LEVEL 1 - "Intro to Longform": This is the place to start if you have never improvised before, or did some shortform improv in the past. In Intro to Longform you will learn about key improv skills like agreement, characterization, monologues, and object work. We'll finish by learning the Armando performance structure. 8 weeks.

LEVEL 2 - "Intro to The Harold": Students who have successfully completed Level 1, the Elective "A Short Intro to Longform", or have permission should sign up for this class. In "Intro to The Harold " students will begin to learn about the vital components of longform - openings, game, callbacks, and the most famous longform structure: The Harold. 8 weeks.

LEVEL 3 - "Advanced Harold Concepts": Students who have completed Level 2 will continue to explore the possibilities of The Harold form by focusing on additional strategies for openings and group games. They will also improve their general improv skills by learning new techniques for editing. 8 weeks.

LEVEL 4 - "Advanced Longforms Class": Will expand the horizons of successful Level 3 students by introducing them to the world beyond The Harold. Each section of this class will focus on a new and exciting form of the instructor's choice (Deconstruction, La Ronde, Movie, Tragedy) - making it possible to take the course several times and continue to learn new skills. 8 weeks.

MASTER CLASS - "Ensemble Formation": This class, which requires completion of Level 4 and an audition is for improvisors who have successfully completed PHIT's core-curriculum and wish to create ensembles to perform for audiences at the Theater, around Philadelphia, and beyond. 8 weeks of class, followed by 4 weeks of shows.

IMPROV FOR TEENS 1 - "Intro to Longform": This is the place to start if you have never improvised before, or did some shortform improv in the past. In Intro to Longform you will learn about key improv skills like agreement, characterization, monologues, and object work. We'll finish by learning the Armando performance structure. $150 for 8 weeks.

IMPROV FOR TEENS 2 - "Intro to The Harold": Students who have successfully completed Level 1, the Elective "A Short Intro to Longform", or have permission should sign up for this class. In "Intro to The Harold " students will begin to learn about the vital components of longform - openings, game, callbacks, and the most famous longform structure: The Harold. $150 for 8 weeks.

IMPROV FOR TEENS 3 - "Advanced Harold Concepts": Students who have completed Level 2 will continue to explore the possibilities of The Harold form by focusing on additional strategies for openings and group games. They will also improve their general improv skills by learning new techniques for editing. $150 for 8 weeks.

LEVEL 1 - "Intro to Longform": This is the place to start if you have never improvised before, or did some shortform improv in the past. In Intro to Longform you will learn about key improv skills like agreement, characterization, monologues, and object work. We'll finish by learning the Armando performance structure. $150 for 8 weeks.

LEVEL 2 - "Intro to The Harold": Students who have successfully completed Level 1, the Elective "A Short Intro to Longform", or have permission should sign up for this class. In "Intro to The Harold " students will begin to learn about the vital components of longform - openings, game, callbacks, and the most famous longform structure: The Harold. $150 for 8 weeks.

LEVEL 3 - "Advanced Harold Concepts": Students who have completed Level 2 will continue to explore the possibilities of The Harold form by focusing on additional strategies for openings and group games. They will also improve their general improv skills by learning new techniques for editing. $150 for 8 weeks.

SPECIAL INTENSIVE - "Impro & Impro for Storytellers": This three-day intensive class is taught annually by one of the founding fathers of improvisation, Keith Johnstone. The focus of the weekend is on creating improv that is not competitive in nature, but relaxed and fun for improvisors and audiences alike. Depending on time available and the skill of the group, the Life Game may also be covered.

SPECIAL INTENSIVE - "Musical Improv Intensive": This two-day intensive workshop covers all the techniques and strategies you will need to understand and start considering musical improv performance. You'll learn about song structures, patterns, and rhymes - as well as how to create choreography and other assorted musical fabulousness. And you'll even freestyle rap! Seriously! Freestyle rap!

SPECIAL INTENSIVE - "Sketch Writing for SNL": This 2-day workshop is for ANYONE who has ever thought about writing sketch comedy for stage or television. If you've got the ideas and want to know how to build a sketch, this class is for you. This class will demystify what an SNL sketch looks like, what a "packet" for SNL or MAD TV consists of and what "readers" are looking for in a "packet." The class will focus on a commercial parody for the first day (which you will bring to the first class 1-3 pages) and a 2-person/5-page sketch for the second day. As one of the only former SNL writers teaching sketch in the country, I will give you a clear concise point of view of someone who has been there, in a fun and nurturing environment. Ali has taught this class to over 1,000 people. He's ready, are you?

SPECIAL INTENSIVE - "2 Day Improv Workshop": This class is for ALL Improvisers who are looking to fine tune their work. We will take everything you have been working on in the world of longform Improvisation and solidify your learning thus far. We will work on drills and exercises that will reinforce the vernacular of Improvisation that works consistently. You'll learn how to cut to the chase and get to what the scene is really about while focusing on active listening and reacting while serving the entire piece. Discover how to cultivate your own personal Improv Samurai, so that you will trust that "Acting Like Yourself" works. As long as you are entertaining yourself, you will entertain others. Nothing suffices like the truth, that's where all the funny comes from. A pot of cold water boils faster than a pot of hot water, if you agree and understand this concept, this workshop is for you. $150 for two days.

ELECTIVE - "A Short Intro to Longform": Designed for improvisors who have never done longform improv before, this class can be taken in place of Level 1 and will focus solely on the skills an experienced shortform improvisor or actor needs to be fully prepared for our Level 2 class: playing slow, creating comedy out of truth, and the basic longform performance structure: the Armando. 4 weeks.

ELECTIVE - "Intro to Sketch Writing": This four-week elective course will teach students the basic tenants of sketch comedy writing - from details like format, to concepts like "the rule of three", and beyond. Students will develop sketches focused on character and parody using techniques from improvisation in the process to tease out and develop ideas. At the conclusion of the course students sketches will be performed for an audience - and they will have the option of performing themselves or having PHIT actors present their material. 4 weeks, plus 1 performance.

ELECTIVE - "Ladies Only": Come one, come all! ... Actually, scratch that - just women can come! This elective is designed as a place for the growing community of Philadelphia female improvisors to get together and learn in a testosterone free environment. Feel the empowerment! 4 weeks.

ELECTIVE - "Musical Improv": Designed for experienced improvisors, this class will teach you how to create improvised song and dance using existing song structures and conventions of musical theater. 4 weeks (includes accompanist to help hide your poor singing).

WORKSHOP - "Beginning Improvisation": This class is designed to give participants a basic introduction to Improvisation. Intended to stimulate creativity and improvised play, the material covered will include easily understood games and exercises, taught in an encouraging, fun and low pressure environment.

WORKSHOP - "Come and Fail... to Find Your Clown": Combining the disciplines of physical theatre, impro and clowning, this workshop will begin with the basics of physical performance and move towards the discovery of ones own clown as well as the development joint clowning performances. Moving at a pace to suit the experience of the group the workshop will use training methods inspired by the great exponents of the European clowning tradition including Jacque LeCoq and Phillipe Gaulier. These will include: Neutral, Le Jeu (the game), Chorus, Bouffon, and Clown. It is not essential to have previous experience of this particular way of working but it is necessary to come prepared to fail, make mistakes and laugh at yourself…for it is only by accepting our ridiculousness that we will find and enjoy performing our clowns!

WORKSHOP - "Contemporary Realism": Tired of the wacky of improv?  Interested in the funny of truth?  The poignancy of a tension-relieving laugh?  Come explore realistic acting techniques in a safe environment.  Practice Emotional Intelligence: the ability to recognize the emotional state of both yourself and your partner, and navigate the territory between the two with moment to moment truthful responses.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll get really good side-coaching.  For Intermediate or Advanced Improvisers who have studied or performed acting or improv for at least two years.

WORKSHOP - "Deep Character": Take what you already know about creating character, push it and find the motherload – the weird but truthful stuff that makes solo and team work on stage snap, crackle and pop. Find out what your characters deepest desires are instantly, and discover what really pisses them off. Inspired by a variety of fascinating albeit esoteric psychological theories about character, students will learn to identify character cues in themselves and others, as well as make offers more spontaneously and truthfully!

WORKSHOP - "Exploring Improvisational Tragedy": In this workshop you will learn techniques and exercises for expanding the limits of your choices through vulnerability, internalization and emotion. Add depth and range to your body of work by exploring the dark and frail side of human character. Defeat vs. hope, desire vs. innocence, vengence vs. forgiveness and selfishness vs. redemption. Utilizing contrasting themes such as these can add subtext, root your presence onstage and create a tighter connection with both your scene partner and the audience. See how adding range to characters can make any moment, from serious to comedic, more rich and rewarding.

WORKSHOP - "Game On!": Finding the "game of the scene" is an improv technique
that allows you to make anything into an interesting, funny, compelling piece of entertainment. Learn how to find the game of the scene, recognize patterns, and heighten ideas.

WORKSHOP - "Get Real!": Get serious about comedy and find meaningful, honest, amazing moments in improv. Learn how to find the truth in comedy. $35 (one-day workshop).

WORKSHOP - "Get the F!%k Out of Your Head, Motherf&!ker": This workshop, designed for advanced improvisors, is based on the ideas put forth by Mick Napier in his book Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out. Students should come prepared to take everything they know about improv, kill it while it sleeps, and dump the body in the Delaware River. This class will give you new approaches to your work.

WORKSHOP - "Improv Makeover": Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. Through this workshop, you will be challenged to work your weaker muscles, all in a fun, relaxed, nonjudgmental environment. If you've ever asked "What do I need to work on?," this workshop is for you, regardless of your improv background or level. Through personalized exercises and challenges, you'll work to step outside of your comfort zone and become a more well-rounded improvisor, and have fun doing it. This is an improv workshop tailored just for you.

WORKSHOP - "One Isn't the Loneliest Number": We've all heard that practice makes perfect, but sometimes getting together with your group, or even just friends for practice is difficult... and you can't practice improvising by yourself, right? Wrong! This workshop will present students with a variety of exercises - developed by Mick Napier of the Annoyance Theater in Chicago - that will allow them to hone their improv skills, even if nobody loves them.

WORKSHOP - "Scene Study": Come out to work your improv muscles on the most important skill: playing scenes. This class focuses on giving you a chance to act with others while getting notes and advice on scene play from one of PHIT's talented and experienced instructors. Come with some specific you'd like to work on in mind, or just come to get expert feedback on what you can do to help push your improv to the next level.

WORKSHOP - "Slow Comedy": Slow isn't just for your grandparents anymore. Learn how to play characters, games, and relationships that can last for half an hour and beyond. Slow doesn't mean weak choices, big and bold is the only way to play. Initiate hard, honor your information and get comfortable. The emphasis of this workshop will be on two-person mono-scenes. Slow is the new fast. $35 (one-day workshop).

WORKSHOP - "Stand Out, don't just stand around...": How to create interesting scenes that aren't just talking heads. Learn new techniques to make your improv more descriptive, active, clear, and unique.

WORKSHOP - "Status": Come learn about the power of status as a tool for creating characters, scenes and games. Experienced improvisors will appreciate a review of this all-important concept and beginning students of improv will find a powerful new tool to use in their work.

WORKSHOP - "Style-o-Rama!": Learn the lingo, physical moves and cultural references needed to make styles work a part of your personal improv tool kit. This workshop will cover a variety of film & theatre styles (such as Film Noir, Shakespeare, Western, etc) and explore their use in both short form games and long form scene work. Learn styles work in a fun and eminently understandable way and add richness and variety to your game.

WORKSHOP - "Toolbox": This workshop covers the improvisor's bag of tricks, tools, and tips to create interesting scenes. Create your own secret stash of improv skills. Learn what to do when you get up there.

WORKSHOP - "Whose Longform is it Anyway?": If you've done short-form improv and want to give longform a try, take this workshop to learn fundamentals for good scenes and get an introduction to such formats as the Harold, the Deconstruction, and the Armando Diaz.