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, 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, June 20, 2024 to August 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); and Tuesday and Wednesday, 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. 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. 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. Sunday, June 23, 2024 to July 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (With Mick Laugs) and Thursday, July 11, 2024 to August 15, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison); $349 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online Foundation 3: Character & Relationship. Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $299 (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)

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. 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 26, 2024 to July 31, 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:  Check BATS’ EventBrite page for updates. $449 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

IMPROV JAMS

In-Person: Sunday Improv Jam: Sunday; July 28, 2024; 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (With Dave Dennison); $20 to $30

SPECIALTY SESSIONS

In-Person: Great Performance Games. Monday; July 8 to 29, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With John Remak); $229 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Story Structure For Improv. Tuesdays, July 16, 2024 to July 30, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Rez Graham); $171 (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, 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.

SUMMER SESSIONS

In-Person: Story Menagerie: Improvising A Diverse Collection Of  Stories About People. Thursday to Sunday; August 1 to 4, 2024; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  (With Regina Saisi); $399 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Presence And Play. August 2 to 4, 2024; Friday, 6:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Zoe Galvez and Stephanie Dennison); $339

In-Person: Improvising Tennessee Williams. Sunday to Thursday; August 4 to 8, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (With Rebecca Stockley); $369 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: What I learned From Keith Johnstone. August 9 to 11, 2024; Friday, 6:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With William Hall); $327

In-Person: Acting And Narrative In Long Form. Friday to Sunday; August 9 to 11, 2024; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (With Rafe Chase); $310 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent, with long form experience, and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Dig Deeper. Monday; August 12, 2024; 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Lisa Rowland); $127 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Playful Mindfulness. Tuesday and Wednesday, August 13 and 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Ted DesMaisons and Jeanne Lambin); $289

In-Person: Musical Improv. August 15 to 18, 2024; Thursday and Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann and Joshua Raoul Brody); $429

In-Person — The Quest: Improv For Transformation. Thursday and Friday, August 15 and 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Jeanne Lambin and Ted DesMaisons); $289

In-Person: Acting In Improv Scenework. Thursday; August 22, 2024; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (With Rafe Chase); $105 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Boat Court. August 23 to 25, 2024; 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); $327 (prerequisite: Foundation 6 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

In-Person: Characters. August 26 and 27, 2024; Monday and Tuesday, 6:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m (With Regina Saisi); $169

In-Person: Dynamic Duos. August 30 to September 1, 2024; Friday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (With Tim Orr); $369 (prerequisite: Performance experience and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Actor Or Improviser? Tuesday; July 30, 2024 to August 27, 2024; 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., plus two showcases on August 27 and 29, 2024 (With Zoe Galvez); $289 (prerequisite: Foundation 3 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Ask Me Anything. Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (With Patricia Ryan Madson); $3

Online: Comedic Characters. Thursday; August 8, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $39 (prerequisite: Foundation 2 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Narration In Storytelling. Monday; August 12, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Jones); $39

Online: Improvised Hitchcock. Wednesday; August 14 and 21, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $78 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Puppetry. Monday; August 19, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Jones); $39 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Improvised Shakespeare. Thursday; August 22 and 29, 2024; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Lohmann); $78 (prerequisite: Foundation 4 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)

Online: Archetypes in Sitcoms. Monday, August 26, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (With Brian Jones); $39 (prerequisite: Foundation 1 or equivalent and approval/access code from BATS@improv.org)