Description: Learn the fundamentals of improv in this fun, supportive, introductory class. We’ll cover listening, ensemble-building techniques, and the principle of “Yes and…” This is a great opportunity to try improv IN EVANSTON!! No experience necessary. Each session concludes with a Student Showcase for friends and family.

Times/Days: Sundays 3:00–5:00 PM (9/13/26 - 11/1/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Noyes Cultural Arts Center (927 Noyes St. Evanston, IL)

Teacher: Lori McClain*

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM) - Fine Arts Building Chicago

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Lori McClain has been an actor, singer, improviser, voice-over artist, teacher, and corporate trainer in Chicago for the past 30+ years. She toured with The National Touring Company of the Second City, including a USO Tour to Iraq and Kuwait in 2004, and starred in Second City Theatricals productions, "Rod Blagojevich, Superstar!" (Patty Blagojevich) and "The Real-ish Housewives" (Baroness Ravonka). She has improvised with "Sirens Improv" for over 20 years, and has appeared in dozens of television commercials (Lyrica, KFC), and in TV dramas (Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and 61st Street). She's performed most recently in the fully improvised musical, "Blank! The Musical" at The Revival, and has narrated several audiobooks.

Description: Ready to take your stand-up to the next level? This intermediate class helps comedians sharpen their material, strengthen their stage presence, and develop a more distinctive comedic voice. Weekly sessions focus on advanced joke structure, material refinement, stage persona, and building a cohesive, performance-ready set. Along the way, experienced instructors share practical insights from their own professional comedy careers. The class culminates in a showcase performance for friends, family, and fellow comedians.

Prerequisite: Stand Up Comedy Level I or equivalent experience.

Times/Days: Mondays 6:00-8:00 PM (9/14/26 - 11/2/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Room #819 (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 8th Floor)

Teacher: Claire Sundbye*

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Claire Sundbye is a Chicago based comic. Her animated, quick-witted, and conversational delivery leaves audiences everywhere laughing! Claire is a regular at Laugh Factory, Zanies & CYSK. She performs with nationally touring acts including Jason Cheny, Ashley Gavin, Dan Donohue and more. This year, Claire’s episode of the popular show “Subway Takes” went viral, amassing over 20 million views.

Ampersand: An Improv Showcial is where training meets the stage.

Each week begins with a high-energy, 60 minute improv intensive led by veteran coach Sam Super* designed to explore key aspects of long-form improv.

After the intensive, the room shifts from workshop to stage as participants gather with their teams to perform a 12–15 minute improv set.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your improv chops, meet a community of playful collaborators, or simply spend your week laughing and creating, Ampersand brings the best of both worlds together—learning and performing, side by side.

Times/Days: Thursdays 6:00-8:00pm (9/17/26 - 11/5/26)

Location: Fine Arts Building "Little Studio" (410 S. Michigan Ave. 7th Floor)

How It Works:

Upon registration, participants are assigned to an 8-10 person team under the guidance of a Captain (i.e. an experienced improviser who serves as 'ring-leader' throughout the session).

At the first meeting (9/17/26), participants meet their Captain and teammates, choose a team name and select a classic improv form to focus on throughout the season (ex. LaRonde, Harold, Armando, etc.).

Each week (Thursdays at 6:00pm), participants gather in the Fine Arts Building's "Little Studio" for a 60 minute improv intensive led by Sam Super.

Following the intensive, each team performs a 12-15 minute long-form improv set.

At the conclusion, participants are encouraged to socialize across teams and build community!

*Sam Super (he/him/his) performs, writes and teaches comedy across the globe. For two years Sam performed in Amsterdam at the legendary Boom Chicago and recently returned to direct their critically acclaimed mainstage show. Other comedy credits include: The Second City’s Improv All-Stars, Baby Wants Candy, Revolver (iO Theater), The Deltones (iO Theater), ComedySportz Chicago, and several cruise ships with The Second City and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Sam teaches in the Improv and Conservatory programs at the Second City Training Center where he was honored as the 2017 Teacher of the Year.

Description: This course prepares aspiring comedians with the confidence and skills to embark on their stand-up comedy journey! Weekly sessions cover: joke structure, material development, discovering your unique attitude and persona, audience engagement, and crafting a cohesive set. The course concludes with a performance for friends and family.

Times/Days: Sundays 5:00-7:00 PM (9/13/26 - 11/1/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Annex Studios (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 3rd Floor)

Teacher: Claire Sundbye*

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Claire Sundbye is a Chicago based comic. Her animated, quick-witted, and conversational delivery leaves audiences everywhere laughing! Claire is a regular at Laugh Factory, Zanies & CYSK. She performs with nationally touring acts including Jason Cheny, Ashley Gavin, Dan Donohue and more. This year, Claire’s episode of the popular show “Subway Takes” went viral, amassing over 20 million views.

Description: Learn the fundamentals of improv in this fun, supportive, introductory class. We’ll cover listening, ensemble-building techniques, and the principle of “Yes and…” This is a great opportunity to try improv right at its birthplace in Chicago! No experience necessary. Each session concludes with a Student Showcase for friends and family.

Times/Days: Mondays 6:00–8:00 PM (9/14/26 - 11/2/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Annex Studios (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 3rd Floor)

Teacher: Lori McClain*

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Lori McClain has been an actor, singer, improviser, voice-over artist, teacher, and corporate trainer in Chicago for the past 30+ years. She toured with The National Touring Company of the Second City, including a USO Tour to Iraq and Kuwait in 2004, and starred in Second City Theatricals productions, "Rod Blagojevich, Superstar!" (Patty Blagojevich) and "The Real-ish Housewives" (Baroness Ravonka). She has improvised with "Sirens Improv" for over 20 years, and has appeared in dozens of television commercials (Lyrica, KFC), and in TV dramas (Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and 61st Street). She's performed most recently in the fully improvised musical, "Blank! The Musical" at The Revival, and has narrated several audiobooks.

Description: This class focuses on the fundamental elements of scenic improv including idea generation, finding the game, and heightening. Learn how to play with a scene partner, use the environment, and sustain the relationship. Prerequisite: Improv 101 or the equivalent.

Times/Days: Mondays 6:00-8:00 PM (9/14/26 - 11/2/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Little Studio (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 7th Floor)

Teacher: Cassidy Russell*

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Cassidy Russell is a member of the Second City National Touring Company and plays with Chicago’s longest-running improv team, Deep Schwa, and Annoyance Theatre house team, Sight Unseen. Cassidy directs plays and sketch shows and teaches improv in Chicago. In the summer, she teaches comedy classes in Alaska at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Outside of the comedy world, Cassidy writes reviews of children’s books for a literary journal, works part time as a librarian, and was once in a commercial where all four of the other actors were cats. Her teaching pedagogy revolves around hunting down delight on stage, playing with joyful abandon, and figuring out how to combine selfishness with extreme generosity.

Description: We all do it: presentations at work, a wedding toast, or leading a group discussion. This course is designed to take the fear out of public speaking and make it fun! What if you could communicate authentically and dynamically rather than being scared to speak up? We use a positive approach that will help you build confidence, skill, and ease in a supportive, warm environment. Together, we’ll address body language, relaxation, breathing, and voice, while learning to craft strong presentations and use improv techniques to handle questions and surprises with confidence. A series of weekly assignments will give you the reps to build your skills and culminate in a short speech of your choice. Join us and revive your love of public speaking! No experience necessary.

Times/Days: Mondays 6:00-8:00 PM (9/14/26 - 11/2/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Annex Studios (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 3rd Floor)

Teacher: Jeremy Cohn*

Student Showcase (Optional): Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Jeremy Cohn is an educator and 1600-hour AmSAT (American Society for the Alexander Technique) certified Alexander Technique Instructor who has coached clients including Grammy award-winning performing artists, Olympic level athletes, and C-suite executives to keep cool under pressure and reach apex levels of performance. The Alexander Technique is a body-based centering method that teaches high-performers how to approach their work with a profound sense of presence, ease, and authenticity. He has coached hundreds of individuals and conducted workshops and group classes with The Old Town School of Folk Music, Green Shirt Studio, The Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium, and Anima Singers among many others. He is also skilled in teaching Rodenberg and Linklater voice methods and several acting techniques including Meisner and Stella Adler. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Instruction in Columbia College Chicago's School of Theatre and Dance where he teaches acting, text interpretation, movement, and theatre voice. He was first introduced to the Alexander Technique while earning a B.F.A in Acting from Boston University's College of Fine Arts and a Classical Acting Certification from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. As an actor and director, he has dozens of professional credits including performances with the Court Theatre, First Folio Theatre, The Huntington Theatre Company, and the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre.

Description: Make bold choices, push your creativity and think on your feet. This class builds on Improv 201 by exploring exercises that encourage strong characters, emotion, and stage presence. Prerequisite: Improv 201 or the equivalent.

Times/Days: Tuesdays 6:00pm-8:00 PM (9/15/26 - 11/3/26)

Class Length: 8 weeks; 2 hrs. per week

Location: Fine Arts Building - Annex Studios (410 S. Michigan Ave. - 3rd Floor)

Teacher: TBD

Student Showcase: Wednesday, November 11th (7:00 PM)

Please note, class registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.