Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture (FMCAC) resident group BATS Improv’s acclaimed School of Improv offers in-person and virtual online classes for adults, children, and teens. Adult classes cover many aspects of improv: games, exercises, scene work, character development, spontaneity, and more.

Adult classes range from three-hour introductory workshops to a complete series of Foundation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 classes, as well as Improv Gym, Performance Labs, Specialty classes, Learn @ Work, and Studio Scene Work classes. Children and teen in-person classes focus on Beginning Youth Improv for grades kindergarten through two, Beginning Youth Improv for grades three through five and six through eight, and Beginning Youth Improv for grades nine through 12 (teens).

PLEASE NOTE: This calendar event listing only includes classes taking place online or in-person at FMCAC. BATS also offers classes at other locations in Palo Alto, CA and in San Francisco’s Mission District. 

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS (Open to all adults 18 years and older)

In-Person: Intro To Improv. Saturday, November 19, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (With Will Gutzman); Thursday, December 15, 2022, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Suzie Sargent), $54.

Online: Intro To Improv. Saturday, December 3, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (With Andy Sarouhan), $35.

FOUNDATION SERIES CLASSES

In-Person Foundation 1 Intensive: Mindset & Skillset. Friday, December 2, 2022, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Basel Al-Naffouri & Dave Dennison) $299

In-Person Foundation 2 Intensive: Movement & Story. Friday, December 16, 2022, 6;00 p.m. to 9;00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, December 17 & 18, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Susie Sargent & Laura Wachtel); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 3: Character & Relationship. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 4: Scenework & Acting Skills. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 5: Narrative. Tuesday, November 29, 2022 to January 10, 2023, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. [No class December 27, 2022.] (With Laura Wachtel) $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 6: Performance Showcase. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 5 and approval / access code from registrar@improv.org)

IMPROV GYM

Improv Gym: Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates; $175/month (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

PERFORMANCE LABS

Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates.

IMPROV JAMS

In-Person: Family Improv Jam. Sunday, November 20, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. $25 to $50 (no prerequisites)

In-Person: All-Play Improv Jam. Sunday, November 27, 2022 & December 11, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; $25 (no prerequisites)

In-Person: Beginner’s Improv Jam. Sunday, December 4, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; $25 (no prerequisites)

In-Person: Musical Improv Jam. Hosted By Joshua Raoul Brody. Sunday, December 18, 2022, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $35 (no prerequisites)

SPECIALTY SESSIONS

In-Person: Musical Improv 101. Saturday, December 3, 2022, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (With Joshua Raoul Brody); $54. (no prerequisites)

In-Person: To Play Is The Thing. Saturday & Sunday, December 10 & 11, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (With Carrie Caudle & David Boyll); $129. (no prerequisites)

KIDS, YOUTH & TEEN CLASSES

In-Person Beginning Youth Improv. (Multiple classes for different ages and school grade levels). Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229