Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7-9 PM April 9th - April 23rd

Showcase performance, April 24th at 7 PM

Five intensive nights of learning formats and rehearsing an improv performance with your classmates. On the 6th night, a show at the theatre. This is a concentrated class schedule, and you would be expected to make all five classes plus the show.  

Take what you’ve learned in 101, Fundamentals, etc., and apply it as a member of a pop-up improv ensemble. We’ll cover short form games, a simple long-form format, best practices for introducing/emceeing a show. We’ll also pay attention to stagecraft–you will learn techniques of being effective on stage in any performance format, improv or not. Students will receive individualized feedback. This class will be both fun and, as the name suggests, intense!

PREREQUISITE: FUNDAMENTALS OR EQUIVALENT: If you have studied elsewhere, consult with instructor before registering. THIS IS NOT a beginner class. 

Saturdays, 10:45-12:45 PM April 12th through May 1st

The basic skills of improvisational theatre are: spontaneity, listening, making your partner look good, and "yes, and" (building with what is present in the moment.)  In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team. Improv helps you  become more creative, more spontaneous, more open to change, and more tolerant of uncertainty. These attributes are identified as key to success in today's world.  Oh, and by the way-- our classes are huge fun, too!

Sundays, 7-9 PM, April 13th - May 18th (No classes on Easter or Memorial Day Weekend)

Showcase rehearsal on 5/29 with performance on May 31st at 7 PM

The fundamentals of improv are deceptively simple. You can learn them in a few hours. (But we warn you, it can take a lifetime to master them.) Improv is a practice that you can engage in onstage and off. 

Support your partner. Listen. Blurt! Weave a fresh, engaging story out of thin air. Is improv comedy? Sometimes, sure. But more importantly, it’s connection. 

For actors, writers, performers, and folks who have never performed. 

Each Fundamentals class wraps up with a fun and supportive 20-25 minute Showcase performance, held just before the main Mopco show on the Saturday after your class ends. The showcase is a fantastic way to put your new improv skills into action in front of a welcoming audience. And who’s in that audience? Mopco members are usually there, but the rest is up to you! Invite your family, your friends—even your accountant! The showcase is free, and as a bonus, you get to attend the 8 PM Mopco show for free. Plus, your guests can enjoy the 8 PM show at half price. Now that’s a deal worth celebrating!

Prerequisite: Improv 101 or equivalent (talk to us if you aren’t sure.)

Wednesdays, 7-9 PM, April 16th - May 21st

Showcase rehearsal May 29th and performance, May 31st at 7 PM

Continue the journey. Work with your partner to find the game. Find the characters, relationships, and stories that make great improvised scenes happen. Get out of your head and into the where! 

Each Fundamentals class wraps up with a fun and supportive 20-25 minute Showcase performance, held just before the main Mopco show on the Saturday after your class ends. The showcase is a fantastic way to put your new improv skills into action in front of a welcoming audience. And who’s in that audience? Mopco members are usually there, but the rest is up to you! Invite your family, your friends—even your accountant! The showcase is free, and as a bonus, you get to attend the 8 PM Mopco show for free. Plus, your guests can enjoy the 8 PM show at half price. Now that’s a deal worth celebrating!. 

Prerequisite: Fundamentals 1 or equivalent (talk to instructor)

April 27th- June 1st 2025, 1:45 PM -3:45 PM

No class on 5/25 (Memorial Day Weekend)

Improv helps kids become more creative, more spontaneous, more open to change, and more tolerant of uncertainty.

The basic skills of improvisational theatre are: spontaneity, listening, making your partner look good, and "yes, and" (building with what is present in the moment.)  

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, kids learn to create and collaborate with a team. These attributes are identified as key to becoming successful in today's world.  

Oh, and by the way-- our classes are huge fun, too!

Always wanted to dip your toe into improv performance? Then the Water’s FINE! At The Mopco Improv Theatre was basically made just for you!

In most short form improv shows, performers ask for a few suggestions, and might feature on-stage volunteers in one or two games, The Water’s FINE! gives everyone in the audience the chance to be as actively involved as they want: they can simply sit back and enjoy the show, or jump in as a performer in multiple games. (We stress: nobody HAS to get on stage, ever!) But those who want to will have multiple opportunities to participate as an on-stage player. We’ll guide and show participants what to do, and focus on making them look good!

2x2x2 = Hilarity


The improvisers are numbered and randomly matched. Each pair performs a scene from an audience suggestion. A world emerges: relationships, loves, conflicts, hopes and disappointments revealed. At the last minute, somehow it all comes together, the way a good movie or play does. (Or, maybe not-- this is improv on the highwire. But usually, it's amazing.)

Longform Night features Slacker, Armando, and Jukebox.

And no, we aren't calling you names-- Slacker is a great long form improv format we'll be bringing to life, along with an Armando and audience improv Jukebox!

2x2x2 = Hilarity


The improvisers are numbered and randomly matched. Each pair performs a scene from an audience suggestion. A world emerges: relationships, loves, conflicts, hopes and disappointments revealed. At the last minute, somehow it all comes together, the way a good movie or play does. (Or, maybe not-- this is improv on the highwire. But usually, it's amazing.)

Wonderful Friendship, wonderful minds.
Three old friends, a good book to discuss, maybe a bit of wine. The book, of course, is names by the audience and improvised, the friendships are ongoing and ever developing.

One of our very favorite longform narrative formats, we guarantee the friends/book lovers will charm and delight you. (The show will feature some short form improv as well!)

2x2x2 = Hilarity


The improvisers are numbered and randomly matched. Each pair performs a scene from an audience suggestion. A world emerges: relationships, loves, conflicts, hopes and disappointments revealed. At the last minute, somehow it all comes together, the way a good movie or play does. (Or, maybe not-- this is improv on the highwire. But usually, it's amazing.)

Step into the studio for a hilarious night on the air waves!

Take an improv trip back in time to the studio of WOUU, WOW TV 43 Schenectady. The network feed is down! Be a part of the studio audience as our intrepid broadcast crew puts out an evening of entertainment from right there in the studio! It's all live at the Mopco. 8-10 PM, April 25th, only on WOUU (and Youtube)!

2x2x2 = Hilarity


The improvisers are numbered and randomly matched. Each pair performs a scene from an audience suggestion. A world emerges: relationships, loves, conflicts, hopes and disappointments revealed. At the last minute, somehow it all comes together, the way a good movie or play does. (Or, maybe not-- this is improv on the highwire. But usually, it's amazing.)

Always wanted to dip your toe into improv performance? Then the Water’s FINE! At The Mopco Improv Theatre was basically made just for you!

In most short form improv shows, performers ask for a few suggestions, and might feature on-stage volunteers in one or two games, The Water’s FINE! gives everyone in the audience the chance to be as actively involved as they want: they can simply sit back and enjoy the show, or jump in as a performer in multiple games. (We stress: nobody HAS to get on stage, ever!) But those who want to will have multiple opportunities to participate as an on-stage player. We’ll guide and show participants what to do, and focus on making them look good!

Reality TV, sure. Reality…Improv? Selected audience volunteers do a talk-show style interview to fuel the improv.

The Mop & Bucket Co. presents their acclaimed format, Real Life, The Improv! The format, first developed by the company in 2014, features volunteer audience members.

Unlike real life, Real Life is basically a simple show. A talk-show style interview on one side of the stage is interspersed with improvised reactions by the company. As the show bounces back and forth between the interview and the responses, a rich, (though certainly non-literal) portrait of a real person’s life develops.

Signups, 3:30 PM - 4:00PM (First Come, First Served)

Bring us your music, standup, poetry, improv, experimental work—whatever it is you want to put on stage.

This is a supportive open mic for developing artists of all ages! Each performer gets up to 10 minutes (including any setup and breakdown).

Please do your part to create the welcoming space we maintain at Mopco. Acts promoting harassment, intimidation, oppression, or exploitation do not align with our standards. Excessive profanity and explicit sexual themes are also outside our comfort zone.

NO physical messes including glitter, liquid, or fire. But feel free to make a creative mess!

Longform Night features Slacker, Armando, and Jukebox.

And no, we aren't calling you names-- Slacker is a great long form improv format we'll be bringing to life, along with an Armando and audience improv Jukebox!

Reality TV, sure. Reality…Improv? Selected audience volunteers do a talk-show style interview to fuel the improv.

The Mop & Bucket Co. presents their acclaimed format, Real Life, The Improv! The format, first developed by the company in 2014, features volunteer audience members.

Unlike real life, Real Life is basically a simple show. A talk-show style interview on one side of the stage is interspersed with improvised reactions by the company. As the show bounces back and forth between the interview and the responses, a rich, (though certainly non-literal) portrait of a real person’s life develops.

Reality TV, sure. Reality…Improv? Selected audience volunteers do a talk-show style interview to fuel the improv.

The Mop & Bucket Co. presents their acclaimed format, Real Life, The Improv! The format, first developed by the company in 2014, features volunteer audience members.

Unlike real life, Real Life is basically a simple show. A talk-show style interview on one side of the stage is interspersed with improvised reactions by the company. As the show bounces back and forth between the interview and the responses, a rich, (though certainly non-literal) portrait of a real person’s life develops.

The perfect gift for anyone who likes to laugh (and who doesn’t?) Mopco Gift Cards can be used for tickets, concessions, class tuitions, and merch! Make someone on your list very happy!