What's Coming Up?

Click the link below each adult course listing for a description and teacher bio(s). Looking for Youth Classes? Go here.

CSz Improv Can Make an Impact on Your Life.

CSz 101 - The Foundation

“Great adult improv classes offered here. Not only a great time, but the skills transfer very well to work and life. These classes provide a safe environment to learn new tools for listening, creative problem solving, team work, and public speaking and performance. And did I mention it is just a freaking great time? Place adults can go to laugh and feel free and like a kid again.” - Krista A

CSz 101 improv classes start three times a year. These classes are the gateway for adults to all things ComedySportz®. You can reserve your place now. 

We've been called one of the top eight comedy schools from around the nation by Paste Magazine. And we're dedicated to making you feel welcome. 

You will have an amazing time:

• Learn improv the CSz Way - in a concise and organized sequence.

• Gain incredible insight into what's funny and why

• Experience the power of letting good things happen

• Improve your public speaking skills

• Improve your auditioning skills

• Equip yourself with new tools for all arts: Speed, Narrative, Movement, Character-building, Conflict, Status and Fun. The improv tools we teach will give you a strong foundation for almost any style of improv.

• Learn how ComedySportz and other improv styles work

• Classes are how we find new CSz talent (Does getting paid to play sound interesting? Our pro players get paid.)

• Meet interesting people, network and make new friends.

• Have an unbelievable amount of fun

• Here are two blog pieces from recent CSz 101 students, on the unexpected effects of taking this class:

  • Caitlin Mendersee - Five Life Lessons from Improv Class

  • Eric Earle - What I Learned in My First Improv Class at CSz

Experience is not necessary (although certainly welcome); our classes feature a level and nurturing playing field. CSz is dedicated to equity and inclusion. All ages (18 and over), abilities, identities, beliefs and backgrounds are welcomed, celebrated and valued.

Our lead teacher - Patrick Short - brings over 36 years of improv teaching experience to the class and the January 2025 set of classes will be his 133rd CSz 101 sequences. Patrick does a terrific job of leading new and experienced adult students to great discoveries, as well as melding folks from different backgrounds into a united group - and CSz never forgets the fun of improv.

The Black Improv Alliance has arranged for CSz 101 scholarships for beginning Black Improvisors over the age of 18. You can apply using this link. (You can also contact us directly at patrick@portlandcomedy.com for the information.)

CSz 103 Improv for Dating and Relationships

in 2025 - stay tuned

CSz 109 Storytelling

Six weeks of classes from a presentation skills expert, plus a showcase for your stories! Hannah Michelotti returns with a class series that has received universal 5-star reviews!

Coming this fall!

CSz 108 Intro to Stand Up
CSz 208 Intermediate Stand Up
CSz 308 Advanced Stand Up

CSz 201 Improv Scenework

CSz 302 Intro to Long Form

and CSz 400 Long Form LAB Series

with Starr Ahrens, Bill Cernansky and more

Starr has been performing long form improv alongside short form improv for the better part of 2 decades. While living in LA she studied and performed with Second City, iOWest, and UCB. More recently she's been returning to improv roots by studying Viola Spolin. She has performed in festivals and with random celebrities on stages all over the US. Since coming to Portland she has been consistently teaching and coaching long and short form groups and skills. She can be seen regularly at CSz, Kickstand, and Curious Comedy Theaters.

We’re offering a series of LABs in 2024 - classes that cover a wide variety of Long Form formats and skills.

LAB 1 - Monoscene, Montage and Monologues (CSz 412)
LAB 2 - The Harold with Bill Cernansky (CSz 422)
LAB 3 - Practice & Performance (CSz 432 - Q2)
LAB 4 - Narrative Long Form (CSz 442 - Q3)
LAB 5 - Musical Improv Performance (CSz 542/504) Q4
plus, we’re planning an innovative “smorgasboard” LAB of Improv styles with established groups - looking at January, 2025

Build skill and confidence, identify strengths and avenues for growth through goal-setting, specific exercises, games, directed playtime, positive direction, feedback, and the freedom to experiment.

By the end of this series, participants will have built confidence to step into any improv space and feel comfortable in their ability to keep up and play freely.

Emphasis:

• Inhabiting believable characters

• Discovering rather than inventing

• Finding games within games

• Playing with energy, pace and rhythm

Specific skills:

• Listening and attending 

• Spontaneity 

• Being genuine

• Space and object work

• Patience 

• Status

We’ll post when this class is offered again,

• Ongoing Wednesday Night Classes from 7:00pm - 9:00pm

• Build improv skills and learn our games in a supportive and fun atmosphere

• Performance opportunities in our Rec League matches several Sundays per month at 6:00 p.m.

Available in the following subscriptions:

• $95 per calendar quarter

• $35 per month

• $10 per class on a drop-in basis

• CSz 101/201/301 or 303 graduates only or by permission of the Education Director and Rec League Director

Some folks are in Rec League Class because they want to join our team; some because it's a fun time with a great community.

Need more info?  Email Brooke Chamberlain at brooke (at) cszportland.com

CSz 402 Long Form Summer Drop-In

Just $10 per class or $95 for the whole 12-class series! Led by Starr Ahrens, with Bill Cernansky, Nick Condon and Betse Green.

Open to the wider improv community - please have completed at least 3 levels of improv training. Returning in 2025.

CSz 415 Johnstone Status

More class offerings from Theresa Robbins Dudeck coming in 2025.

CSz 304 / 404 / 504 - Improv Music

Musical Improv Basics - Intermediate Music (Games) - Advanced Music (Ensemble)

This four-week course explores how you'll boost your improv skills to create memorable songs - right in the moment. We'll overcome fears and learn tools to help you make what appears to be extremely difficult and astounding almost effortless. Confidence, structure, chorusing, rhyme, duets and common styles will be covered. What you'll learn can be used in any improv style, and can boost your songwriting skills as well.

Patrick Short (304, 404 & 504), our co-owner and GM, has been making music since 1967, and teaching improv since 1984. He's a very experienced improv accompanist with lots of experience helping people overcome improv fears. Stage musical experience includes music direction for scripted musicals, including performances at the Kennedy Center, as well as Screaming Mee-Mees, who appeared at the Chicago Improv Festival, in New Orleans and Seattle. He has 8 albums to his credit this century, including The Traffic Safety Album and writes all the music for Thinking People's Theatre shows.

CSz 304 will lead to CSz 404/504 - Intermediate Musical Improv with Patrick Short & Betse Green

This class is also suitable for accompanists. You'll learn a ton about how Patrick approaches making people look and sound good.

When: CSz 504 will be announced soon
Where: CSz Arena, 1963 NW Kearney St.
Cost: $160 each for 304 / 404; $200 for 504

Prerequisites: Two levels of improv training at CSz or equivalent at another Portland-based theatre. Call us if your training was elsewhere. 

CSz 485 The 5 Things Intensive

5 Things is the centerpiece of many (most) ComedySportz Pro Matches. And nobody in the improv world does guessing games with the pace and expertise of CSz.

It's a game full that requires a certain amount of work to get "right", and there are many components to making it work:

• clue-giving strategies

• mime and physical space work

• gibberish

• communication

• timing

• decision-making

• guessing - there's a lot that goes into it!

• willingness to fail, in the best ways

Learn the nuances and get the reps to make 5 Things one of the most exhilarating experience you can have on the ComedySportz field. Jaye Rambo and Amy Gray are experts - their guidance and insights will help you become a "Master of Things".

Offered again in 2025.

CSz 501 - ComedySportz Minor League

Next Class Begins in 2025

For people who have completed our 101, 201 and 301 classes (or those who have taken our 303 class).

The ComedySportz Minor League is a six-week course with coaching, notes and feedback on performance and public shows to hone your skills.

The Rec League is a community and on-going. The Minor League will be offered 3-4 times a year for those players who want to get to the next level. The class may be taken multiple times and there will be a focus different skills in some of them.

Minor League is directed by Brooke Chamberlain, with assistance from Betse Green, Andrew Berkowitz, Patrick Short and others.

Prerequisite: CSz 301 (some Rec League experience is helpful but not required). For those outside of CSz, at least 3 levels of training at a known improv school should suit you well. If in doubt, take 301 first, or call us. We’re nice. We’ll help you to the level that will serve you best.

Register here.