2023 Summer Intensives Announced - Learn More HERE
Happy Valley Improv, State College’s premier longform improv company, is growing the next generation of improvisers by bringing the art of improv theater to young people in Central Pennsylvania. Through weekly after-school classes and week-long summer intensives, HVI will cultivate a community of young people dedicated to the study and practice of longform improv comedy.
To accomplish this goal, the Happy Valley Improv Youth Development Committee has developed the following:
Improv is fun and brings joy. However, to produce and enjoy this fun, participants must practice disciplined flexibility. At Happy Valley Improv, we build card houses and build our community brick-by-brick. It is important to our community that everyone, youth and adult alike, follow a disciplined approach while creating laughter. All participants in the Happy Valley Improv Youth Training Program must agree to abide by the Youth Improv Tenets. All parents/guardians, along with the participants, must also agree to and sign the Youth Community Standards of Conduct.
To empnasize the importance of the Tenets and Standards of Conduct, parents are required to attend a pre-session meeting to meet with the teachers and ask questions about the program. When signing up, the date/time of the session will be listed. If you are unable to make the meeting, you must meet with the youth director within the first two weeks of the session. Students are not required but encouraged to attend the orientation.
To accomplish this goal, the Happy Valley Improv Youth Development Committee has developed the following:
- Course Pathways - levels of instruction rooted in discipline, commitment, variety, and creativity;
- Youth Improv Tenets - fundamental principles of improvisation upon which all training and performances are built.
- Youth Community Standards of Conduct - guidelines intended to make the most of each class session and to develop professionalism and respect for the art of improv;
Improv is fun and brings joy. However, to produce and enjoy this fun, participants must practice disciplined flexibility. At Happy Valley Improv, we build card houses and build our community brick-by-brick. It is important to our community that everyone, youth and adult alike, follow a disciplined approach while creating laughter. All participants in the Happy Valley Improv Youth Training Program must agree to abide by the Youth Improv Tenets. All parents/guardians, along with the participants, must also agree to and sign the Youth Community Standards of Conduct.
To empnasize the importance of the Tenets and Standards of Conduct, parents are required to attend a pre-session meeting to meet with the teachers and ask questions about the program. When signing up, the date/time of the session will be listed. If you are unable to make the meeting, you must meet with the youth director within the first two weeks of the session. Students are not required but encouraged to attend the orientation.
After-School Course Pathways
Our after-school programs run for six-weeks from 4:30pm - 6pm on select evenings. Pricing for the six-week program is $200 with discounts and scholarships available. All programing takes place at the Blue Brick Theatre located at 209 W Calder Way in Downtown State College. Please click here to sign up.
Foundations of Improv (capped at 12 students)
Six 90-minute weekly sessions that introduce the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, teach the fundamental concepts and skills of improv, and establish an understanding of longform improv as it is differentiated from other forms of comedy performance such as shortform, standup, and sketch. Students should complete the course with practice and competency in:
While this course is a prerequisite for Electives, students must demonstrate competency in fundamental improvisational skills and adherence to Youth Community Standards and Youth Improv Tenets before being permitted to proceed; students may be asked to repeat Foundations of Improv before moving on to Electives.
Electives (capped at 10 students)
Much like electives a student might take in school, HVI Electives will vary in subject matter and are not sequence-dependent. Electives will also meet for six weekly 90-minute sessions. Examples will include:
To enroll in Electives, students must have completed Foundations of Improv with a demonstrated level of competency in fundamental improvisational skills and consistently practiced adherence to Youth Community Standards and Youth Improv Tenets.
Conservatory (Minimum age: 9th grade; by invitation only)
The purpose of the Conservatory is to cultivate a group that is committed to practicing and developing the skills of longform improv together. The Conservatory Director will work with students in intensive coaching sessions that capitalize on student strengths, build performance teams, and prepare students for shows and festivals. Conservatory students are welcome and encouraged to continue taking Electives to sharpen their skills. The Conservatory will start in Spring 2023 with more information being released this fall.
Six 90-minute weekly sessions that introduce the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, teach the fundamental concepts and skills of improv, and establish an understanding of longform improv as it is differentiated from other forms of comedy performance such as shortform, standup, and sketch. Students should complete the course with practice and competency in:
- Adopting a “yes, and” stance
- Practicing and performing in service to the collective
- Listening to scene partners and contributing to scenes
- Accepting differences and interacting with others non-evaluatively
- Having stage presence (Using our bodies and voices to invite audience members into scenes)
- How to be a supportive audience member
While this course is a prerequisite for Electives, students must demonstrate competency in fundamental improvisational skills and adherence to Youth Community Standards and Youth Improv Tenets before being permitted to proceed; students may be asked to repeat Foundations of Improv before moving on to Electives.
Electives (capped at 10 students)
Much like electives a student might take in school, HVI Electives will vary in subject matter and are not sequence-dependent. Electives will also meet for six weekly 90-minute sessions. Examples will include:
- Creating characters on stage
- Developing space work skills
- Being a duo group
- Expanding the shortform game repertoire
- And more!
To enroll in Electives, students must have completed Foundations of Improv with a demonstrated level of competency in fundamental improvisational skills and consistently practiced adherence to Youth Community Standards and Youth Improv Tenets.
Conservatory (Minimum age: 9th grade; by invitation only)
The purpose of the Conservatory is to cultivate a group that is committed to practicing and developing the skills of longform improv together. The Conservatory Director will work with students in intensive coaching sessions that capitalize on student strengths, build performance teams, and prepare students for shows and festivals. Conservatory students are welcome and encouraged to continue taking Electives to sharpen their skills. The Conservatory will start in Spring 2023 with more information being released this fall.
2023 Summer Youth Intensives
Our summer intensive programs run for five days from 9am - 11:30am Pricing for each week-long intensive program is $200 with discounts and scholarships available. All programing takes place at the Blue Brick Theatre located at 209 W Calder Way in Downtown State College. Please click here to sign up.
June 12 - 16 | Foundations of Improvisation
This week-long intensive introduces the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, teach the fundamental concepts and skills of improv, and establish an understanding of improv as it is differentiated from other forms of comedy performance such as standup and sketch. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader. No experience necessary!
June 19 - 23 | Short-Form Improv
This week-long intensive builds on the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, and focuses on the art of short-form improviation. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader who has participated in a previous Happy Valley Improv youth training program--may it be a summer camp or after school program.
June 26 - 30 | Long-Form Improv
This week-long intensive builds on the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, and focuses on the art of long-form improviation. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader who has participated in a previous Happy Valley Improv youth training program--may it be a summer camp or after school program.
This week-long intensive introduces the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, teach the fundamental concepts and skills of improv, and establish an understanding of improv as it is differentiated from other forms of comedy performance such as standup and sketch. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
- Adopting a “yes, and” stance
- Practicing and performing in service to the collective
- Listening to scene partners and contributing to scenes
- Accepting differences and interacting with others non-evaluatively
- Having stage presence (Using our bodies and voices to invite audience members into scenes)
- How to be a supportive audience member
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader. No experience necessary!
June 19 - 23 | Short-Form Improv
This week-long intensive builds on the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, and focuses on the art of short-form improviation. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
- Understanding the rules and how to play multiple short-form games.
- Knowing how to host multiple short-form games.
- Producing a short-form improv show.
- Creating a unique short-form improv game of their own.
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader who has participated in a previous Happy Valley Improv youth training program--may it be a summer camp or after school program.
June 26 - 30 | Long-Form Improv
This week-long intensive builds on the tenets of Happy Valley Improv, and focuses on the art of long-form improviation. Students should complete the week with practice and competency in:
- Understanding the difference between short and long-form improvisation.
- Developing the group mind of a long-form improv ensemble.
- Creating a unique long-form improv set.
- Producing a long-form improv show.
This intensive is open to any rising 7th - 12th grader who has participated in a previous Happy Valley Improv youth training program--may it be a summer camp or after school program.