Improv Greenhouse
2026-04-15 19:00 - 19:45, 2026-04-22 19:00 - 19:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Get ready to be surprised, delighted, and maybe even see your wildest idea take on a life of its own!

Graduate Greenhouse is a Wednesday night showcase featuring alumni from Unexpected Productions Improv School. Each performance highlights a different alumni group, putting their training to the test with unpredictable scenes, various formats, and improvised stories. From long-form storytelling to character work, these performers explore the boundaries of improv.
Jan 7 Market Improv
Jan 14
Jan 21
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Stick around for a double feature as we roll into Seattle’s longest-running Improv Open Mic: the Duos Open Mic! Starting at 8:00 pm, this weekly showcase promises even more laughs, surprises, and improv magic.

700 Level Student Showcase
2026-04-15 19:00 - 19:45, 2026-04-22 19:00 - 19:45 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Witness the creation of believable characters, inspiring scenes, and some improv magic by 700 level class.

Join the advanced students in our 700 class and witness them blossom with new improv skills. Under the guidance of our expert improv teachers, 700 students are learning new narrative formats and enhancing their skills by working in an ensemble. You get to see the fruits of their efforts by witnessing the creation of believable characters, inspiring scenes, and some improv magic.

Duo Comedy Showcase 2026
2026-04-15 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-04-22 20:00 - 21:30 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Seattle’s one and only open mic dedicated to two-person improv teams! Every week at Unexpected Productions, two-person teams take the stage to create hilarious, fast-paced, totally unscripted comedy right before your eyes. No scripts, no safety nets—just pure improv magic.
At Duos, everyone shines. Newer performers sharpen their game. Seasoned improvisers experiment, take risks, and get wonderfully weird. The results? Quick-witted scenes, surprising twists, and bold choices that feel impossible until you watch them happen live.
Whether you dream of being the next Key & Peele, Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, or a chaotic tag-team like Deadpool & Wolverine, this is your chance to take the mic and run with it. All experience levels are welcome. Bring a friend, form a team, and give Seattle a show they won’t forget. To sign up your duo, email duoshowcase@gmail.com.
Looking for a midweek serotonin boost? Watching the show is just as fun as performing in it. Grab a seat, grab a friend, and discover why Unexpected Productions is the home of Seattle improv.

Pratidhwani and Unexpected Productions Present Improv-Asana
2026-04-16 20:00 - 21:15 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
What happens when South Asian artistry meets Seattle’s longest-running improv tradition? Nobody knows. That’s the whole point.

On Thursday, April 16th, 8:00 PM, Pratidhwani and Unexpected Productions are sharing a stage for the first and only time, and you’re not just watching. You’re part of it.
For more than 20 years, Pratidhwani has championed South Asian performing artists and built community through the power of live performance. Since 1983, Unexpected Productions has been turning audience suggestions into full-blown theatrical moments. Together, we’re bringing two distinct creative worlds into the same room to see what sparks, and, given the talent involved, there’s going to be a lot of laughter.
Anasuya (Ana) Basu, Anise Rau, Gauri Shringarpure, Ronak Sharma, Siddhant Sharma, and Sumant Gupta
Directed by Siddhant Sharma
Your suggestions, your joy, and your ideas are the fuel. These artists will take whatever you throw at them and turn it into something that will suprise everyone… and make you laugh out loud while doing it!

Loose Cannons 2026
2026-04-16 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-04-23 20:00 - 21:30 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Loose Cannons is Seattle improv at its most unpredictable. Every performance at Unexpected Productions in Pike Place Market is a one-of-a-kind experience: exciting, unexpected, a little dangerous, and always ridiculously fun. This is the show where anything can happen and usually does.
Part One: Part One: The night kicks off with a unique performance, setting the performers in a new format with special guest improvisers showcasing their signature style or a never-before-seen format. Your suggestions fuel the fire, and the improvisers will ignite the stage, bringing your ideas to life.
Part Two: The second half launches from a single audience suggestion, setting the performers in motion. It might start with a song, a monologue, or a rapid-fire group connection game. Whatever emerges will inspire spontaneous stories, surprising twists, and big comedic swings.
Loose Cannons is fueled by audience ideas, fearless performers, and the thrill of not knowing what happens next. You light the fuse. They run with it. What they create is entirely up to you.

Spellbound: An Improvised Romantasy
2026-04-17 19:30 - 20:45, 2026-04-18 19:30 - 20:45, 2026-04-24 19:30 - 20:45, 2026-04-25 19:30 - 20:45 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Epic fantasy meets heart-pounding romance in a one-night-only improvised saga.

Spellbound is a bold, fun, fully improvised romantasy where epic fantasy and big feelings take center stage. Inspired by books like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing, our improvisers build a brand-new magical world on the spot using your ideas.
Expect dramatic romance, dangerous magic, surprising twists, and characters who fall hard, mess up spectacularly, and make very questionable choices in the name of love. It is playful, passionate, audience-powered storytelling with high stakes and zero scripts. Every show is a fresh fantasy adventure that only happens once.

Seattle Theatresports 2026
2026-04-17 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-04-18 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-04-24 21:30 - 23:00, 2026-04-25 21:30 - 23:00 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Seattle’s high-energy improv battle where your suggestions shape every scene. Fast, funny, unpredictable comedy Fri. & Sat. 9:30

Welcome to Seattle’s funnest improv comedy show, a high-energy, no-rules showdown where your ideas shape every scene. Seattle Theatresports at Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater in Pike Place Market is part comedy battle, part game night, and completely powered by the crowd. Boo the judges. Cheer the Gum Wall race and laugh til it hurts!
Every show, two teams of top Seattle improvisers go head to head, performing games, stories, characters, and scenes inspired entirely by your suggestions. Judges score the rounds, decide the winners, and shape the fun (as we boo them). No scripts. No safety nets. Just fast thinking, bold choices, and pure creative mayhem.
This isn’t your parents’ improv show, unless your parents were super cool.

Improv Happy Hour
2026-04-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Join us for Improv Happy Hour, where comedy is unscripted, unpredictable, and unbelievably fun! From movie mashups to literary spoofs and bold, experimental comedy, our quick-thinking performers turn your suggestions into hilarious scenes on the spot.

This family-friendly show at the iconic Gum Wall in Pike Place Market guarantees a night of laughter, surprises, and improv magic you won’t forget. Bring your wildest ideas, your loudest laughs, and get ready for a one-of-a-kind comedy experience—because at Improv Happy Hour, anything can happen (and usually does)!

THIS IS FOR YOU: An Improvised Theatre Poetry Experience
2026-04-19 19:00 - 20:15 | Unexpected Productions Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Step into a world where your memories spark the unexpected, your objects tell untold stories, and your life becomes art in motion. With a swirl of spontaneous theater, hand-typed poetry, and the soulful sounds of live musicians on stage.
On 4/19, Pike Place Market’s legendary busker, Jonny Hahn, will be the featured musician. For 40years, Jonny Hahn has entertained crowds at the market.
Each show unfolds like a dream—unrepeatable, electric, and uniquely yours. One moment, you’re laughing at a scene born from a trinket in your pocket; the next, a poem crafted just for you finds its way into your hands. This is poetry in motion. This is music in the moment. This is theater made from the fabric of your life. Come laugh. Come cry. Come as you are.
✨ THIS IS FOR YOU! ✨
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime fusion of words, sound, and improvisation. April is the month of poetry—come celebrate the magic!

Youth Clowning with Mick Holsbeke
2026-04-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Clown Garage at the Improv School Issaquah, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98027
Unleash your silly side! A playful, youth-friendly class using improv, physical comedy, and clown games to build confidence & creativity

Get ready to unleash your silly side! This series is all about having fun, taking creative risks, and finding the funny in the unexpected. Working as a group to start, participants will dive head-over-heels into ensemble theater, improvisation, physical comedy, and clown-inspired games, learning how to turn everyday moments into laugh-out-loud comedy. Whether you’re interested in performing or just want to break out of your comfort zone, this session is all about embracing play, thinking on your feet, and making bold comedic choices. No experience? No problem! Just bring your imagination, a sense of humor, and a willingness to get ridiculous.
Class Details
Dates: Six (6) Monday classes
Time: 4:00 pm to 5:20 pm
Location: The Clown Garage at Improv School Eastside Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar & Grill)
Maximum students: 12
Ages: 10-15
Cost: $270
Prerequisite: None

Clown 100: The Foundations of Clown Play with Mick Holsbeke
2026-04-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Unexpected Productions, 1428 Post Alley at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Step into the playful world of Clown! Explore presence, vulnerability, and joyful failure through ensemble play and laughter

Welcome to the world of clowning! This foundational class invites you to step into the playful, unpredictable, and joy-filled realm of Clowning with other folks. Through a series of dynamic exercises in presence, play, rhythm, tension, emotional expression, and ensemble play, participants will explore what makes Clown so hilarious and contagious. Embracing vulnerability and the fine art of making mistakes, we’ll turn failure into laughter and endless comic gold. Whether you’re new to performance or a seasoned artist, this series will help you build confidence, take creative risks, and refine your Clown instincts. Come ready to play, surprise yourself, and find the fun in the unexpected!
Class Details
Dates: Six (6) Mondays classes
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: The Clown Garage at Improv School Eastside Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar & Grill)
Maximum students: 16
Ages: 18 plus
Cost: $270
Prerequisite: None

NOCHE DE IMPROV EN ESPAÑOL
2026-04-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Noche de Improvisación en español, es una noche de jam para los que hablan FLUIDAMENTE español, que ya sean estudiantes actuales de UP, exalumnos de UP, miembros del conjunto y exalumnos, para jugar juntos y seguir desarrollando sus habilidades de improvisación en español. Noche de Improvisación en español , está dirigida por Laila Valencia. Los juegos ayudan a los improvisadores a desarrollar habilidades, desarrollar confianza y fomentar la creatividad. Pero lo mas importante es … ¡es en español y es DIVERTIDO! El espacio es limitado a 16 personas.
Fecha y hora: El tercer lunes de cada mes, de 7 a 9 p. m.
Ubicación: 650 S Orcas Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98108
Precio: $10 (11.24 con cargos)
El Requisito Previo: Unexpected Productions Improv 100
Laila Valencia Nació en Guadalajara Jalisco México finales de los
años 70as, donde vivió toda su infancia y adolescencia, siempre tuvo interés por las artes escénicas y participó en varios proyectos de teatro y danza contemporanea en la UDG , a finales de los 90tas, Se va a vivir a Seattle WA donde conoce la técnica de comedia en improvisación , de la cual se enamora se inscribe en clases y talleres especializados,con maestros como Keith Johnstone creador de Theatresports, Gorilla and Maestro improv shows, Randy Dixon director artistico de Unexpected Produccions desde hace 20 anos, talleres con Gary Austin, Asiste a retiros de improvisacion en Nueva York con artistic new direcctins y desde entonces a participado en 6 festivales internacionales de improvisación,A Impartido clases para toda las edades, ahora es miembro de de la compañía más antigua de improvisacionnen Seattle Unexpected Productions, en la cual continúa su preparación y actúa dos o mas veces por semana , siempre está trabajando en proyectos diferentes, forma larga y corta de improv, contando historias que se inspiradan con las ideas del público.

IMPROV 100 ISSAQUAH - Intro to Improv: Say Yes!, SPRING '26
2026-04-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Discover improv in Issaquah. Build confidence, meet new people, and learn to create stories through fun, supportive games and scene work.

Looking for a fun, fresh way to connect with others, spark creativity, and step out of the everyday routine? Welcome to Intro to Improv at Unexpected Productions Improv School Eastside in Issaquah. Whether you are a working professional hoping to improve communication, a creative soul searching for a new outlet, or someone simply wanting more laughter and community in your week, this class is the perfect place to begin.
In this beginner-friendly course, you will learn the foundational skills of improvisation: active listening, collaboration, spontaneity, and using your own life experiences to create honest, engaging scenes and stories. Improv is not about being funny, it is about being present, supportive, and open. And yes, along the way, you will laugh more than you have in ages.
Our community values connection and growth, and this class is built on those principles. You will work in a supportive group where the guiding philosophy is simple: When your scene partner looks good, you look good. Together, we build trust, confidence, and creativity, one scene at a time.

Under the guidance of our experienced faculty, you will learn to:
Be a better listener
Conquer fears and build confidence
Spark creativity
Meet new people and make real connections
Become a better problem solver
Say yes more in your life
Step out of your comfort zone
Improve public speaking
Fail easier (and laugh about it)
Discover more about yourself
Have an absolute blast

This class includes lots of laughter, lots of stage time, and zero pressure. Every student begins here. No experience needed. Just bring curiosity and a willingness to try something new.
Unexpected Productions Improv School is thrilled to bring our newest Eastside improv classes to Issaquah, serving the communities of the Sammamish Plateau, East Renton, Bellevue, Snoqualmie Valley, and beyond.
Class Details
Dates: Six (8) Monday classes
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Improv School Eastside Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar & Grill)
Maximum students: 16
Ages: 18 plus
Cost: $320
Prerequisite: None
Note: Attendance at the first session is mandatory, as it sets the tone and foundation for the entire quarter. If you know you will miss the first class, please register for a future session.

Improv Level Up: Turn Games into Scene Magic with Alan Hawkins
2026-04-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Turn improv games into powerful long-form skills. Build stronger scenes, relationships and storytelling in this fun 4-week class in Issaquah

Many improvisers begin with short-form games, but hidden inside those fast, playful formats are powerful tools for deeper scene work. In this four-week class, we’ll explore how the instincts you already use in games can strengthen your long-form improvisation. By unpacking the mechanics behind classic games, you’ll learn how to build stronger scenes, develop clearer relationships, and create more confident improvised storytelling.
Through energetic exercises and supportive coaching, you’ll discover how skills like listening, commitment, pattern recognition, and emotional connection can expand beyond the game structure and fuel longer, richer scenes. If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge the gap between short-form fun and long-form storytelling, this class will help you make that leap.
Class Details
Dates: Four (4) Tuesdays
Time: 7:00 pm–9:00 pm
Location: Unexpected Productions – Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar and Grill)
Maximum Students: 16
Cost: $270
Prerequisite: Any Improv Class or Experience
Meet Your Instructor: Alan Hawkins
Alan Hawkins is an improviser from Los Angeles and Chicago with over two decades of performance and teaching experience. A graduate of The Second City Conservatory, The Second City Musical Conservatory, iO West, Comedysportz Chicago, and The Annoyance, Alan has performed across the U.S. and internationally with the acclaimed trio Extra Shelves and as a guest with Grand Theft Improv in London. He has taught and directed for numerous programs, including the Teen Comedy Festival in Chicago.
Alan is an ensemble member of Unexpected Productions—America’s longest-running Theatresports company—and the author of “YOU CAN’T LEARN IMPROV FROM A BOOK.” His classes are known for being energetic, supportive, and deeply fun.
What to Bring
This class involves movement, so please dress comfortably and bring a bottle of water.
Cancellation Policy
We are unable to offer refunds.

Improvised Musical Style and Lyrics with Ron Hippe - Issaquah
2026-04-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Find Your Voice, Build Your Confidence, and Create Songs on the Spot!

Now at Unexpected Productions’ new Issaquah location, unlock your creativity in a supportive, playful, and joy-filled class designed for anyone who’s ever hummed in the car, belted in the shower, or wondered, “How do musical improvisers make that magic happen?”
Whether you’re a seasoned improviser or stepping into musical improv for the first time, this course welcomes you with open arms—no prior singing experience required.
What You’ll Learn
This intensive, dynamic class explores the foundational skills of musical improvisation through hands-on practice and group collaboration. You’ll learn how to:

Create songs and stories in the moment
Understand classic song forms and how they apply to improv
Strengthen your sense of timing, rhythm, and rhyme
Turn simple prompts into memorable choruses
Build lyrics that feel poetic, emotional, or downright hilarious
Jump confidently between styles—from Broadway to jazz, pop to chants

It’s fun, supportive, and incredibly energizing. You’ll be surprised at what you can create with your classmates—often within minutes. Unexpected Productions Improv School is thrilled to bring our newest Eastside improv classes to Issaquah, serving the communities of the Sammamish Plateau, East Renton, Bellevue, Snoqualmie Valley, Northbend and beyond.
Class Details
Dates: Four (4) Wednesdays
Time: 7:00pm–9:00pm
Location: Unexpected Productions – Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar and Grill)
Maximum Students: 16
Cost: $270 ($282.29 with fees

Improvised Musical Style and Lyrics Class with Ron Hippe
2026-04-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Find Your Voice, Build Your Confidence, and Create Songs on the Spot!

Now at Unexpected Productions’ new Issaquah location, unlock your creativity in a supportive, playful, and joy-filled class designed for anyone who’s ever hummed in the car, belted in the shower, or wondered, “How do musical improvisers make that magic happen?”
Whether you’re a seasoned improviser or stepping into musical improv for the first time, this course welcomes you with open arms—no prior singing experience required.
What You’ll Learn
This intensive, dynamic class explores the foundational skills of musical improvisation through hands-on practice and group collaboration. You’ll learn how to:

Create songs and stories in the moment
Understand classic song forms and how they apply to improv
Strengthen your sense of timing, rhythm, and rhyme
Turn simple prompts into memorable choruses
Build lyrics that feel poetic, emotional, or downright hilarious
Jump confidently between styles—from Broadway to jazz, pop to chants

It’s fun, supportive, and incredibly energizing. You’ll be surprised at what you can create with your classmates—often within minutes. Unexpected Productions Improv School is thrilled to bring our newest Eastside improv classes to Issaquah, serving the communities of the Sammamish Plateau, East Renton, Bellevue, Snoqualmie Valley, North Bend and beyond.
Class Details
Dates: Four (4) Wednesdays
Time: 7:00pm–9:00pm
Location: Unexpected Productions – Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar and Grill)
Maximum Students: 16
Cost: $270
Instructor: Ron Hippe
Ron Hippe joined Unexpected Productions in 1990 and has performed globally—from San Francisco to London and Vienna. He has appeared on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Kentucky Cycle and worked with Seattle Rep, ACT, and Intiman. Ron is also a veteran voice-over artist, actor, musician, and singer-songwriter. His teaching style is upbeat, encouraging, and rooted in decades of professional experience.
Cancellation Policy:
We are unable to offer refunds.

Clown 200: Reinforcing Your Clown Foundation with Mick Holsbeke
2026-04-23 17:30 - 19:00 | Clown Garage at the Improv School Issaquah, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98027
Deepen your clown craft through presence, rhythm, status, and physical comedy—embracing failure to build confidence, independence, and play

In the Clown 200 class series, students will deepen their understanding of the foundations of theatrical clowning. Participants will engage in exercises focused on presence, rhythm, tension, emotional endurance, character development, status play, and physical humor. By embracing failure and mistakes, students build confidence to take new comic risks, grow in their comedic abilities, and gently approach independence in harnessing the elusive state of Clown.
Class Details
Dates: Six (6) Thursday classes
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Location: The Clown Garage at Improv School Eastside Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar & Grill)
Maximum students: 12
Ages: 18 plus
Prerequisite: None

Mime and Improv in Action with Jay Hitt
2026-04-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Unexpected Productions Improv School ISSAQUAH/EASTSIDE, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98108, United States
Mimes can create entire environments and objects using only their skill and imagination. How do they do it? This class will show you

What if you could build an entire world on stage using nothing but your body and imagination? In this dynamic and playful class, you’ll discover how mime techniques and physical improv can transform empty space into vivid environments filled with objects, characters, and stories.
Through guided exercises and performance games, you’ll learn the foundational tools mimes use to create invisible walls, lift imaginary objects, define environments, and communicate clearly without speaking. These skills will deepen your physical awareness, sharpen your stage presence, and give you powerful new ways to express ideas in improv scenes.
This class is perfect for improvisers who want to strengthen their physical storytelling, improve object work, and explore the expressive possibilities of movement. Expect a highly active, supportive environment where you’ll experiment, play, and learn to make the invisible visible.
Class Details
Dates: Four (4) Fridays
Time: 7:00 pm–9:00 pm
Location: Unexpected Productions – Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar and Grill)
Maximum Students: 16
Cost: $270
Prerequisite: Any Improv Class or Experience
Meet Your Instructor:
Jay Hitt is an improviser, director, and educator renowned for his groundbreaking work in non-verbal improvisation. As the creator and director of Mouth Wide Shut, he has pioneered a completely non-verbal improvised show that seamlessly blends Pantomime, Figurative Mime, Corporeal Mime, and various dance styles to bring audience suggestions to life. These suggestions, staying true to the nature of the show, are also retrieved non-verbally, creating an immersive and unique theatrical experience.
In 2020, Jay launched the Fearless Physical Improv Workshop with Jay Hitt, a non-verbal comedy workshop at Unexpected Productions designed to push improvisers beyond spoken language and into the realm of physical storytelling. This workshop quickly gained popularity, selling out consistently and making its way to improv festivals, where Jay continues to share his expertise with eager performers.
Jay’s talents extend beyond the improv stage. In 2018, he was a featured artist in an updated version of The Gong Show, hosted by Mike Myers. That same year, he was a featured guest on the podcast Folk Stories (folkstories.org), where he discussed his journey in improvisation and mime. He also showcased his skills on a segment for KING5’s Evening Magazine, performing as a featured mime in a humorous hotel front desk skit (KING5).
His performances have been celebrated at numerous prestigious improv festivals. In 2025, Mouth Wide Shut was featured at the Third Coast Improv Festival in Nashville, showcasing his distinctive approach to non-verbal improvisation. Additionally, Jay has performed at the Alaska State Improv Festival and the Annual Improvaganza Hawaii Festival of Improv.
Jay is also a key figure in the Seattle improv community. As the Managing Director of Unexpected Productions, he has played a significant role in shaping the city’s improv scene since joining the company in 1993. His journey in improv began in 1988, and over the decades, he has performed and directed a diverse range of short and long-form improv productions, including Playborhood, Black Ice: An American Sitcom Improvised and Poe Unexpected: An Improvised Edgar Allan Poe. In 2008, he created the Duo Improv Showcase, Seattle’s only improv open mic, providing a platform for improvisers to experiment and grow.
Jay’s dedication to his craft is reflected in his extensive training. He has studied with renowned U.S. and European coaches, refining his expertise in physical improvisation, mime, and object work. Since 1998, he has taught and coached improv, earning recognition for his fearless and dynamic approach. His precise attention to object work and environment creation has set him apart as one of the most skilled improvisers in the field.
Jay Hitt’s passion for improvisation continues to inspire performers and audiences alike, proving that the art of storytelling transcends words and that physical expression holds limitless potential on stage.
NOTE: Please note that this class has a great deal of movement and action. Please dress accordingly and bring a bottle of water.
“Physicality is a kind of language, especially in improv. Jay’s class helped to remind me just how important, nuanced and exciting it can be and gave me the ‘words’ to use and showed me how to ‘speak’ them with physicality. Jay as a teacher is like a clown’s never-ending scarf bit. I’m not sure how he keeps pulling more and more interesting stuff out of his pocket, but there seems to be a never ending supply of it.”
— James L., 9/18
“Jay reminded me that physicality is the foundation of performance and he gave me the tools to get there!”
— Randal F.
Cancellation policy: We are unable to offer refunds.

Physical Humor 100: The Comic Technician with Mick Holsbeke
2026-04-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Clown Garage at the Improv School Issaquah, 1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4, Issaquah, WA, 98027
Get silly, take bold creative risks, and find the funny through ensemble improv, physical comedy, and playful clown-inspired games.

Ever since we were able to stand, we have been able to fall, and humans love to laugh at someone who stumbles, trips, bobbles, bumps into, gets hit by, or struggles with problems that should be easily avoidable or, otherwise, are simple to solve. In this class series, internationally renowned clown & circus artist Mick Holsbeke will guide students through an introduction to the foundations of Physical Comedy, offering participants a broad range of experience in the joys of being clumsy, accident-prone comic characters.
Class Details
Dates: Six (6) Saturday classes
Time: 10:30 PM – 12:00 PM
Location: The Clown Garage at the Improv School Eastside Issaquah
1315 NW Mall Street, Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 (next to the Gaslamp Bar & Grill)
Maximum students: 12
Ages: 18 plus
Cost: $320
Prerequisite: Clown 100
