Upcoming Classes
In this next phase of clown training, we shift from solo discovery into the glorious chaos of working in pairs and trios. Building on the foundational principles of red nose clown, this 6-week class invites you to deepen your relationship with the audience—and with your fellow fools—as you begin to develop short pieces together.
Clown 2 is about connection: with your partners, your instincts, and the delightful disasters that arise from not knowing what comes next. Through structured improvisations and guided creation, we’ll explore how complicity, contrast, rhythm, and surprise shape clown duos and trios. You’ll learn to build material from impulse and flop, to listen deeply on stage, and to fall in love with being wrong—together.
This class is ideal for those who have taken a foundational clown or red nose class and are ready to create work in collaboration. We will culminate in an informal showing of the pieces developed in class.
For participants: Please wear dark-colored clothing that you can move in easily—no logos, patterns, flip-flops, or heels. You’re welcome to go barefoot. We want attention on your body and your play, not your outfit or your shoes.
INSTRUCTOR(S): Kristen Schier & Emily Newton
DAY / TIME: Saturdays 2 - 4:30 PM (2.5 hours)
DATE RANGE: 6 weeks. 2/28, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4
CLASS SHOW: Sun 4/12 6:30 PM *subject to change
LOCATION: 1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214 (ADA accessible)
PREREQUISITE: Previous Clown training
Serious about leveling up your improv? Then it’s time to learn how to do a great Harold! Chicago’s famous long-form improv format. The Harold is the CrossFit of improv training. A full body-and-mind workout of essential skills focused on revisiting the core fun ideas you develop, heightening and exploring them using new scenes, and finding thematic and character connections that leave your audience wondering how the performers pulled it off. In this class, you’ll learn the techniques that make the Harold seem magical and peek behind the curtain of how to use an opening effectively, create second beats that keep your momentum going, and identify callbacks and connections towards the end of your show. *Game of the Scene is a concept essential to Kickstand’s philosophy; don’t worry, we’ll teach you!
*Kickstand's improv track is a four-level program followed by Advanced Study, where students can learn and apply their skills to different formats. Each week of class builds on the previous one, and each Level builds on the Level before.
*Level 4 includes 8 weeks of instruction with 2 hours of instruction each week and a class show!
INSTRUCTOR: Kristen Schier
DAY / TIME: Sundays 2:00 - 4:30 PM (2.5 hours)
DATE RANGE: 6 weeks. 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/12 *skip 4/5
CLASS SHOW: Sun 4/19 6:30 PM *subject to change
LOCATION: 1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, 97214 (ADA accessible)
PREREQUISITE: Level 3 at Kickstand