It’s great to learn to improvise. To then be able to hold on to the freedom, creativity, and joy you might experience in a class setting when you are in front of an audience takes an additional skill set.

Wednesdays, 7-9 PM, October 29th - December 3rd

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

Monday, October 27th, 7:00-9:00 PM

Two teams of crack improvisers face off in a high-energy contest,  battling for points, glory, and your laughter. All the thrill of a sporting event and the hilarity and unpredictability of live improv combine in our favorite format!  Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, funny, and fun—don’t miss the most exciting comedy competition in town!

Besides being fun, improv classes improve interpersonal skills, build confidence, encourage creative risk taking, and increase ability to surf uncertainty. This eight week introductory class for children 11-16 has  an emphasis on performance, and will culminate in a show for friends and family.

Join us for an evening of spontaneous hilarity, surprises, and full‐on creativity! The Mop & Bucket Company takes the stage for a night where nothing is scripted—except the fun. Expect fast‐paced scenes, off‐the‐cuff characters, and improv games powered by your suggestions.

The Mopco is proud to present a showcase performance by students in Jeff Michalski's Master Your Scene Work and Improvise Like a Pro workshop. The Mop & Bucket Co. will join the action in act 2. This is bound to be a special night!

This intensive class will include a student showcase performance on Saturday night and a debrief/notes session on Sunday afternoon.

Elevate your improvisation game with "Master Your Scene Work— Improvise Like a Pro”! Join this workshop led by Jeff Michalski, a seasoned professional with over 50 years of experience. Learn the essence of creating successful improvisational scenes. Learn to play by heightening your engagement, listening, and acting skills.  

Jeff's unique methodology, refined through collaborations with icons like Dave Pasquesi, Stephen Colbert, and Del Close emphasizes spontaneous discovery, connection with your scene partner, and a profound understanding of the scene's essence.

These skills transcend the stage, impacting various improvisation styles and aspects of life. Unleash your potential and improvise like a pro!

Instructor: Jeff Michalski

Chicago born Jeff Michalski is a legendary comic, improviser, director and teacher! Michalski’s improv legacy starts in 1974 working with Jo Forsberg and Del Close in Chicago. After working in theaters and comedy clubs nationwide he became a founding member of The Second City ETC in Chicago in 1983. Jeff Michalski was the first director for David Pasquesi, Stephen Colbert, and many other notable talents at The Second City.

His ongoing experience for over 50 years as teacher, director, and above all a practitioner of this art form, transcends the stage to touch the realms of television, radio and film. Jeff has been fortunate enough to have improvised with Robin Williams and played scenes in movies with icons like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Peter Falk and others. Michalski has logged more hours improvising live than anyone—a living testament to the transformative power of the art form.

Saturday, October 18th, 12:00-6:00 PM

Sunday, October 19th, 12:00-2:00 PM - Debriefing and Notes from the show on the 18th

Bring a buddy and settle in at 8 PM for an evening of your favorite formats – Bollix Manor, or Twilight Zone! 2 on the Aisle or a fun, fast game show – Every Mopco and Chill is a different combination. We’ll have the popcorn and drinks ready for you!

BIG BANG! 

An original start to a scene or show is like a fireworks explosion – it makes an impression and sticks in memory. Polish improviser Monika Ozdardska will show you how to start with impact, creatively and confidently. Surprise your audience and partner with an unexpected, fresh opening. Level up and start your show like a pro!

Thursday, October 16, 6:30-9:00 PM

As improvisers we don’t have time to plan characters story and motivation. That’s why it s more efficient for us to explore shaping character from the outside in. 

This workshop will teach you how to keep your head free from motivation, backstory, and other blocks to free flowing play rooted in discovery. In other words by developing these new skills you free yourself from planing what to do and you will develop quickly characters (with a physical perspective and delivery) who know what to say and how to behave in relation to the space and other players.

Jeff Michalski – Chicago born Jeff Michalski is a legendary comic, improviser, director and teacher! Michalski’s improv legacy starts in 1974 working with Jo Forsberg and Del Close in Chicago. After working in theaters and comedy clubs nationwide he became a founding member of The Second City ETC in Chicago in 1983. Jeff Michalski was the first director for David Pasquesi, Stephen Colbert, and many other notable talents at The Second City.

His ongoing experience for over 50 years as teacher, director, and above all a practitioner of this art form, transcends the stage to touch the realms of television, radio and film. Jeff has been fortunate enough to have improvised with Robin Williams and played scenes in movies with icons like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Peter Falk and others. Michalski has logged more hours improvising live than anyone—a living testament to the transformative power of the art form.

Thursday, October 16, 6:30-9:00 PM

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

Monday, October 13th, 7:00-9:00 PM

Two teams of crack improvisers face off in a high-energy contest,  battling for points, glory, and your laughter. All the thrill of a sporting event and the hilarity and unpredictability of live improv combine in our favorite format!  Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, funny, and fun—don’t miss the most exciting comedy competition in town!

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!

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

Monday, October 6, 7:00-9:00 PM

Two teams of crack improvisers face off in a high-energy contest,  battling for points, glory, and your laughter. But that’s not all! This is a special match featuring our special guests, WE POLAK!

All the the thrills of a sporting event combine with the hilarity and unpredictability of live improv in our favorite format!  Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, funny, and fun—don’t miss the most exciting comedy competition in town!

THIS WEEK’S JUDGES

Whether you’re an experienced improviser looking to level up your musical chops, or someone who’s always wanted to try singing on stage but didn’t know where to start, this workshop will give you the tools, confidence, and fun to bring music into your improv scenes. 

Saturday, October 4, 12:00-3:00 PM

We’re starting off our Pearl Anniversary month with a bang! Join us in welcoming the world famous improv duo WePolak to the Mopco stage at 8 PM. After their set, Jeff and Monika will join members of Mopco and special guest Patrick Short (ComedySportz Portland, OR) for a long form or three.

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

Monday, September 29, 7:00-9:00 PM

Two teams of crack improvisers face off in a high-energy contest,  battling for points, glory, and your laughter. All the thrill of a sporting event and the hilarity and unpredictability of live improv combine in our favorite format!  Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, funny, and fun—don’t miss the most exciting comedy competition in town!

Only one Improviser will be crowned the MAESTRO!

Fourteen will enter but only one will be crowned the maestro; you are in charge as they vie vie for the crown! This is NOT A FAIR GAME! But don't worry, the contestants know that! it's all in fun, and the laughs keep coming!

A fast paced romp that is fun for the whole family! Refreshments, food, soda, beer, and wine are available. This show has been known to sell out, so get your tickets early!

The Next One Thing: Building Great Scenes One Move at a Time. Improv works best when we keep it simple. 

One moment. One offer. One next thing. In this fun, fast-paced class, we’ll practice the real magic behind “Yes, And”—not just agreeing, but building together. 

Thursday, September 25, 6:30-9:00 PM

Class started on 9/17. Register here for the final five classes!

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).

Two teams of crack improvisers face off in a high-energy contest,  battling for points, glory, and your laughter. All the thrill of a sporting event and the hilarity and unpredictability of live improv combine in our favorite format!  Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, funny, and fun—don’t miss the most exciting comedy competition in town!

Bring a buddy and settle in at 8 PM for an evening of your favorite formats – Bollix Manor, or Twilight Zone! 2 on the Aisle or a fun, fast game show – Every Mopco and Chill is a different combination. We’ll have the popcorn and drinks ready for you!

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.)

Wednesdays, 7-9 PM, September 17th - October 22nd

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

REGISTER

Monday, September 15, 7:00-9:00 PM

In a fast paced class packed with games and exercises, you will  learn to create and collaborate with a team.

REGISTER

Sundays, 11 AM - 1 PM, September 14th through October 5th

Want to make your scenes more dynamic and layered? Struggling with steamrolling or getting steamrolled onstage? Curious how subtle power shifts can add depth, surprise, and hilarity to your work? 

REGISTER

Thursday, September 11, 6:30-9:00 PM