By audition, Advanced Improv Performance Lab is designed for experienced improv artists looking to continue developing their craft. We’ll be placing an emphasis on acting for the theatre combined with a rich exploration of improvisational theatre forms and practices. Moving beyond simple games, the ensemble will explore genres and narrative structures, enabling them to create spontaneous theatre with rich, fully developed characters that celebrate the human condition. We’ll create an ensemble whose goal is to present professional level, improvisational theatre performances, providing students opportunities to learn about branding and marketing an improv ensemble, with the goal of appearing at improv festivals and theatres. We’ll also explore Applied Improvisation in business and educational settings. There will be two performances at the School of Theatre (to be scheduled).
Prerequisites: Beginning Improv, Intermediate Improv, and two cycles of Improv Performance Lab. Commensurate experience will also be considered.
Instructor: Diana Brown is an improv teaching artist, actor, producer, director, and voiceover talent. Diana was named as one of The Improv Boost’s 2025 Sudden Impact Teachers. She was voted Most Valuable Mentor and Teacher at the San Francisco Improv Festival. In addition to leading the Improv Performance Lab program at the School of Theatre, Diana is a member of the leadership team with Leela Improv Theatre. She leads the improvised Shakespeare program at All Out Comedy Theatre. And she’s a guest teacher with BATS Improv. Diana performs, directs, and teaches at theatre and improv festivals nationally and internationally.
- Mon 7–10pm
1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30 (no class 2/16)
$475
Auditions will be held on Jan 24 from 1–3:30pm at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, located at 2071 Addison St. Please bring a current photo and résumé, sharing your acting and improv experience and training. Direct registration link will be sent to selected students after auditions.