Beginner Improvisation 6-Week Series
Tuesdays, Next Series: Feb 18 – Mar 25
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Open Space Event Studios – 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Studio 1
Tuition: $295 payable via CC with button above or Venmo @BendInstituteOfComedy
​
​
Why Take This Class?
At Bend Institute of Comedy, improv isn’t just about comedy—it’s about transformation. You’ll learn The BIC Way, which develops both the performer and the human being, blending expert long-form improv comedy training with deep personal expansion. You'll learn to...
​
✔ Trust yourself in the unknown – Build the confidence to think fast and adapt with ease.
✔ Connect on a deeper level – Develop presence and empathy for others, while cultivating authentic self-expression.
✔ Find freedom in play – Unleash your creativity without judgment or hesitation.
✔ Step beyond your comfort zone—discover growth, joy, and liberation in life's most powerful collaborative art form.
​​
The BIC approach to Improv
At Bend Institute of Comedy, our training is built on over 30 years of expertise from founder John Breen. His approach integrates peak performance psychology, neuroscience, deliberate practice, Buddhist compassion principles, and the foundational methods of UCB Theatre, Del Close, Annoyance Theatre, and Keith Johnstone.
We start with real Presence—training performers to fully connect with their scene partners. From there, we build Clarity, sharpen execution with The Three S’s, and train improvisors to recognize the Rising Action Moment. The final step? Zeroing-in and amplifying the Hook or Game of the scene toward a maximum comedic climax, building a powerful and seamless long-form where every element converges to create surprising, unforgettable, high-impact Improv Sets.
​​​
Instructor: BIC founder John Breen is an accomplished writer, director, actor, and producer with a dynamic career spanning film, TV, and stage. He’s known for his work on Portlandia, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the critically acclaimed Wendy and Lucy with Michelle Williams, and the films of James Westby. He has performed at the UCB Theatre in LA and NYC and has written and performed numerous sketch comedy shows at various festivals. A seasoned filmmaker, Breen has created short films and commercials for clients like Nike and Anker batteries. As the founder of the Bend Institute of Comedy, he’s created one of the West Coast’s premier spaces for learning improvisation, writing, and acting.
​
More about the Benefits of Improv Training
BIC founder John Breen is an accomplished writer, director,
Learn how to be a much healthier and happier human being, and have a blast while doing it!
Learning and practicing Improvisation has been scientifically proven to be greatly beneficial. The art of Improvisation teaches you how to let go of your stressed-out monkey mind and put your attention and care on others.
​
Improvisation shows you how to genuinely listen to those you work with, those you create with, and those you love. Every relationship in your life will grow and improve once you are actively listening and developing empathy with those around you.
​
Improvisation strengthens your cognitive control which leads to greatly improved focus and decision-making skills.
Improvisation immerses you in the moment, the power of now, which has numerous benefits including improved self-regulation in this crazy world.
​
Improvisation trains you to become comfortable with the unknown, lowering your uncertainty intolerance, which is the basis of our anxiety.
​
Improvisation teaches you how to embrace every part of your being, and how to confidently and fully be yourself. You are more than enough, already. Over time you'll be impressed with how much more comfortable you'll be at social gatherings.
​
Improvisation opens your eyes to the incredible value of developing a "we" versus "me" mentality. Regardless of how good you are at collaborating with others, improv training will take you to new heights. ​
​​​
Functional MRIs measure blood flow in the brain, giving us a better picture of which brain areas are more and less activated. While improvising, a brain region associated with self-judgment “quiets down,” and a creative and language brain center “speaks up.” This relationship is linked with flow states and heightened creativity.
​
With EEG tests scientists have shown by measuring brain activity before and after 20 minutes of improv, that the improv helped with brain wave coherence. Since trauma negatively affects coherence, they propose that improvisation could be a helpful treatment for people with complex trauma since it may help them connect better with others and help brain regions work better together.
It may seem counterintuitive, but studies show that improv can reduce social anxiety, even after only 20 minutes of playing improvisation games.
​
Improv is an art form that stands on its own, with its own discipline and aesthetics. We all go through life every day without a script, responding to our environment, making it up as we go along. Improvising on stage is obviously a little different -- the performers are trying to create while entertaining an audience. At a typical longform improv show, one audience suggestion is taken at the beginning, then the fun begins as the group improvises a 30-minute set where the world unfolds, characters are created, comedic themes are explored, amplified, and connected.
​​