Comedy Classes in Los Angeles & Online
Improv, Sketch, Character, TV Writing, Voiceover, Stand-Up, Clown, taught by working professionals with credits at SNL, Netflix, Hulu, Adult Swim, and beyond.
The Pack Theater has been one of Los Angeles' most beloved independent comedy schools and theaters since 2016. We’re known for small class sizes, working professional instructors, and some of the most affordable tuition in LA (or online from anywhere). Our teachers have written and performed for SNL, Netflix, Hulu, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, and beyond, and our alumni have gone on to write or perform on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, Dropout, and/or gained major influence online. Whether you've never set foot on a stage or you're a seasoned performer looking to sharpen a specific skill, The Pack offers a direct path to finding your unique comedic voice, without the gatekeeping or the price tag of larger institutions.
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Mondays 7-10pm. Starts May 18th. 8 weeks. IN-PERSON
Intro to Improv is great for personal development, communication skills, lowering anxiety, building confidence, meeting new people and just plain having fun! Learn the basic tools of improvisation, great for both actors and non-actors alike. You'll get onstage immediately and explore improv fundamentals of agreement, commitment, trusting your instincts, active listening, initiating and collaboration. Sessions are designed so students build a strong foundation as a confident improviser in a safe space to take creative risks. This class culminates in a performance with students from the other Improv classes. Come join the fun! Welcome!
No prerequisites required!
This class will be held at the Pack Theater space!
1615 N. Vermont, 90027
Saturdays 12-3pm. Starts May 23rd. 8 weeks. IN-PERSON.
Find more confidence, freedom and joy on stage. Learn to make strong choices while embracing the power of listening to support your partner and stay open to the possibilities of every moment. We’ll dive deep into elements of scene-work such as character, style, blocking, and subtext. We’ll help identify any habits that may be holding you back while celebrating your unique voice. And we’ll have fun. You’ll leave a braver, better, more confident improvisor. This class will help you be a braver, better, more confident improvisor. This class culminates in a performance with students from the other Improv classes. Come join the fun!
Prerequisite: Some Improv experience, class or performance. (Intermediate - Advanced)
This class will be held at the Pack Theater space!
1615 N. Vermont, 90027
Sundays 11am-2pm. 8 weeks. Starts May 24th. IN-PERSON
Combining the freedom and spontaneity of improv with classic acting and theatre exercises, this class will help make your work more believable and add levels to your funny. We will work on adding honest emotional reactions, authenticity and empathy to your scenes that will allow you to confidently make bolder choices and connect with the audience in deeper and more memorable ways. You will learn how to take command of the stage and earn every audience reaction, from laughs to gasps. This class culminates in a performance with students from the other Improv classes. Come join the fun!
Prerequisite: Some Improv experience, class or performance. (Intermediate - Advanced)
This class will be held at the Pack Theater space!
1615 N. Vermont, 90027
Tuesdays 6-8pm, 8 weeks. Starts June 2nd. IN-PERSON.
This class is all about playing characters in improv scenes. Together, we'll work on making big choices in our voice, body, and POV to help take scene-work to the next level. We will learn how to filter all of our choices as improvisers through playing strong, committed characters. In this way, we can turn our minds off, and let the character takeover. This class will be active, focused on repetitions, and will be a place to safely fail hard. What you take away from this class will be a roster of characters, and knowledge that can be applied to long form, short form, voiceover, sketch, or anywhere you want to act like a grounded freak.
Prerequisite: Some Improv experience, class or performance. (Intermediate - Advanced)
This class will be held in the class spaces next to the theater.
1613 N. Vermont, 90027
IN-PERSON May 11 (7 weeks) 7-10pm, Mondays
IN-PERSON May 14 (7 weeks) 8-11pm, Thursdays
ONLINE May 17 (7 weeks) 12-3pm Pacific, Sundays
SUMMER ONLINE INTENSIVE starts June 1st (5 days) 10am-5pm Pacific, Monday-Friday ONLINE* (max only 10 spots)
SUMMER IN-PERSON INTENSIVE starts June 22 (5 days) 10am-5pm* Pacific, Monday-Friday IN-PERSON* at Pack (max only 10 spots)
This sketch comedy writing workshop is geared toward all levels of experience. Thousands have participated across 6 continents, ranging from people who have never written a comedy sketch in their lives, to well-known comedians, professional screenwriters, and TV Producers. If you’ve never written a sketch before, this is will give you a solid foundation. And if you HAVE taken a sketch writing class before, you’ll learn new things you weren’t taught in other Sketch Comedy writing classes, discover new ways to make Sketch Comedy writing easier, more fun, all while increasing your productivity.
Each student will walk away from Eric’s class with 7 comedy sketches & bits that they’ve written, and also receive nearly 60 pages of written information via .PDF or emails, and video examples across sketch comedy history ranging from Abbott & Costello to Monty Python to SNL to Key & Peele to I Think You Should Leave to TikTok.
Eric is a professional comedy writer with over a Billion views on sketches he’s written, and some of Eric's past sketch comedy students have written for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, HBO, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, Netflix, and have gained huge online followings.
Learn to write funny stuff for TV, YouTube, Stage, Instagram, TikTok, and more in an informative and supportive environment!
IMPORTANT: All class times listed are in the Pacific Time Zone. Online classes will be held over Zoom, with the link sent out no later than 4 hours before the first class. In-Person class will be held at the Pack Theater in Los Angeles (unless noted above), with the 1st class of the session taking place on Zoom, with the remainder of the session in-person. If you need a Payment Plan, at checkout you can opt for PayPal in 4 or PayPal Monthly. See the FAQ down the page for answers to more questions.
FULL 7 WEEK START/END DATES/LOCATIONS
Mondays May 11-June 22 (Pack)
Thursdays May 14-June 25 (WGIS Studio 1, next door to Pack)
Sundays May 17-June 28 (ONLINE via Zoom.)
*NOTE ON SUMMER INTENSIVES: Classes will be 10AM-5PM Pacific with an hour break for lunch. These 5-Day (Monday-Friday) crash course intensives will include all information/handouts/lectures that you get in the regular class. There will be time set aside for individual writing during the Intensives, meaning, you won’t have written outside homework like in the regular class.
Wednesdays 7-10pm, 8 weeks. Starts May 6th. ONLINE.
Sketch Comedy Level II: Elevate Your Comedy
Building on the foundation from Level I, this 8-week advanced workshop is designed for those who want to push their sketches to the next level. You’ll dive deeper into the craft, refining your comedic voice and learning how to make bold, memorable choices that make your sketches stand out.
In this course, we’ll focus on advanced techniques to ensure your material is not only polished but also uniquely yours. You'll receive personalized feedback on your work, including new sketches and any pieces you wish to refine. By the end of this class, you’ll be equipped with the skills to create sharp, distinctive sketches that truly "pop."
Prerequisite: Completion of Pack Sketch Level I is required to enroll in this course.
Note: Please bring a sketch under 6 pages to the first class for review and workshopping.
IMPORTANT: Class time listed is in the Pacific Time Zone. Class will be held over Zoom.
Sundays 2-5pm, 8 weeks, Starts May 10th. IN-PERSON.
A Characters Workshop with John Milhiser is here to help you create, develop and perform funny original characters. Yes, there will be plenty of wigs in this class, but this workshop will teach you how to think beyond the wigs. So much so, that you won’t even want the wigs. Or at the very least, a lot fewer wigs. This workshop will focus on developing the game, physical movement and voice of each sketch character — even if they don’t have a literal voice. This class will focus on finding the funny in everyday life and how to transition that successfully to the stage. Each student will be required to develop characters outside of class as well as in. By the end of the workshop each student will get to perform a full set of newly written characters in front of a live audience at The Pack Theater.
This class will be held at the Pack Theater space!
1615 N. Vermont, 90027
Mondays 12-2pm (4 classes) Starting May 11th.
Intro to Clown: Finding Your Absurd
I aim to take your ideas and help you look at them through an absurd perspective/lens. Allowing you to find the fun in absurdity.
My intent is also to tap into your acting ability; to bring a grounded realness to every clown piece, so even when you're doing the craziest/most farcical thing, it's still approachable and funny to the audience.
The class approaches clown from a distinctive "what's the funny/absurd thing" perspective. And in that way, it explores game, but through a very imbecilic and abstract lens.
This class will be held at The Pack Theater
1615 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Mondays 6-8pm (4 weeks) Starts June 8th. ONLINE.
How do you “throw it away” and still make it make sense? You have to understand what it is you’re saying, who you’re saying it to, and how to most effectively deliver that message in your unique voice.
Each week, we will dive deeper into different types of commercial copy. We’ll translate each script from Ad-speak to plain language, define audience and message, and find takes grounded in authenticity. You’ll also hone your ad-libs without drifting off-style—improv that supports the message and feels like it was always part of the script.
By the end of this session, you should feel confident to deliver your own believable take on any script that comes your way.
Prerequisite: previous voiceover experience and/or Robin’s Intro to VO class. (Intermediate-Advanced)
This class is currently offered ONLINE
Wed 6-8pm, Starts June 10th. ONLINE.
This foundational VO class is a hands-on, deeply practical approach to adding voiceover to your performance career. Alternating between comedic commercial and animation copy, you will work on mic to discover and fine tune what you uniquely bring to a script. You’ll learn exactly what info you need from a spec for commercial, and how to bring what you already do on stage to a cartoon script. We’ll also discuss the business, how it’s changed, what to avoid, and how to get your career off the ground. Class meets via Zoom. Home studios welcome but not required
This class is currently offered ONLINE
Mondays 7-10pm, 8 weeks, Starts May 18th. ONLINE.
Write that TV pilot ALREADY! In this class, Keisha & Andrew will take you from “idea“ to “a finished half hour scripted comedy pilot”. We will review basic story structure, give specific feedback, and talk industry goals in this class. You will walk away with the first draft of script and a basic pitch! With staffing season and pitch season around the corner, be ready this year with your materials.
This class is currently offered ONLINE
All class times are PST.
About This Class
Currently N/A
This class will be held at The Clubhouse
1607 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Standup 101 is perfect for people with previous sketch/improv experience AND people who’ve never been on stage before. No matter your background, by the end of this 6 week class you’ll have a tight 5 minute set that gets big laughs. Write new material and get constructive feedback in a supportive workshop environment. Instructor Jason Van Glass will share his secrets of standup to help you tap into and share your unique point of view.
May 17th (One-Day-Only) Sunday 11am-1pm. ONLINE
After having written your first or second sample, you may think to yourself, “What now?” When you ask a writer how they broke in or got repped, the answers tend to be very specific to the point where you may feel they’re not very applicable. The truth is there’s no one way to break in or get repped. And in this class, we go over how to get a job, how to network, how to meet with production companies, how to get a pitch meeting, etc. and the many different, applicable ways you can break in and get representation.
May 3rd (One-Day-Only) Sunday 11am-1pm . ONLINE!
Just like there is a formula for writing a great, fun sketch, there is also a formula for writing a great, fun TV pilot. Through examples, in this one day workshop, Stephanie breaks down the format and the math behind the story structure of a comedic pilot, down to the page number. At the end of this workshop, you will know how to approach writing any comedic TV pilot idea you have.
April 11th (One-Day-Only) Saturday 11am-1pm ONLINE!
In this workshop Stephanie will teach both verbal pitch structures (For TV AND Film). The workshop will also go over HOW to get pitch meetings, what materials you need for your pitch, what materials you don’t need for your pitch, and how and where in your pitch to pitch YOU. Every student will leave the class knowing how to structure a pitch for any idea or project they have.
If You Need a Payment Plan:
We’re here to help! Just email classes@packtheater.com. Additionally, at checkout, you can also PayPal in 4 payments or PayPal monthly.
Read our full class guide for May 2026
For more info on our offerings for this session, all on one page click here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where is the Pack Theater located?
1615 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, in the Los Feliz neighborhood. This is the new Pack Theater space where most in-person classes are now held.
Do I need to live in Los Angeles to take classes?
No. Several classes are offered fully online via Zoom, including Sketch 1 (Sundays), Sketch 2, Writing a Pilot, Improv Position Play, Voiceover, and all of Stephanie Streisand's one-day TV Pilot & Industry workshops. The Sketch 1 online intensive is also available to students anywhere.
Is there a payment plan available?
Yes. At checkout you can select PayPal Pay in 4 or PayPal Monthly to split tuition into installments. You can also email classes@packtheater.com to discuss a payment plan directly.
What level of experience do I need?
It depends on the class. Intro to Improv, Sketch 1, Character Workshop, Intro to Clown, Voiceover, Standup class, and all Stephanie Streisand workshops require no prior experience. Fearless Scenework, Improv and Acting, and Improv Position Play require some previous improv experience. Sketch 2 requires prior completion of Sketch 1.
Do improv classes end with a performance?
Some. All core improv classes (Intro to Improv, Fearless Scenework, and Improv and Acting) culminate in a live performance alongside students from other improv classes at the theater. The Character Workshop also ends with a live audience showcase.
How do I get notified about sold-out classes?
On each sold-out class page at packtheater.com there is a "Get notified by email when this product is in stock" option. You can also email classes@packtheater.com directly.
The Pack Theater has some of the most affordable and best comedy classes in Los Angeles. We believe there is no “one true way” to approach comedy and instead focus on developing your unique voice by providing a variety of tools and exercises. Our teachers have over a century of experience between them and have trained and taught all over the world. The majority of our stand-up and improv classes in Los Angeles are offered in person so you can develop stage experience but there are also online improv classes that can allow you to sharpen your game from the comfort of home.
Our teachers have performed or written for things like SNL, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, FOX, Netflix, Hulu, and many, many, more! Our teachers’ alumni have performed or written at SNL, Comedy Central, Adult Swim, Netflix, Hulu, Dropout, HBO, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, TBS, Nickelodeon, Disney, Dreamworks, and many, many, more! And many current popular comedy influencers on Instagram & TikTok once studied Improv, Sketch, Characters, and more at The Pack!
Our online comedy writing classes help make developing scripts and sketches more approachable for comedy writers and screenwriters of any skill level. Get started and learn to write sketch comedy online with teachers with real experience working in Hollywood and will provide a wealth of resources to come up with and develop your ideas.
We also offer elective classes to help you gain special skills and meet your goals from an online pilot writing class to an in-person musical improv comedy class. Taking a comedy class can give you the opportunity to get real-time feedback so you can skip some trial and error of bombing on stage, provide accountability to help you reach your goals, and find collaborative partners that you can develop shows and performances with for years to come.
“It's one of the most passionate groups of talented comedy people I've ever come across."
"Something special is happening at this place."
"Lots of great advice about the comedy business from a real working professional."
“It's one of the most passionate groups of talented comedy people I've ever come across." "Something special is happening at this place." "Lots of great advice about the comedy business from a real working professional."
"my mouth hurt from smiling too much."
"They teach skills and forms that no other theater teaches, great for advance players as well as beginners."
"I feel like I have the secret manual to good improv"
"my mouth hurt from smiling too much." "They teach skills and forms that no other theater teaches, great for advance players as well as beginners." "I feel like I have the secret manual to good improv"