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. Saturday, May 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; or Thursday, July 11, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Susie Sargent); Saturday, May 25, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or June 29, 2024, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Liz Baker); and Saturday, July 27, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (With Rebecca Stockley); $54

FOUNDATION SERIES CLASSES

In-Person Foundation 1: Mindset & Skillset. Thursday, April 4, 2024 to May 23, 2024  or Monday, April 29, 2024 to June 10, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (No class May 27, 2024 | With John Remak); Sunday, May 5, 2024 to June 16, 2024, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (No class May 26, 2024 | With Rebecca Stockley); Saturday, June 1, 2024 to July 6, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (With Mick Laugs); Tuesday, June 4, 2024 to July 9, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Stephanie Dennison); Thursday, June 20, 2024 to August 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (No class July 4, 2024 | With Brian Lohmann); and Tuesday, July 30, 2024 to August 14, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison & John Remak); $349

Online Foundation 1: Mindset & Skillset. Monday, April 8, 2024 to to June 3, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (No class May 27, 2024 | With Sage Simms) or Tuesday, July 2, 2024 to August 30, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (With Andy Sarouhan); $299

In-Person Foundation 2: Movement & Story. Tuesday, April 23, 2024 to May 28, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); Sunday, April 28, 2024 to June 9, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (With Mick Laugs); Thursday, May 16, 2024 to June 20, 2024 or Monday, June 17, 2024 to July 22, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With John Remak); and Sunday, June 23, 2024 to July 28, 2024, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Rebecca Stockley); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online Foundation 2: Movement & Story. Monday, June 17, 2024 to August 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (With Andy Sarouhan); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 3: Character & Relationship. Tuesday, March 26, 2024 to April 30, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Rez Graham);  Wednesday, June 5, 2024 to July 17, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (No class June 19, 2024 | With Laura Wachtel); and Sunday, June 23, 2024 to July 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (With Mick Laugs); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online Foundation 3: Character & Relationship. Thursday, May 9, 2024 to June 13, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (With Brian Jones); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 4: Scenework & Acting Skills. Tuesday, May 7, 2024 to June 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Rez Graham); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online Foundation 4: Scenework & Acting Skills. Thursday, July 11, 2024 to August 29, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (With Brian Jones); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 5: Narrative. Wednesday, April 24, 2024 to May 29, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Laura Wachtel); and Tuesday, June 18, 2024 to July 23, 2024 (With Dave Dennison); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Foundation 6: Performance Showcase. Wednesday, June 19, 2024 to July 24, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 5 and approval / access code from registrar@improv.org)

IMPROV GYM

Improv Gym: Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $140/month. (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

PERFORMANCE LABS

Online Performance Lab: Super Scene Performance Lab (With Zoe Galvez), Tuesday, April 23 to June 11, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (plus show dates); $449 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person Performance Lab: Green Pulp (With Brian Lohmann); includes performance showcase component; Thursday, May 2, 2024 to June 20, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (plus show dates); $449 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

IMPROV JAMS

In-Person: Family Improv Jam: Saturdays, May 4, 2024;  June 1, 2024; and July 6, 2024; 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (With Stephanie Dennison); $50

In-Person: Sunday Improv Jam: Sundays, May 5, 2024; May 12, 2024; May 19, 2024; May 26, 2024; June 9, 2024; June 16, 2024; June 23, 2024; June 30, 2024; July 7, 2024; July 14; 2024, July 21, 2024; and July 28, 2024; 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison | Derek Yee on June 16); $20 to $30

SPECIALTY SESSIONS

In-Person: Foundation Flashback For Advanced Improvisers. Wednesday; May 1, 2024 to June 5, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Basel Al-Naffouri); $249 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Shakespeare Intensive. Friday; May 17, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday; May 18, 2024 and May 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $324 (prerequisite: Foundation 5 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Noir Intensive. Saturday and Sunday; June 29 to June 30, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $229 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Screwball Comedy Intensive. Friday; July 26, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday; July 27, 2024 and July 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $299 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

KIDS, YOUTH & TEEN CLASSES & CAMPS

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

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

Beginning Youth Improv. (Grades Kindergarten to second, three to five, six to eight, and nine to 12, elementary / middle / high school) Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229.

Beginning Teen Improv. (Grades six to eight and nine to 12, middle / high school). Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $229.

In-Person Youth Summer Camps, June and July 2024. (All ages, Kindergarten, Grades one to five, six to eight, and nine to 12, middle / high school). Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $620.