Almost there! Please agree to our policies before purchasing this course.

COVID-19 Policy: Our classes are currently mask-optional, with proof of vaccination not required. However, this may change as CDC, State and local regulations and guidance changes. We ask that you do not take our classes if you are unwilling to follow COVID safety measures if the situation returns us to a place where face coverings or proof of vaccination become required or recommended again.

Conduct Policy: We have an extremely reasonable student conduct policy, and we expect everyone to follow it. This includes folks participating in our jams, one-day workshops and $10 intro classes. You can find it here: Conduct Policy ×


To pay via Cash App or Venmo, or to request a discount, email us at email@buffaloimprovhouse.com


Early Bird Pricing in effect!

Musical Improv Comedy Level One

Core Curriculum

Wednesdays at 6:30 PM with Dan Reitz beginning October 9, 2024

Learn the magic that is created by blending improv comedy and music! In this class you'll learn the basics of singing improvised songs and adding improvised songs to your improv comedy scenes!

Details

Dates: Wednesdays beginning October 9, 2024, ending November 13, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Buffalo Improv House
Address: 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo NY 14207
Student Showcase Performance: November 16, 2024
Prerequisites: This course is for folks with at least some improv experience. You do not have to be a great singer! Or a singer at all. However, at least some improv comedy experience is required for this class and our Level Two class or equivalent experience is strongly recommended.

Instructor Bio

DAN REITZ is the founder and creative director of Buffalo Improv House, a Buffalo native, and a 24-year veteran of improv comedy. In New York City he was the musical director or featured performer with several popular improv comedy shows, including the award-winning Your Love, Our Musical, Baby Wants Candy, and Blank! The Musical. He has been featured on multiple episodes of the Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast starring Zach Reino and Jessica McKenna, and he wrote a couple songs with Robert Smigel for Leo, the recently released kids movie by Happy Madison productions and Netflix Animation. Dan is the co-founder of Zamboni Revolution, Syracuse University's improv comedy troupe. Before the pandemic he taught improv and ensemble comedy at Sarah Lawrence College, was on the faculty at the Magnet Theater, and performed weekly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and the People’s Improv Theater. His other improv comedy credits include the Edinburgh Fringe, the Annoyance Theater, ComedySportz NYC, the Williamstown Theater Festival, the SteelStacks Improv Festival, Comic Con NYC, and the New York Comedy Festival. He's also a trombone player who does stuff.

Frequently Asked Question

Q: I’ve done improv before and would like to take an eight-week class. Which class should I start with?

A: Our Level One class is our introductory class, and is the class most people should probably start with, even those with improv experience. It is well-paced and full of great information and activities. In Level One we cover Yes/And, building strong relationships and grounded scenes, creating characters and committing to them, initiating from a suggestion and an opening, basic scene mechanics, and editing. Our Level One class is specifically designed to be worthwhile and fun for everyone, including people with improv comedy experience.

This being said, if you’ve taken long form improv classes from a place that teaches it similarly to the way that we teach it (there are a lot of places that qualify) or if you perform improv comedy regularly, it should be fine if you would like to start with either our Level Two or Musical Improv Comedy Level One class, or if you want to participate in our Adventure Club program. If you’d like to chat about whether it might be ok for you to jump right to an upper-level class, send us an email at email@buffaloimprovhouse.com

For more frequently asked questions, check our FAQ!

The Fine Print

This class is offered by Buffalo Improv House LLC.

Class Size Requirement: This class requires a certain number of registrants in order to run. Buffalo Improv House reserves the right to cancel and refund this class if that number is not met. We will be in touch with you if it looks like this will happen.

COVID Policy: We follow local, state, and federal guidance and requirements in regards to COVID safety policies. In addition, this class takes place at a building that may choose to enact its own COVID safety policies, and we are in frequent communication with other performing arts organizations regarding their COVID policies. Our classes are currently mask-optional, with proof of vaccination not required. However, this may change as CDC, State and local regulations and guidance changes, or as new best practices develop in our industry. We take COVID seriously and ask that you do not take our classes if you are unwilling to follow COVID safety measures if the COVID situation returns us to a place where face coverings or proof of vaccination become required or recommended again.

Cancellation / Makeup Policy: This is a multi-week class. If an individual session needs to be canceled due to weather, instructor unavailability, or for COVID reasons, a session will be added on the Wednesday following the final scheduled class session. If another make-up day makes more sense, the instructor and students can decide on an alternate make-up day. If the Buffalo Improv House team determine that the class can no longer run due to COVID reasons or other reasons that would disrupt in-person instruction, the class will either move online, will be put on hold, will be moved to a new location, or will be canceled, depending on various factors including student feedback.

Refund Policy: We follow the same strict no refund policy of most Improv Comedy schools and theaters, except in the case where our class is unable to run as advertised. If this class cannot run as advertised and must be canceled before its start date, we will provide full refunds. If this class must be canceled or if significant changes must be made to the schedule after the class begins (beyond the use of our reserved make-up day) we will provide prorated refunds based on the number of remaining classes.

Lateness and Attendance Policy: Please be on time for our class, and please prioritize this class. Our classes are designed in a way where it is most beneficial if everyone is there, on time, ready to work. It’s understandable to occasionally be running late because work ran late, or to need to miss a class because of a long-planned vacation, a medical situation, or something like that, and we are very understanding and flexible. However, students who are repeatedly late or absent will be asked not to participate in the class show and will likely be required to repeat this class before moving on. In our 30+ years of combined improv teaching experience, this has only happened a handful of times and it is a very tough conversation to have. We do not want this. Please do not force us to make this decision!

Seeing Improv Shows: Beginning in 2024, students will be required to see at least two improv shows in order to go onto the next level. This ensures that our students know what they are studying to perform! We offer students free admission to at least two shows/events per eight-week class to make this easy, and there are other improv comedy shows and companies around town. Your instructor will let you know which shows are running each week.

Student Discounts: Are you a student? We are happy to offer discounts to current college / university students or recent graduates. Send us an email at email@buffaloimprovhouse.com


Upcoming Classes

Great for Beginners

One Day Workshop

Saturday October 5, 2024 at 1:00 PM

This is your opportunity to try out improv comedy in a fun, supportive and zero-pressure environment! In this 90-minute introductory class you'll learn some improv basics, play improv games, and get to see what it's like to make up fun characters and situations with a group of like-minded people.

Great for Beginners

One Day Workshop

Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Music and Improv Comedy combine in this dynamic 90-minute beginner-level workshop! You'll learn the basics of improvising funny songs and put those skills to use right away!

Core Curriculum

Great for Beginners

Sundays at 11:00 AM beginning October 6, 2024

This eight-week class covers the basics of performing funny improv, including agreement, committing to characters, and creating a strong foundation for your scenes. It is a ton of fun and is designed for absolute beginners as well as experienced improvisers.

Core Curriculum

Wednesdays at 6:30 PM beginning October 9, 2024

Learn the magic that is created by blending improv comedy and music in this class taught by two of the world’s best musical improv comedy teachers!

Improv comedy is fun, like really fun, and the best way to get started is by taking a class! Our improv comedy classes are fun and well-paced, and we’ve got stuff for all skill and experience levels!

We've had all sorts of people take our improv classes: college students, moms looking for something to do out of the house, retirees looking for a fun hobby, actors looking to add to their skillset, professionals who want to work on their confidence or public speaking, and people just looking to meet other cool people!

Our instructors are fantastic and our community is thriving! Take a class and see what all the fun is about!