Named one of the top Improv Schools In The Nation - Paste Magazine
CSz Classes are a fun, supportive way to learn improvisational thinking, gain self-confidence, develop business soft-skills and meet people.
A complete training series is available for adults as well as high school students.
CHANGE YOUR LIFE. SERIOUSLY.
CLASSES AT EVERY LEVEL
LEVEL 1
INTRO TO IMPROVISATION
Winter ‘26 Session starts the week of Jan. 5
This 8-week introductory class focuses on learning the basic skills of improvisation: team-building, trust, status, active listening, and agreement. Whether you want to become a performer or just become a more effective communicator, listener, and leader, this course is for you.
CSz Level 1 improv classes start four times a year - Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. These classes are the gateway for adults to all things ComedySportz®.
Note - You must be out of High School to attend CSz Adult Improv classes. If you are a current student, contact us about our High School League!
Class Dates:
Choose either:
Mondays: January 5 - March 9
(no class on 1/19 or 2/16)
or
Wednesdays: January 7 - February 25
Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Fee: $250
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr Unit D
San Jose, CA 95130
LEVEL 3B
CSz STYLE AND GAMES
Prerequisite: completion of Level 2
In this fast-paced 10-week class, you'll learn how to apply all your improv skills to the ComedySportz style. You’ll be exposed to some of our most popular games. Learn how they work, what makes them better, and how to add your own personality to the mix. During the last week, students will perform a competitive ComedySportz style match in the Student Showcase for an invited audience of family and friends!
Class Dates:
Thursdays: January 8 - March 12
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fee: $250
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
LEVEL 2
FOUNDATIONS IN SCENEWORK
Prerequisite: completion of Level 1
This 10-week class focuses on the who, what, and where of improvisation. We will work on base scene work, getting to the point, building relationships, and stage work. The skills learned in this class will transfer to almost any improv experience and will strengthen all the soft-skill development from Level 1. During the last week, students will perform in a Student Showcase for an invited audience of family and friends!
Class Dates:
Choose Either:
Mondays: January 5 - March 23
(no class on 1/19 or 2/16)
or
Wednesdays: January 7 - March 11
Time: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
Fee: $250
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
REC LEAGUE
Prerequisite: completion of Level 3B
Rec League is focused primarily on developing a sound understanding of the various ComedySportz games, styles, and formats. The Rec League will consist of 9 weeks of instruction followed by a show for friends and family on the final scheduled session for the season. All shows are complimentary for friends and family to encourage attendance. Players not performing are expected to attend shows. Please remember to order your uniform when registering for this class for the first time. Maximum 12 students
Class Dates:
Sundays, January 4 - March 8
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fee: $225
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
SPECIAL UPCOMING CLASSES
CSz Skillz: Guessing Games
Prerequisite: completion of Level 2B
Wanna go in-depth into guessing games like 5 Thingz, Playground Insults, and Chain Murder? Glad you asked!
CSz veteran Bart Fisher will break down best practices, tips, and tricks for being the ultimate guesser and a confident clue giver, then build up your skillz with practice and playing over this 5-week intensive workshop!
Prerequisite: Level 2
Class Dates:
Sundays, January 4 - February 1
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fee: $125
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
Join dozens of schools already battling the boredom of daily school activities and other lame on-campus clubs. For over 30 years, The Northern California ComedySportz High School League has empowered students to learn about leadership, teamwork, and theater in a fun and exciting way. The league provides an extra-curricular program for students to practice improv, take workshops led by professional improvisers, and perform with teams from other schools all year long. Plus, all ComedySportz High School League teams keep 100% of the profits made through ticket sales, promotional materials, etc. making the ComedySportz High School League Program an exceptional way to raise funds. ComedySportz is one of the few programs that can pay for itself year after year.
Longform Narrative Musicals
Saturday, December 6th
2:00PM - 5:00PM
In this class, taught by improviser and magician John Sturk, you’ll dive into the art of improvising a full-length narrative musical. You’ll learn how to create compelling opening numbers, discover your protagonist and antagonist, move seamlessly between scenes and songs, and understand both musical and story structure. Whether you're new to musical longform or looking to sharpen your storytelling, this class will give you the tools to bring an improvised musical to life from start to finish.
John Sturk can often be seen behind the keyboards at ComedySportz Chicago, the iO Theater, the Laugh Out Loud Theater, the Revival Improv Theater, and the Second City Training Center. He has worked on numerous sketch revues with groups such as Stir Friday Night, while also continuing to perform close-up and stage magic at a variety of public and private events. In addition to performing, John has experience as an educator—he has been teaching musical improv workshops at Tara DeFrancisco's The Improv Retreat since 2011, and officially joined the faculty at the Second City Training Center in 2022
LEVEL 3A
INTRO TO LONG FORM IMPROV
Prerequisite: completion of Level 2
This 10-week class exposes students to the nuts and bolts of long form improvisation. Learn to create and sustain more nuanced and meaningful scenes from fewer audience suggestions. Each week you will explore different techniques for initiating the next scene in the story such as establishing secondary characters, edits and wipes, pursuing objectives, and finding patterns. During the final session, the class will perform a long form improv show on the ComedySportz field for an invited audience of family and friends!
Prerequisite: Level 2
Class Dates:
Thursdays: January 8 - March 12
Time: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
Fee: $250
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
CSz Skillz: Collaboration
and Coordination Games
Prerequisite: completion of Level 2B
All CSz-style games require players to play as a team. These games take that to the next level in demanding closer listening, seamless give-and-take, and focus to build something together. The types of games include:
• One-word-at-a-time
• Prompting
• Gibberish play
• Tell Something Together
• Speak At The Same Time
• Share A Character
Class Dates:
Sundays, February 8 - March 8
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fee: $125
Location: San Jose Comedy Theater
5440 Thornwood Dr. Unit D
San Jose, CA
CSz Musical Games
Saturday, December 6th
10:00AM - 1:00 PM
Want to improve your singing skills for CSz matches? Join us for a focused workshop on musical short-form games commonly featured in ComedySportz! You'll get plenty of reps alongside fellow CSz students, all under the expert guidance of improviser and magician John Sturk. Don't miss this chance to level up your musical improv!
John Sturk can often be seen behind the keyboards at ComedySportz Chicago, the iO Theater, the Laugh Out Loud Theater, the Revival Improv Theater, and the Second City Training Center. He has worked on numerous sketch revues with groups such as Stir Friday Night, while also continuing to perform close-up and stage magic at a variety of public and private events. In addition to performing, John has experience as an educator—he has been teaching musical improv workshops at Tara DeFrancisco's The Improv Retreat since 2011, and officially joined the faculty at the Second City Training Center in 2022.