How do they do that? Learn the basics of improvisation. Discover how to actively listen, to use your own life to create stories, and work on the fundamental principles of improvisation. The class will focus on team building and the concept that “If your teammate looks good, then you will look good”. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and utilizing basic scene work skills and most importantly, having fun. Lots of laughs and lots of stage time. All students begin at this level. It’s a prerequisite to the other levels.

This class meets at Seattle Center House on Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm.

Improv 200 picks up where Improv 100 left off. Using "Yes, and..." and the other scene building skills learned in Improv 100, we will create scenes of greater complexity, as well as polishing concepts such as "Status", "Tilt" and "Re-incorporation". We will also be using more of the games that you see regularly in a TheatresportsTM match. This is the first class to perform in the big mutli-level showcase!

This class meets at Seattle Center House on Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm.

This class continues to work on all the basic skills of the previous classes with emphasis placed on character work. Scene building will be a point of exploration as well as using the environment and non-linear narrative. The class will emphasize bringing your scene work to life with energy, believable environments and convincing characters. Learn to sustain a more complex narrative and play with commitment. This class is will participate in the end of session showcase: A chance to test your skills in front of an audience!

This class meets at Seattle Center House on Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm.

Improv 400 will continue to hone the skills of the more advanced improviser, integrating concepts learned in previous classes. The class will explore narrative and address individual strengths as well as areas that need improvement. Further your Improv with the chance to create “multi level” scenes with deep and rich characters. It also provides an introduction to MUSICAL IMPROV scenes. Focus will also be placed on preparing the students for the auditions which will allow them into Improv 500. This class also performs in the showcase.

This class meets at Seattle Center House on Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm.

This class is the culmination of our Improvisational School. Emphasis will be on fine tuning the technique of the improvisers and working on specific skills such as performance, related styles and finding limits of the art of Improv.

Tuition includes free participation in the Playground to jam with other students and work on your favorite formats as well as headlining the SHOWCASE.

This class meets at The Market Theater on Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm.

The Playground is "Jam Night" for currently enrolled students, ensemble cast members and alumni to play with one another and continue to work on their Improv skills.

This class meets at The Market Theater on Monday nights at 7:00 pm.

Send one of our experienced company members to coach your group (improv or other). YOU can choose who you want or we can make recommendations base upon a specific skill you would like to work on.

Contact info@unexpectedproductions.org for pricing and other information.

Randy Dixon is regarded as one of the most experienced improvisational artists in the country. He was a member of the legendary Seattle improvisation troupe, None of the Above. He has appeared in film, television and on local stages. In 1983, he was a founding member of Unexpected Productions and has served as the company's Artistic Director since 1988. Randy has taught improvisational theater and acting in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, The Netherlands, and all over the U.S.A. and Canada. His book on Improvisation, Being Present: Spontaneous Storytelling and the Art of Improvisation was published in German as Im Moment and will come out in a new English edition in 2009.

Brandon Felker began his career as a performer and playwright in College then later moved to Chicago studying under Joyce Sloan, Charna Halpern, and the late great Del Close. From 1993-1995 he became a performer with Second City and Improv Olympic. He started his career with Unexpected Production in 1998 and has since traveled around the world as a guest performer with various groups from Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Graz, and across Canada. He is also a co-founder of Blood Squad.

Ron Hippe joined Unexpected Productions in 1990. Since that time he has worked with a multitude of improv companies around the globe in San Francisco, L.A., Orlando, Atlanta, Vancouver, N.Y., London, and Austria. Ron has appeared in productions with the Intiman, ACT and Seattle Rep theatres and also appeared on Broadway in the Pulitzer prize winning play The Kentucky Cycle. Ron is a veteran commercial and voice over actor for radio and TV as well as video games. In addition Ron is a musician and singer-songwriter. Check out his website for more details.

Derek Kavan is the Education Coordinator at Unexpected Productions, as well as an ensemble member since since February 2005.

Before UP, Derek was involved in various performance art pieces, most notably, Lucha Libre, a public wrestling party with his character Gigachomp.

Paul Levy joined Unexpected Productions in 1995. He performs regularly in U.P. shows and is the primary 100 level teacher, educating adults on basic improvisational skills and spontaneous storytelling. He has taught and performed improv around the globe, including Austria, Germany, France, Canada and the U.S. Paul also works with various clients to bring improvisation and creativity to the corporate world.

When not teaching and improvising, Paul works on the creative side of PR and Marketing.

As an ensemble member at Unexpected Productions, Tim Tracey is a regular on the Main Stage in Theatresports and Gumwall Rally. He has performed in other Unexpected Productions such as: Black Eyed Blonde, An Improvised Christmas Carol and Magnum Farce (an improvised show in the style of a Dirty Harry movie). Tim has performed at the Improviganza in Edmonton, the Toronto Improv Festival, and at the Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, WA .

Prior to joining Unexpected Productions, Tim was a founding member of local improv group ImprovFaction.

He has appeared in many on-line commercials as well as starring in the short film “1-900-CHASE ME” which won first prize in the 2006 Seattle Totally Independent Film Festival.

In addition to teaching improv, Tim served as acting Director of the high school Hogan Cup Improvisation Tournament in 2007.Tim has a BA in History from the University of California , Santa Barbara.

Elicia Wickstead has been a member of the UP ensemble since 1994. In addition to performing TheatreSports, she has taken part in many season shows including A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol, Citizen Scrooge, Black Eyed Blonde, 80's Teen Movie, Campfire, Feel You Up! and Unexpected Shakespeare among many others. Elicia has performed with Unexpected Productions in Germany & Austria as well as throughout Canada and the USA. She is one of members and co-founder of Blood Squad (performing improvised horror films) and Lords of Sorrow (a local rock band). She practices kindness to animals but sometimes eats them.