Comedy classes: stand-up, improv and sketch
26 places to take a stand-up, improv or sketch class in 16 US cities, from UCB and The Second City to local club workshops. Every school's site is checked weekly.
- Dad's Garage (Atlanta, GA; Improv): Atlanta's improv theater, with classes for adults.
- Coldtowne Theater (Austin, TX; Improv, Sketch): Austin improv theater and school.
- The Hideout Theatre (Austin, TX; Improv): Downtown Austin improv theater with a big class program.
- Improv Asylum (Boston, MA; Improv, Sketch): North End theater with an improv training program.
- The Annoyance Training Center (Chicago, IL; Improv, Sketch): Chicago's scrappy improv and sketch school.
- The Lincoln Lodge (Chicago, IL; Stand-up): Chicago's long-running stand-up showcase, with stand-up classes and training.
- The Second City Training Center (Chicago, IL; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): The famous Chicago school for improv, sketch writing and stand-up.
- iO Theater training center (Chicago, IL; Improv): Where long-form improv (the Harold) was born; a five-level program.
- Stomping Ground Comedy (Dallas, TX; Improv): Nonprofit comedy theater and training center in Dallas.
- Go Comedy! Improv Theater (Ferndale, MI; Improv): Ferndale improv theater with classes for all levels.
- Planet Ant Training Center (Hamtramck, MI; Improv): Hamtramck theater with an improv training center.
- Station Theater (Houston, TX; Improv, Sketch): Houston comedy theater with improv and sketch classes.
- Flappers University (Burbank, CA; Stand-up): Classes at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank.
- The Groundlings School (Los Angeles, CA; Improv, Sketch): The Melrose Avenue school behind generations of SNL cast members; improv and sketch.
- Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center (Los Angeles, CA; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): UCB's Los Angeles school: improv, sketch writing and stand-up.
- Third Coast Comedy (Nashville, TN; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): Nashville comedy club with improv, sketch and stand-up classes.
- Gotham Comedy Club classes (New York, NY; Stand-up): Stand-up classes at one of New York's top clubs, ending in a showcase on its stage.
- Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) (New York, NY; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): Manhattan comedy school and theater, teaching improv, sketch and stand-up since 2002.
- Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center (New York, NY; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): The improv school Amy Poehler co-founded; classes in improv, sketch writing and stand-up.
- Philly Improv Theater (Philadelphia, PA; Improv, Sketch): Philadelphia's improv and sketch school and theater.
- Arcade Comedy Theater (Arcade Academy) (Pittsburgh, PA; Improv, Sketch, Stand-up): Downtown Pittsburgh comedy theater teaching improv, sketch and stand-up.
- Curious Comedy Theater (Portland, OR; Improv): Portland comedy theater with a full class program.
- SF Comedy College (San Francisco, CA; Stand-up): Stand-up comedy training in San Francisco.
- Jet City Improv (Seattle, WA; Improv): Seattle improv company with classes for every level.
- Unexpected Productions (Seattle, WA; Improv): Improv classes by Pike Place Market (home of the Gum Wall).
- Washington Improv Theater (Washington, DC; Improv): DC's home for improv, with a full curriculum from first class on.
Updated November 12, 2026.