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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+

SKETCH COMEDY 
WITH
THE ACES
​
SUMMER 2023
DATE AND TIME TBA

Interested in learning how to write and perform sketch comedy?

Are you already writing and performing sketch comedy and want to stretch yourself?

The Aces (Shelley McLendon and Michael Fetters) are in the gauging interest phase for new sketch comedy classes- one for beginners and one for those with experience to take place in summer 2023.

If you are interested- let us know by clicking on the button below and completing the contact form! Let us know you are interested in taking The Aces sketch comedy class, and whether you are a beginner or if you have experience.
We will be in touch with details!
The Aces have been writing and performing sketch comedy together since 201, bringing you a brand new show once a year.  You have seen them at the Chicago Sketchfest, The Portland Sketchfest, The Portland Mercury Geniuses of Comedy show, and you've heard them on OPB's Think out Loud.
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!

BEGINNING STAND UP COMEDY WITH
ARLO WEIERHAUSER

SUNDAYS
2:00 PM-4:30PM

APRIL 23-JUNE 4



Develop your own style of stand up comedy, find your voice, and write that 5 minute set you have secretly been working on  in a fun and supportive environment!  Under the skilled direction of Arlo Weierhauser, you will gain the knowledge and confidence to get up on stage and own the mic!
 
Arlo Weierhauser has been thrilling audiences with  their signature brand of stand up comedy for over 10 years. You've seen them on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in Disney's Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (2020), and Women Who Kill (2019). Arlo was dubbed Portland's Funniest Person in 2017 and is one of the founding members of legendary queer stand up collective Lez Stand Up. Festivals where they've performed include Treefort, Bridgetown Comedy Fest, and High Plains!

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


​

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. 

​Learn more about Sergio and watch some of his work at sergiocilli.com
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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...

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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