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 Kids Improv for grades kindergarten through two, Beginning Youth Improv for grades three through five and six through eight, and Beginning Teen 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. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $54.

FOUNDATION SERIES CLASSES

In-Person Foundation 1: Mindset & Skillset. Wednesday and Thursday, November 29, 2023 to December 14, 2023, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison and Will Gutzman); $349

Online Foundation 1: Mindset & Skillset. Monday, December 4, 2023 to February 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) (No class Monday, December 25, 2023 and January 1, 2024, With Andy Sarouhan); $299

In-Person Foundation 2: Movement & Story. Tuesday, November 14, 2023 to December 19, 2023, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Suzie Sargent); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 3: Character & Relationship. Sunday, November 5, 2023 to December 10, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 4: Scenework & Acting Skills. Thursday, October 26, 2023 to December 7, 2023, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (No class November 23, 2023 | With Rez Graham); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 5: Narrative. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

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

Online Foundation 6: Performance. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $299 (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. $449 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

IMPROV JAMS

In-Person: All-Play Improv Jam: Sunday, December 10, 2023, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (With Rez Graham); and Sunday, December 17, 2023, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (With Benny Garcia); $30 to $80

SPECIALTY SESSIONS

In-Person: Acting For Improv. Wednesday, November 29, 2023 to December 20, 2023, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Laura Wachtel); $229 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Family Drama Intensive. December 8, 2023 to December 10, 2023, Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Song 101. Saturday, December 16, 2023, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (With J. Raoul Brody); $54 (no pre-requisites)

Online: Hallmark Holiday Movies. November 7, 2023 to December 12, 2023, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (With Zoe Galvez); $269 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

KIDS, YOUTH & TEEN CLASSES

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

Beginning Kids Improv. (Grades Kindergarten to second) Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229.

Beginning Youth Improv. (Grades three to five) Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229.

Beginning Youth Improv. (Grades six to eight). Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229.