SEATTLE, WA – October 1, 2026 Forget the usual dinner-and-a-movie date night. Unexpected Productions is inviting couples and friends to put down their phones, step out of their routines, and rediscover the joy of playing together with Playful Connections, a two-hour improv workshop on Saturday, November 7, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the company’s Georgetown studio.

Designed for couples and friends looking for a fun and meaningful shared experience, Playful Connections uses improvisation to strengthen communication, encourage spontaneity, and build deeper connections. No acting or improv experience is necessary. All participants need is a willingness to laugh, try something new, and perhaps look a little silly together.

Through playful exercises and collaborative games, participants will explore the fundamentals of improvisation, including active listening, being present, supporting a partner, and embracing unexpected moments. The workshop draws on Unexpected Productions’ philosophy that when you make your scene partner look good, you look good too.

“Improv isn’t just about being funny. It’s about listening, trusting each other, and being willing to take chances together,” says instructor Sara Carmer McMahon. “When we play, we create opportunities to connect in ways that everyday routines don’t always allow.”

Sara Carmer McMahon, a veteran improviser and longtime Unexpected Productions ensemble member, leads the workshop. A graduate of New York City’s American Musical and Dramatic Academy, McMahon specializes in applied improvisation, using improv principles to foster empathy, connection, and stronger relationships. She also created The Playdate Deck, a game designed to build relationship resilience through play.

To keep the laughter going, every registration includes admission for two to a regular performance at Unexpected Productions’ iconic Market Theater in Pike Place Market.

Participants can choose between two packages:

• The Basic Package: Two admissions to the workshop plus two tickets to a regular Unexpected Productions performance.
• The Playdate Deck Package: Everything in the Basic Package, plus The Playdate Deck, a game that encourages couples and friends to continue playing and connecting long after the workshop ends.

The workshop takes place at Unexpected Productions’ Georgetown studio, which offers free parking and convenient access to neighborhood restaurants and bars, making it easy to turn the afternoon into a complete date-night experience.

Whether celebrating a special occasion, looking for something different to do together, or simply wanting to reconnect, Playful Connections offers an opportunity to discover how a little laughter and play can bring people closer.

Event Details

What: Playful Connections: An Improv Workshop for Couples and Friends

When: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

Where: Unexpected Productions Georgetown Studio, 650 S. Orcas St., Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98108

Age: 18 and older

Instructor: Sara Carmer McMahon

Experience: No improv or acting experience required

Registration: Advance registration required. Each package includes admission for two.

Register Here

Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before the workshop to receive credit toward a future class or workshop. Refunds are not available. No credit is issued for no-shows.

Consistently voted Best Live Comedy in Western Washington, Unexpected Productions is the heart of improv in the Puget Sound. Unexpected Productions (UP) created the improv scene in Seattle. For 42 years, Unexpected Productions has focused on the art of storytelling in its work, incorporating audience suggestions and weaving them into compelling stories. We perform 15 shows a week. No two shows are alike; they have never been seen before and will never be seen again. It is also the home of the most established improv school and corporate training program in the state.

UP started in 1982 when we became the 1st in the US to perform Theatresports, now the longest-running show in Seattle. In 1983, UP was officially established as a non-profit theater and school. In May of 1991, we found a home at the Market Theater.

UP has established a global reputation as a leader in improv & innovation. Today, UP Improv is64 members strong, & the tightly woven ensemble uses audience suggestions and experiences to create a show that is innovative, thoughtful, & always entertaining. We change lives through improv. Our purpose is clear – we are dedicated to improv and making it accessible to everyone.