UPCOMING CLASSES  AND WORKSHOPS

Classes will take place in person at the BRAND NEW SIREN THEATER  3913 N. Mississippi Ave

Classes are for those 18+

REGISTER FOR CLASSES HERE

SKETCH VIDEO WRITING
WITH
SERGIO CILLI
WEDNESDAYS
FEBRUARY 8-MARCH 22

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7-9:30pm

$300* 
$550 for 2-3 person writing teams
(Payment plans available)

*Register by January 29 for the early bird rate of $275!

Ever write a sketch that killed on stage, but when you made it into a video it didn’t really work? This class will help students hone in on the types of sketches that tend to make good videos. In addition to writing video sketches, students will be guided through the process of turning a written sketch into a video. By the end of the class, every student will leave with their own video that they can upload to the web. 

NOTE: There will be a break between Sessions 5 and 6 in which students will be expected to shoot and edit a rough cut of a video written in this class. 
Students should be prepared to devote time outside of class to completing their video assignments for every session.
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ANOTHER NOTE: This is primarily a writing class. Students will not be given in- depth instruction in regard to editing and production. 

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

REGISTER HERE

INTRO TO STAND UP COMEDY
WITH
ARLO WEIERHAUSER
MONDAYS
FEB 13-MARCH 27

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7-9:30pm

$300* 

*Register by January 29 for the early bird rate of $275!

Come on. We know you have been wanting to try stand up comedy for a while now.  So ask yourself:
"If not now... when?"

Learn the basics of finding your unique stand up style and developing a "tight 5" in a fun and pressure-free environment and from one of the best players in the game. 

This class will conclude with a student show at The Siren Theater! Date TBA.

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Arlo Weierhauser is a stand up comedy wunderkind who recently graced the stage of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Epix's Unprotected Sets.  You've seen them performing their signature brand of stand up on every stage in Portland, as well as in the show Timmy Failure and at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, High Plains Comedy Festival, Treefort Fest, San Francisco Sketchfest and 10,000 Laughs Comedy Fest. They were named Portland's Funniest Person in 2017.  

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

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7-9:30pm


$225
*Register by February 14 for the early bird rate of $200!

NOW is the time to sign up for an improv class! 
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!

Nicholas Kessler has been a working actor, comedian and host in Portland, OR for nearly 15 years. As an improviser and comedian, Nicholas has performed on nearly ever stage in Portland, including Portland Center Stage, Helium Comedy Club, and The Winningstad. Nicholas has performed multiple seasons with The Second City, and has had featured roles on Grimm, Portlandia, and The Librarians. He teaches and performs improv at The Siren Theater, and coaches throughout Portland. For the past six years he has been the host of OPB’s The Moth StorySLAM.  Offstage, Nicholas is a father of two and is a Communication/Empathy Coach for law enforcement, medical and executive professionals.

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

SUMMER 2022
SUMMER
​SPRITZER IMPROV SERIES
with NICHOLAS KESSLER

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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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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

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...

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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

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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

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
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Rachel is a comedian, improviser and improv instructor with over 15 years' experience.She is also a free-style rapper.Currently residing in New York City, Rachel performs weekly at both Reckless Theatre and The Peoples Improv Theater where she is also an improv instructor. AND she spent the entire month of January teaching improv classes in improv hip hop and advanced scene work at the Siren! We hope she comes back because we love her.

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