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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 BRAND NEW SIREN THEATER 
​ 3913 N. Mississippi Ave

Classes are for those 18+

IMPROV COMEDY WORKSHOP

CHARACTER CRASH COURSE
​WITH NICK CONDON

Character Crash Course: Whether you’re looking to grow beyond your stock characters, or don’t yet know who your stock characters are, this course will help break through and heighten who you can be onstage. This workshop will help you listen to yourself, and realize that how you are affects who you are. Learn to discover real, honest, believable, fun to play characters, in the moment that will stand the test of time. All levels of improv welcome.

Nick Condon has been performing, teaching, directing and coaching for over two decades and has performed in nearly every state. A Minneapolis native, he studied and performed at The Brave New Workshop, Stages Theatre Outward Spiral, and The National Theatre for Children. In 2006 he moved to Alaska where he served as Creative Director of Denali Drama and Iditaprov. In 2016 he moved to Portland to work with Curious Comedy and Oregon Children’s Theatre where he currently serves as education programs manager. He is also the founder and creative director of Conscious Comedy: Socially relevant comedy for a cause. When not in Portland , he can be seen performing, teaching, and creating customized shows, workshops, and events for festivals, corporations, and nonprofits all over the world.

STAND UP COMEDY  WITH
​ARLO WEIERHAUSER

PEOPLE LOVE TAKING CLASSES FROM ARLO WEIERHAUSER!
The Siren is THRILLED to have Arlo Weierhauser be our resident Stand Up Comedy instructor!

Arlo  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 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. And they were named Portland's Funniest Person in 2017!

Check out their upcoming one day workshops and 7 week classes!...

*ONE DAY SEPTEMBER SUNDAY WORKSHOPS*

Sundays are for skill development!  Arlo Weierhauser is offering a series of one day workshops on September Sundays in a variety of topics!

All workshops take place from 12:00-4:00pm. 
All workshops are $99 
Please bring:
-A dedicated comedy notebook (optional: laptop or iPad)
- Recording device or recording app on phone (smart recorder or similar voice recorder)
-Headphones/earbuds
-Water

SUNDAY
​SEPTEMBER 1

No experience necessary!
​This workshop is for people that want to try stand up comedy for the first time -or again! We will cover the absolute basics and get straight to writing, and then performing your very own set. It's all very exciting.  We will go over:
1. Anatomy of a joke
2. Process for writing your first jokes
3. Editing for stand up 
​4. Getting on stage

SUNDAY
​SEPTEMBER 8

We are mining for gold in this workshop! We'll be exploring ways of generating content for stand up and developing our writing skills. Bring a notebook and/or laptop and any other writing tools that you love (note cards, markers, sketchbook, iPad etc..)
1.Methods and techniques of note taking and joke writing  2. What to write about
​3. Developing a point of view
​4. Editing and refining ideas

SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 15

This workshop focuses on a more advanced level of the writing process for stand up; Exploration of processes; writing on stage and off stage  Digging in to find your point of view Joke dissection & editing Getting more out of a bit  Methods for getting un-stuck

SUNDAY
​SEPTEMBER 22

This workshop is to get some reps in and work on your stage presence. You'll be performing short sets with a focus on developing on-stage skills. Bring 5-7 minutes of previously written material. Space is limited! Stage presence Voice & delivery  Physicality Riffing, crowd work, hecklers

SUNDAY
​SEPTEMBER 29

The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize stand up comedians with the myriad of work and communications that go into doing a comedy show- both as performers and as producers.  In this workshop we will cover the following: 
1. Producing a show
2.Festival submissions 
3.Asking for spots
4.Hosting a mic/show
​5.The money stuff 

*FALL 7 WEEK CLASSES*

SUNDAYS
OCTOBER 20-DECEMBER 1

​12:00-2:30pm
​$325

 
This is a 7 week course that covers: 
1) The basics of stand up comedy as a whole 
2) The joke writing process, broken down to three major writing principles 
3) Performance mechanics and practice every week 
4) Notes and feedback (but just from me, I don't encourage level one performers to give each other feedback)
You'll perform/present something every week and will be assigned homework with practice.
5) Develop a 5 minutes set to perform at the Graduation Showcase at The Siren Theater!
You can come to class with some experience or none at all!
​
The Student Showcase will take place on Sunday, December 8.

SUNDAYS
OCTOBER 20-DECEMBER 1

3:30-6:00PM
​$325

This class builds on the basics taught in Level 1 and/or also the basics learned from doing open mics and beginner level showcases.
​
1) We work on expanding our writing methods to include alternative methods of stand up comedy writing in order to further hone your comedy voice on stage. 
2) We focus on a different practice and delivery style every week including 
    A) Physical bit/act outs/Non verbal punchlines
     B) Storytelling 
     C) Short form
     D) Crowd work
     E) Hosting shows
3) Every class includes a performance aspect and feedback/notes
4) We encourage participants to work on their craft outside of class, and share their experiences 
6) Homework includes writing assignments and performance goals 
7) The class is encouraged to attend shows and open mics and learn from the local stand up comedy scene 
8) We will work towards building a set for the Graduation Showcase at the end of the 7 weeks at The Siren Theater!
​The Student Showcase will take place on Sunday, December 8.
Interested in taking a comedy class that we are not offering currently? Complete the form below and we will let you know when we have a class coming up that may appeal to your interest!

PAST CLASSES AT THE SIREN THEATER



​

BEGINNING IMPROV COMEDY WITH
​NICHOLAS KESSLER
TUESDAYS
MARCH 7-APRIL 18


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!

SUMMER 2022
SUMMER
​SPRITZER IMPROV SERIES
with
​NICHOLAS KESSLER

An entry- level improv class focused on introducing you to the art of improv comedy, and making you shine through! This refreshing summer series is bursting with helpful skills to make every improv scene pop. A light-hearted approach to finding the sweet spot on stage, and squeezing every last drop from your scenes. Upbeat, energetic and overflowing with fun.

SUMMER 2022
​IMPROV FOR SKETCH COMEDY WRITING
WITH SKETCH COMEDY DUO BRUNCH!


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


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SUMMER 2016-2020

THE SWEATHOGS
SUMMER SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
with SHELLEY MCLENDON

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...

SPRING 2022
​ADVANCED SKETCH COMEDY 
WITH
​SERGIO CILLI

Sergio Cilli is an Emmy award winning writer, director and actor. He has been writing and performing sketch comedy for over 15 years in Los Angeles at the Upright Citizen's Brigade until moving with his wife and kids to Portland in 2019. He’s written and directed multiple original web series for Comedy Central including the digital content for KEY AND PEELE. He’s written for MTV, PBS, and COMEDY CENTRAL. As a performer, he’s appeared on NEW GIRL, CALIFORNICATION, MARRIED, FRESH OFF THE BOAT, HAPPY ENDINGS, TOSH.0, MARON and NEWSREADERS. His videos online have received millions of views and has been involved in over 50 live shows as a writer/director/actor. He's also a really nice guy. 

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FALL 2019
SKETCH COMEDY INTENSIVE
with TED DOUGLASS

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.

FEBRUARY 2018
​IMPROV TEACHING RESIDENCY with
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.

IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH JAIME MOYER

Ms. 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.

IMPROV WORKSHOPS WITH TORONTO'S BLOODY MARYS, SUMMER 2017

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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!
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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.
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