Have you always wanted to try comedy writing, but have little or no experience? Are you constantly coming up with funny ideas, but never manage to write them down? Are you looking for a new creative outlet, but think to yourself, "I'm not funny?" The truth is, anyone can write great comedy, the trick is to just get started.

This introductory four-week course uses the foundations of improv comedy to build creativity, confidence, and enthusiasm for our own writing. Learn the fundamentals of comedic premise writing, game, and the structure of the writer's room in a supportive, collaborative environment. 

Class Day and Time:

Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Class Dates:

June 24, 2018

July 1, 2018

July 8, 2018

July 15, 2018

Cost: $125

About the Instructor: Brenna Harvey is a writer and comedian living in Hartford, Connecticut. She has studied comedy with the Upright Citizen's Brigade, Sea Tea Improv, and Improv Boston. She teaches improv and sketch comedy with Sea Tea Improv and writes and performs sketch comedy with the New England-based sketch troupe Sunny's Cafe. She has been a contributing writer and producer for many of Sea Tea Improv's original sketch comedy shows, including Jurassic Park: The Lost Jokes, (We Really Like) The Lord of the Rings, and the Humbug Holiday Sketch Show. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and sociology and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Connecticut. She is an instructor in sociology and women's studies at the University of Connecticut and the University of Hartford. Her short fiction has been published in OMGQueer, Theories of HER, The Long River Review, and Wizards in Space.

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our education policies: Education Policies

Improv Storytelling Fundamentals with Claire Zick

This workshop will cover all the key elements of creating and sustaining long-form improvised stories as seen in my shows like An Improvised 80s Teen Movie and An Improvised Disaster Film. These fundamentals are the core skills needed to build and sustain a 75-90 minute improv show - whether it is an improvised movie genre, play style, art piece, or TV show.

Learn how to set up key relationships, foreshadow, follow a protagonist, find your ending and create a story that actually makes sense.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

In “The Set List,” Sea Tea Improv will teach you how to play the games you know (and many you don’t) to the very best of your ability.

Root out the games within the game, and play to the top of your intelligence no matter if you’re speaking in gibberish, mime, poorly translated Russian, or alphabetical order. We’ll apply advanced scenework techniques to simple games to find the perfect blend of short-form styles and practical theatrical concerns (is there conflict? How’s your stage presence looking?).

Make bolder choices, do better scenes, and walk away with a greater understanding of how to have the most fun while using the best part of your brain. Lots of personal feedback in every class. Bring your own strengths and style to short-form games: that’s the goal.

Class Dates:

Mon., July 9, 2018

Wed., July 11, 2018

Mon., July 16, 2018

Wed., July 18, 2018

Mon., July 23, 2018

Wed., July 25, 2018

Mon., July 30, 2018

Wed., August 1, 2018

Class Share: August 5, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Sea Tea Comedy Theater

Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 201

Cost: $225

About the Instructor: Brenna Harvey is a writer and comedian living in Hartford, Connecticut. She has studied comedy with the Upright Citizen's Brigade, Sea Tea Improv, and Improv Boston. She teaches improv and sketch comedy with Sea Tea Improv and writes and performs sketch comedy with the New England-based sketch troupe Sunny's Cafe. She has been a contributing writer and producer for many of Sea Tea Improv's original sketch comedy shows, including Jurassic Park: The Lost Jokes, (We Really Like) The Lord of the Rings, and the Humbug Holiday Sketch Show. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and sociology and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Connecticut. She is an instructor in sociology and women's studies at the University of Connecticut and the University of Hartford. Her short fiction has been published in OMGQueer, Theories of HER, The Long River Review, and Wizards in Space.

All Sea Tea Improv courses & workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Improv is for everyone! Whether you've got dreams of being a comedian, you want to strengthen your public speaking skills, or you're just sick of your board game collection, improv can help!

In this class, students will learn the basic techniques and games that professional improvisers and comedy writers use to collaboratively discover fun ideas, characters, and scenes. You'll work in teams, so you'll never be left hanging alone. Our number one rule is "make your partner look good," so come try improv in a supportive, no-pressure environment, and learn from a professional improviser!

Class Day and Time:

Mondays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Class Dates:

July 9, 2018

July 16, 2018

July 23, 2018

July 30, 2018

Cost: $125

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our education policies: Education Policies

Learn to create completely improvised comedy scenes and characters by working with others!

Students in this class will learn to really listen to their scene partners, add interesting specifics & details, and progress & expand improvised scenes. We'll use short, fast-paced improv games to learn to act quickly and spend less time worrying about making the perfect move. Invent and inspire rich and consistent characters, and learn to create a playable environment with just miming. This course ends in a share performance for an invited audience at Sea Tea Comedy Theater.

Class Day and Time: Tuesdays & Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Class Dates:

Tue., July 10, 2018

Thu., July 12, 2018

Tue., July 17, 2018

Thu., July 19, 2018

Tue., July 24, 2018

Thu., July 26, 2018

Tue., July 31, 2018

Thu., August 2, 2018

Class Share Performance: August 2, 2018 at 7 p.m. at Sea Tea Comedy Theater

About the Instructor: Laura Manasewich is the Associate Artistic Director at Sea Tea Comedy Theater. She has performed with Sea Tea all over the northeast and beyond. Laura has trained at Hartford Stage and Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. She's also studied with Improv Boston, Second City and Gotham Writers Workshop. Laura is a regular performer and contributor to sketch comedy at Sea Tea. Laura hosts the monthly CT Improv Mixer and produces the monthly stand up showcase. Laura is an instructor for Sea Tea Improv. She's taught everything from Intro to the performance-level Monoscene class. Her self-deprecating bits can be followed on Twitter @SassyMzManassy. She follows back.

Prerequisites: None, though students with no performance experience may prefer to take one of our 4-week Intro to Improv classes before taking Improv 101.

Cost: $225

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our education policies: Education Policies

Introduction to Personal Storytelling

Ira Glass of This American Life says, “Great stories happen to people who know how to tell them.” Do you want to get better at captivating listeners?

Whether you want to tell your story on stage, in a business meeting, or with your grandchildren on your lap, storyteller Terry Wolfisch Cole will teach you skills to engage any audience.

Terry is a Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion. Her story of running away from home was featured on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR and in Readers Digest. She is the founder of Tell Me Another: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories, a storytelling show in the Hartford area.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

• “Have You the Lion’s Part Written?”
• “You May Do It Extempore for it is Nothing but Roaring.”

Students will learn to perform an hourlong improvised play in the style of William Shakespeare, and in the process open up styles, genres, and characters for all types of long and and short form improv.

Focuses will include improvising in language that isn't your own (Early Modern English), committing to dramatic and poetic flourishes, exploiting genre and narrative tropes for comedic effect, and giving voice to the interior lives of the clowns, kings, and starcrossed lovers who populate the canon.

Students will be expected to devote some time outside class to viewing and reading source material.

Course will end with a performance at the Sea Tea Comedy Theater.

Class Day and Time:

Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Class Dates:

July 10, 2018

July 17, 2018

July 24, 2018

July 31, 2018

August 7, 2018

August 14, 2018

Class Performance: TBD

Prerequisites: Completion of Improv 301, Improv 302, or instructor approval.

Cost: $175

Instructor: Patrick McGuire

All Sea Tea Improv courses & workshops are subject to our education policies: Education Policies

The great improviser Jason Mantzoukas once said, "80% of Improv is owning the stage." He's right-- no matter how good your ideas are, you need to conduct yourself onstage with the confidence and presence of a professional actor, from the moment you enter the stage to the moment you exit. In this workshop you will receive NO feedback on your ideas, characters, games, or jokes. We will explore and drill, with lots of personal feedback: using your voice, body, and movements to command the stage. We'll work on hosting, being on the back line, and stage presence in scenes. Everyone will receive personal feedback on their mindless habits, their projected attitudes, and anything else we discover about your personal stage presence. Come kick your performance to the next level.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Did you know there is a band that produced more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and the Beatles combined? The Funk Brothers are a group of studio musicians who performed on Motown records from 1959 to 1972. Without their music and support there is no way we would be singing "My Girl" in the shower this many years later.

Improv has the same need for support!!! Is a scene stuck? A support move can unstick it! Are your teammates a little confused on the game of a scene? A support move can clarify and simplify a murky game! Maybe your scene needs scenery, sound effects, or even special effects! SUPPORT MOVES TO THE RESCUE!

This workshop will focus on identifying when a support move can help a scene without stealing focus. We will learn different types of support moves, how to perform these moves and (maybe most importantly) how to get out of the scene without disruption. Support moves can be the most fun and exciting parts of improv scenes. Come join us and learn how to support your scene partners!

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

In this workshop, students will work to create interesting, engaging, and dynamic improv shows by varying the energy, emotion, style, and shape of their improv scenes! Think of this as improv comedy ballistic training: Students will be challenged to make bold choices quickly to grow a larger range of artistic motion. Recomended for advanced improvisers who are looking to push themselves out of their comfort zones and break habits.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Introduction to Personal Storytelling

Ira Glass of This American Life says, “Great stories happen to people who know how to tell them.” Do you want to get better at captivating listeners?

Whether you want to tell your story on stage, in a business meeting, or with your grandchildren on your lap, storyteller Terry Wolfisch Cole will teach you skills to engage any audience.

Terry is a Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion. Her story of running away from home was featured on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR and in Readers Digest. She is the founder of Tell Me Another: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories, a storytelling show in the Hartford area.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Do you find your scenes devolving into arguments and you're unsure how to get out? Do you find yourself constantly playing characters with a generally sour disposition? Or do you just need a reminder that this whole crazy thing is supposed to be fun? You need Positivity in Improv!

Learn how to keep your scenes upbeat and interesting while understanding how to best utilize your own personal strengths. Chances of walking away with an excitedly delivered individualized compliment from Allie Rivera: 100%

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Do you want to take your storytelling skills to the next level?

In this workshop, Tell Me Another producer Terry Wolfisch Cole will work with you to craft your story into a piece ready for performance at any storytelling show.

Terry is a Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion. Her story of running away from home was featured on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR and in Readers Digest. She is the founder of Tell Me Another: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories, a storytelling show in the Hartford area.

Please come to class ready to tell your 6-minute story and receive feedback.

This session is limited to 10 students.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Personal Storytelling, or permission of the instructor.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Are you stumped by how your favorite improvisers create fun scenes so quickly? Do you find that you and your scene partner are JUST missing each other, like ships passing in the night?  Are you excited to jump on the first weird thing, so you get more time to play with it?  Come work the muscles that will allow you to find the game of the scene...fast!

This isn't cheating or magic!  There are techniques to help get you and your partner on the same page quickly, agree with what's weird or interesting, and get off to the races.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

Introduction to Personal Storytelling

Ira Glass of This American Life says, “Great stories happen to people who know how to tell them.” Do you want to get better at captivating listeners?

Whether you want to tell your story on stage, in a business meeting, or with your grandchildren on your lap, storyteller Terry Wolfisch Cole will teach you skills to engage any audience.

Terry is a Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion. Her story of running away from home was featured on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR and in Readers Digest. She is the founder of Tell Me Another: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories, a storytelling show in the Hartford area.

===

All Sea Tea Improv courses and workshops are subject to our Education Policies: Education Policies

The page displays the next 50 events we've got coming up. Sometimes we've got more than that! Hit up our theater listings to see everything currently posted.