Improv for Everyone

Go U: The Improv Academy

Our next improv term begins October 14, and registration is open! We’re also always offering different classes and workshops, so be sure to poke around.

Be sure to read through all information to find the right class, and you can always email classes@gocomedy.net with questions. Full Go U Calendar here.

Hello there! Welcome to Go U, Go Comedy’s home for improv classes and one-off workshops. We offer an eight-term program comprised of four Intro classes, and four Advanced classes, designed to take you from improv newb to seasoned performer. Please keep scrolling to choose your class and sign up!

A Few Things:

• The email you use to sign up is how we will communicate with you. Be sure to add classes@gocomedy.net to your contacts, and we’ll be in touch about a week before class begins.

• Classes run for 8 weeks, and are $275 unless otherwise noted. All of our regular classes are 18+.

• All classes culminate in a class show for friends and family, unless otherwise noted.

• Nearly all of our classes take place in our Training Center, at 1915 E. Nine Mile Rd. (Not at the theater itself).

• If you signed up using early registration, please email us to pay.

• Our 2025 calendar can be found right here, if you want to keep an eye out for future terms.

• More questions? Check out our class FAQs or email classes@gocomedy.net.

A four-class program designed to take you from brand new improv baby to master of short form improv. Choose your class and sign up!

INTRO 1: WELCOME TO IMPROV

Every improv education starts somewhere - yours starts here. Learn the fundamentals of improvisation, basic games, scene work, and skills. Get used to being on stage and working with others in a safe, supportive environment. Class term runs for 8 weeks and culminates in a class show for family and friends.

Intro 1 | Tuesdays 7-10PM | Starts October 14 - SOLD OUT
Intro 1 | Sundays 1-4PM | Starts October 19 - SOLD OUT

INTRO 2: IMPROV TOOLS

Intro 2 picks up where Intro 1 leaves off, taking the concepts covered and looking deeper into them. This class looks at the tricks, tips, and tools of improv and incorporates them into a variety of games.

Intro 2 | Thursdays 7-10PM | Starts October 16

INTRO 3: IMPROV SKILLS

Intro 3 takes all of the skills learned in Intro 1 & 2 and focuses on the goal of telling a solid story through scenes and games.

Intro 3 | Mondays 7-10PM | Starts October 20 - Please email classes@gocomedy.net for availability

INTRO 4: IMPROV GAMES

Games are the bread and butter of every improviser's diet and can be seen at Go Comedy! every weekend. Learn all about improv games from the classics to challenging new games. You’ll even learn a few of Go Comedy’s signature games.

Intro 4 | Tuesdays 7-10PM | Starts October 14 - This Class is Full!
Intro 4 | Mondays 7-10PM | Starts October 20 - This Class is Full!

Ready for the next step? Advanced improvisers take all the tools learned in the Intro Program, and start applying them to long-form scenework.

ADVANCED 1: SCENE WORK

Welcome to long-form! Begin your study of long-form, shake the cobwebs off your improv, or reinvent your approach. Learn the GoU Improv Philosophy and be free of the “rules” of improv. This class will focus on the basis of long-form improv: scene work. Learn how you create a scene, work with a partner, and keep an audience interested.

Adv. 1 | Tuesdays 7-10PM | Starts October 14
Adv. 1 | Mondays 7-10PM | Starts October 20
Please email classes@gocomedy.net for availability (both classes).

ADVANCED 2: THE ELEMENTS OF LONG FORM

Building upon the scene work skills of Advanced 1, Advanced 2 begins stringing those scenes together through an improvised montage. Learn and master the elements that create long-form improv.

Not offered this term.

ADVANCED 3: THE HAROLD

Now that you've learned the basics and the montage, learn how to perform different styles of long-form improv, known as forms. This class will focus heavily on learning The Harold style of long form play.

Adv. 3 | Wednesdays 7-10PM | Starts October 15 - This Class is Full

ADVANCED 4: THE IMPROVISER

The focus of this class is you, the individual performer, and how you influence the group and your show. Extensive notes will be given to individuals and the group. The focus of this class is on YOU the improviser: your areas of strength, areas to work on, and suggestions on areas to focus on going forward after completing the Go U! The Improv Academy program.

Adv. 4 | Saturdays 1-4PM | Starts October 18

Stay tuned for intensives and beyond.

Upcoming Workshops (Keep Scrolling to Sign Up):
Taking Scenes by Storm with Nancy Hayden - Saturday, October 18

Taking Scenes By Storm - From Beginning to End

Saturday, October 18 | 1:00-4:00PM | Instructor: Nancy Hayden

Are a lot of your improv scenes starting off strong only to fizzle out halfway through? Have you found yourself trapped inside a bad premise lately not knowing your own character, let alone the characters of your scene partners? Yep. Been there.

It’s time for a reset. This three-hour workshop will help reignite your passion onstage and will help sharpen your choices. We’ll work on creating the kinds of characters that can sustain any scene and the kinds of scenes that are unforgettable. Most of all, we’ll get back in touch with the joy we get from improvising!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Nancy Hayden began as a writer/performer in the Mainstage cast of The Second City in Detroit. After co-writing and appearing in five revues, Nancy went on to become a director of several Second City productions, including the first ever national touring Theatricals production, “My Cousin’s Wedding.” Other directing titles include “Blah-Blah Sista’hood” and the Second City Detroit Mainstage revue “Jihad It Up to Here.”

In her television career, Nancy has worked as a staff writer for “Detroiters” on Comedy Central, as well as several productions for Bravo, including “Bravo After Hours” and the digital series, “Ex-Housewife.” She also wrote shorts for DreamWorksTV and AwesomenessTV and co-wrote “Love, Factually,” the hit holiday parody that ran at The Kennedy Center.

Nancy has taught improvisation, acting, directing, and writing at The Second City and improv/sketch creation at Michigan State University and California Institute of the Arts. She was the Associate Artistic Director of The Second City Hollywood before serving as Artistic Director of the Second City Training Center in Chicago.

We’re so excited to be working with guest instructor Hailey Zureich to offer her Stand Up: Femme, Them, & Queer Education Experience.

This is a 3 term program, with each class term running for 8 weeks and including a class show. All classes take place at Go Comedy’s HQ space, at 255 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Stand Up 101: Fundamentals - Currently Running
Stand Up 202: Elevations - Starts October 9 (Sign Up Below)

FTQEE 201: Elevations
Thursdays 5:30-8:30PM | Starts October 9

Elevations runs on Thursdays for 8 weeks, and culminates in a class show on Monday, November 17.

This course is specifically designed to support femme, them, queer, and trans comics from fundamentals to a full on level up! 

Throughout this eight week course students will be immersed in feedback and exercises designed to help elevate a student's set–build up to 10+ minutes of material, organize ideas, improve more complex techniques, best practices for being booked on shows, & more.

Students will receive 24 hours of in class learning, the zhailey coaching FTQEE Elevations Stand Up 201 workbook and opportunity to perform in the class show.

Folks need to have completed FTQEE Fundamentals. Or identify as a femme/woman, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, non-binary and have 1+ years of experience.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Self proclaimed Posh Spice of the Metro Comedy scene -- Hailey Zureich has been performing stand up comedy since age 14. She's cultivated an unique audience engaged storytelling style that brings the laughs and inspires!

Hailey is a certified Life Coach,Yoga Teacher, 15 years experience as a corporate trainer, and rounded out her performance experience to include short and long form improv, and stage acting. 

Her training integrates her mastery in these areas to help create an atmosphere of safety, confidence, and space for fun while learning.

“This class exceeded my expectations. It’s advertised as “safe” and that’s a great description. The collaborative atmosphere enables you to feel safe trying something new, safe being silly, safe playing outside your comfort zone… Highest compliments to the class structure and the Business as a whole. We feel fortunate to have found Go Comedy!”

— Amy D., Intro 2

“This is a spectacular community. You all have done an excellent job of crafting a place where people can come together to imagine, play, dream, and just have some fun. We don’t have a lot of spaces like that as “grown-ups,” so what you’re doing is appreciated. You’ve also crafted safe spaces for people to come just as they are. The culture of this places is one of support, acceptance, and encouragement.”

— Elizabeth H., Intro 4

“I signed up for classes initially because I thought I was kind of funny and wanted a collaborative way to explore that. I indeed got what I was looking for, but I also ended up getting a crash course in confidence and communication. I learned to stop overthinking things and trust that if I try something I’ll be okay, even if I fail. I listen a lot better to people and have a lot more success understanding them and getting on the same page. These skills permeate my life well beyond the classroom and the stage, and that’s just not something I could have seen coming.”

— Matt W., Advanced 2