UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
The Siren Theater is committed to offering classes in all things comedy taught by performing professionals!
Classes will take place in person at The Siren Theater
3913 N. Mississippi Ave
Classes are for those 18+
Classes will take place in person at The Siren Theater
3913 N. Mississippi Ave
Classes are for those 18+
Arlo Weierhauser is a stand up comedy wunderkind who has graced the stage of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Epix's Unprotected Sects. You've seen them performing their signature brand of stand up on every stage in Portland every night of the week, as well as in the Disney movie Timmy Failure and at The Bridgetown Comedy Festival, High Plains Comedy Festival, Treefort Fest, Big Sky Comedy Fest and Montreal's Just for Laughs Comedy Fest. They were named Portland's Funniest Person in 2017!
Arlo has been teaching classes in stand up comedy at The Siren Theater since 2023, and loves seeing students build confidence on stage and off!
Arlo has been teaching classes in stand up comedy at The Siren Theater since 2023, and loves seeing students build confidence on stage and off!
From former students:
"I learned so much from Arlo's class, but most of all I appreciated the welcoming and positive energy and feedback they brought to every class. Arlo is truly are a gem!"
"Arlo did such an amazing job preparing us for this work and the comedy scene in Portland."
"Getting up on stage each week helped make me less uncomfortable going up on stage."
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This workshop aims to provide structure and a productive environment to develop your writing and stand up material. You'll be challenged to create new content and polish up existing bits with writing exercises and performing on stage.
This workshop will cover: - Originality through personal experiences and point of view - Strengthening POV through exploration - Increasing impact by punching up existing material - Approaching subjects in new and exciting ways $50 |
PAST CLASSES AT THE SIREN THEATER
INTRO TO SKETCH COMEDY WRITING WITH
DAVID WESTER
SPRING 2026
David Wester is a Portland-based sketch comedian, theater tech, and filmmaker. Most recently, he appeared as one half of the sketch comedy duo D&D and in his one-person sketch show Dave’s Basement. He has appeared with sketch troupe Lone Wolves, in The Lost Boys- Live!, and his comedy has been featured in the Portland Mercury Undisputed Geniuses of Comedy, Portland Sketchfest, and Seattle Sketchfest.
David's sketch comedy expertise is also informed by his vast experience working behind the scenes on comedy productions. HIs technical collaborations in lighting, sound design and video production with sketch troupes like The Aces, Sisters of Mercy, Lone Wolves, with countless stand up comedy and improv shows, and with theatrical events like Poltergeist Live and E.R. Perkins Seance Party gives him a unique point of view about sketch comedy is unlike any other!
David's sketch comedy expertise is also informed by his vast experience working behind the scenes on comedy productions. HIs technical collaborations in lighting, sound design and video production with sketch troupes like The Aces, Sisters of Mercy, Lone Wolves, with countless stand up comedy and improv shows, and with theatrical events like Poltergeist Live and E.R. Perkins Seance Party gives him a unique point of view about sketch comedy is unlike any other!
SKETCH COMEDY WRITING WITH
KEVIN MCDONALD
SPRING AND WINTER 2025
Kevin McDonald of the Kids in the Hall - albeit, the weakest Kid in the Hall- taught 2 workshops on writing sketch comedy at The Siren Theater!
SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVES WITH
THE ACES
WINTER 2025
The Aces have been performing as a duo since 2011, and have written and performed in 15 original sketch comedy shows! You've seen them at the Chicago Sketchfest, The Portland Mercury's Geniuses of Comedy Show, The Portland Sketchfest, and you've heard them on OPB's Think Out Loud! They finally got their act together and taught two month long intensives in January 2025 for beginning sketch comedy performers and one for those with experience! Learn more about The Aces HERE
BEGINNING IMPROV COMEDY WITH
NICHOLAS KESSLER
SPRING, 2023
Whether your goal is to perform or not, these classes teach you valuable skills that apply to every area of life, like
Listening
Accepting
Building
Getting out of your head
Triggering creativity
Reducing self judgment
Learn the basic skills of improv comedy and scene work in a fun and supportive environment, from a skilled an experienced instructor!
Listening
Accepting
Building
Getting out of your head
Triggering creativity
Reducing self judgment
Learn the basic skills of improv comedy and scene work in a fun and supportive environment, from a skilled an experienced instructor!
IMPROV FOR SKETCH COMEDY WRITING
WITH SKETCH COMEDY DUO BRUNCH
SUMMER 2022
Kerri Donaldson and Allie Entwistle are Brunch: an award-winning comedy duo from Vancouver, BC. Brought to you by two women raised on Mary Kate & Ashley movies and Celine Dion’s greatest hits, Brunch promises to tell you that you’re not the Miranda of your friend group. Allie and Kerri are both on faculty at Blind Tiger Comedy and perform monthly at Little Mountain Gallery. They have performed at the All Jane Comedy Festival, Montreal SketchFest, the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs NorthWest & Edmonton’s Improvaganza, to name a few. Simply need to hear their voices? Check out their podcast, When Kerri Met Allie where they grapple with their love/hate, hate/love relationships with Rom Coms
"THE SWEATHOGS"
SUMMER SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
with SHELLEY MCLENDON
SUMMER 2016-2020
Once a year for 5 years, Siren Theater owner and artistic director, Shelley McLendon, facilitated a sketch comedy writing and performance intensive at The Siren called THE SWEATHOGS. Students were required to apply and be accepted into the program- committing to work their ass off of 8 weeks of writing, rewriting, and rehearsing culminating in a fully produced show at The Siren Theater (except for 2020 when a live show was not possible- the students filmed and edited all of their sketches!)
Check out the gorgeous alumni...
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SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
with TED DOUGLASS
FALL 2019
Regular performer at The Siren and local celebrity Ted Douglass taught an 8 week sketch comedy writing and performing intensive at The Siren in Fall, 2019 called The Other Ones. Students had to apply to get in, and the classes ended in a fully produced show at The Siren Theater!
Ted has been writing, performing and producing sketch comedy for 20+ years, and was a founding member of critically acclaimed sketch troupe The 3rd Floor. He was also a part of the popular radio trio Daria, Mitch and Ted. AND he co produces the Portland Sketch Comedy Festival!
Ted has been writing, performing and producing sketch comedy for 20+ years, and was a founding member of critically acclaimed sketch troupe The 3rd Floor. He was also a part of the popular radio trio Daria, Mitch and Ted. AND he co produces the Portland Sketch Comedy Festival!
JANUARY 2017- IMPROV TEACHING RESIDENCY WITH RACHEL ROSENTHAL
Rachel taught classes in improv comedy for an entire month. Rachel is known for being in New York based the hip hop improv troupe North Coast.
Rachel taught classes in improv comedy for an entire month. Rachel is known for being in New York based the hip hop improv troupe North Coast.
IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH TORONTO'S BLOODY MARYS, SUMMER 2017
The Bloody Marys' Leigh and Kirsten wowed Portland with their appearance at The Stumptown Improv Fest, so we were THRILLED when they agreed to teach two workshops on STAYING WEIRD and SO MANY CHARACTERS! Both workshops sold out so we hope they will return soon!
IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH JAIME MOYERMs. Moyer has gifted The Siren Theater twice with improv workshops in winter 2015 & 2017. Ms. Moyer has been seen on Modern Family, Parks & Rec, 2 Broke Girls and performs weekly at IO West and Second City Hollywood. She is an alum of Second City Detroit. Locally, Ms. Moyer performed in Portland Center Stage's Twist Your Dickens.
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FEBRUARY 2018
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The Siren Theater was THRILLED to host its second month-long improv teaching residency with this amazing improviser.
An Amsterdam-based teacher and performer in the fields of improvisation, theatre, dance and communication skills, part of 5 Dutch improvisation groups performing theatresports, longform, and impro for children. An experienced improv performer and founding member of the Ohana project. She has been teaching for 14 years, including 9 years in her own theatre school, with a background in theatre, dance and Business Administration. Laura taught 3 weekly classes offered throughout February, 2018 and one weekend, two-day intensive, which culminated in a show at The Siren Theater. |
