managers and team leaders
- Improv teaches active listening, validating others' ideas ("Yes, and..."), and fostering a collaborative, non-judgmental environment.
- Salespeople and negotiators
- Improv sharpens the ability to read people, think quickly to address unexpected objections, and build rapport instantly.
- Software engineers and designers
- Improv breaks down perfectionism and encourages rapid prototyping and iterating on ideas without fear of initial criticism, which is key in agile development.
- Actors
- Improv is fundamental for auditions, cold readings, quick character development, and general spontaneity. It makes scripted work feel more alive and natural.
- Writers
- Improv breaks through writer's block by forcing idea generation. It helps develop dialogue, strong character voices, and quickly establishing stakes/conflict.
- Musicians and artists
- Improv encourages creative risk-taking, breaking out of old patterns, and collaborating with others in a real-time, dynamic way.
- Podcasters and interviewers
- Improv improves your ability to listen deeply, ask thoughtful follow-up questions, and smoothly transition between topics.
If you're not ready to commit to this course right now, check out our other improv classes, or our Improv Jam! Or if you'd like to sign up, but time and circumstances don't allow for that right now, join our mailing list to find out when our next sessions will run!
Repetition and practice are good things in improv. So, if you've previously taken Intro to Improv and want to take it again, you can enroll in the class at half price! Contact us for your discount code.
Repetition and practice are good things in improv. So, if you've previously taken Intro to Improv and want to take it again, you can enroll in the class at half price! Contact us for your discount code.
This class is intended for students ages 18 and up. If you're a high school student looking to take improv, check out Intro to Improv for High School Students!
INSTRUCTOR, MICHAEL BRADT: Michael Bradt has been entertaining folks since birth, but formally as an improviser, comedian, actor, and instructor in the Chicago and northern Indiana area since the late ‘90s. He has produced, directed, and performed in thousands of comedy shows. In his youth, he won a stand-up competition organized by Dave Odd Productions by having more friends than any of the other comedians, which was the greatest win of all. Once, he heckled David Spade on the floor of a Vegas casino until Spade escorted himself out. Michael earned a B.S. in biochemistry a LONG time ago. He taught high school biology, chemistry, and physics before going back to law school and earning his J.D. (also, a LONG time ago). While he moonlights as a comedian, he established his own real estate law practice in 2010. After his first foray into owning an improv theater in the mid-2010s, Michael and his wife and forever scene partner Kelsey opened The Bit Theater in Aurora, Illinois in 2021 with the intention of providing a welcoming, inclusive community where creative people can create. During the course of his nearly quarter of a century in improv, Michael has produced countless shows and trained countless improvisers. In 2024, Michael and Kelsey sold the theater and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to be closer to family. Michael's passion for improv can't be tamped down, so he sought out opportunities to help grow the improv community of Fort Wayne. Michael's passion for improv can't be tamped down, so he's been seeking out opportunities to help grow the improv community of Fort Wayne ever since.
- We are a CASHLESS theater, so please prepare accordingly if you plan on getting a drink!
- Check out our FAQs for information on parking and more!
- Please add contact@fortwayneimprov.com to your email contact list in case we need to reach you with additional information.
- We have payment plans available for your convenience! At checkout, toggle the radio button if you'd like to utilize a payment plan.
- The class will start on time. If you need to be late, there's no need to apologize or explain. Please enter the space quietly and take a minute to arrive and take in what's going on. We'll incorporate you as soon as we can.
- Class registrations are subject to close approximately 24 hours before the start of the class, so please sign up early if you're interested!
- Registrations are final.
- For improv classes, please wear comfortable, season-appropriate clothes ready for light physical activity. Please wear comfortable footwear, as you will have activities during which you're standing (if able).
- The only thing you need to bring to class is a willingness to be brave and participate. We recommend bringing a water bottle and a notebook, if you want to take notes.
- Unless otherwise indicated in the class description, the class space opens at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your class time.
- By your participation in a class or workshop, you agree to our terms and conditions.
- We are always looking to make our curriculum more comprehensive, so if there's a course that you think will help you with your improv journey, please don't hesitate to contact our artistic director.
- All classes and workshops at the theater are contingent on a minimum number of student registrations. If we are not able to run a workshop or class, you will be given notice and a full refund as soon as practicable.
- Instructors are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts and restrictions.
- Our processing fees go directly to our ticket processing provider. We do NOT take a portion of the fee for ourselves.
- If you'd like to chat with our growing community, don't hesitate to join our Discord server! We are a welcoming bunch!
By your registration for a class, you are opting into communication from the theater about upcoming classes and shows. You may opt out of this communication at any time.
Location
1314 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805
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