Beginner Workshops like “Improv 101: Intro to Improvisation” and “Beginning Improv for Everyone” focus on building self-confidence, enhancing creativity, and teaching participants to think quickly on their feet. These classes emphasize the fundamental principles of improvisation, such as spontaneity and collaboration, making them ideal for newcomers.

For those looking to deepen their skills, Intermediate and Advanced Classes such as “Improv 301: The Game of the Scene” and “Improv 401: Intro to Long-Form” introduce more complex techniques, including ensemble work and open-scene creation. Advanced students can explore narrative-based improvisation in “Improv 501: Narrative Long-Form” or experiment with Free-Form styles in “Improv 601”.

FST also offers specialized workshops like Musical Improv 101, where participants use prompts to explore rhythm, movement, and vocal performance. Professionals can benefit from the “Comedy Academy,” which provides a refresher for seasoned improvisers or a deeper dive for beginners.

The workshops are led by experienced teaching artists and occasionally feature guest instructors from renowned improv troupes. For example, past workshops have been taught by members of the Austin-based troupe Available Cupholders, who bring decades of global teaching experience.

Beyond classes, FST hosts year-round performances by its resident improv troupe and organizes events like the Sarasota Improv Festival. These programs celebrate diverse styles of improvisation—Short-Form, Long-Form, Musical, and Free-Form—ensuring no two experiences are alike.

FST’s improv workshops are not just about comedy; they foster creativity, teamwork, and personal growth in a vibrant community setting. Enrollment is open for all classes beginning April 14, with engaging opportunities for students of all experience levels and every age. For more information, visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org/fst-school or call 941-366-1350.

Who is Sarah Durham and why is she always laughing?

Florida Studio Theatre’s Sarah Durham (orange top) performs with her colleagues at one of the Improvisational shows offered every Saturday night. Photo by Andrea Martone

As the Head Writer for FST Sketch and is the Improv Associate for FST Improv. At FST, Sarah is the Executive and Artistic Assistant to the Managing Director and is a writer for the Cabaret Stage and Children’s Theatre. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform in the Improv show “Out of Bounds,” and no surprise that she was a natural. Sarah has been working at FST for seven years, and recalls the days when Improv classes began as “open houses” for friends and family that attracted “standing room only for people coming to see students and family perform as amateurs onstage.” She goes on to say, “We realized we needed to expand the program” and now offer 9 to 10 classes a week.  Six levels of improv (long form and short form). Our new program is an afternoon program Tuesdays and Wednesdays in afternoon (plus evening m-thurs) and Saturday is a drop in class at 3 – 5pm ($20). Classes a session = $249 including early bird fee.  Week of April 14 begin new session (sign up now for early bird. We are the only program at FST that runs improv every Saturday night and our $18 a ticket fee is cheap for live comedy that lasts 90 minutes of high energy comedy with seasoned comedians.”

Sarah says many young, aspiring actors began their careers on the FST Improv stage and went on to be professionals elsewhere in other cities, including Kevin Allen, an  original member of improv team who went on to go to Chicago and LA and then settled back here in Sarasota and is a mainstage cast member for FST.

“Kihresha Redmond, was an intern right out of college, and now is at Second City (NY), a huge improv theatre,” she says.

Sarah often performs onstage with her colleagues and also she writes cabaret childrens’ theatre, as young as 8 years of age where she teaches improv classes at an  improv program at The Haven (she teaches). Also does off site improv classes for memory care patients. “we start simple with them so we do a lot of games-based “Like we’re going on a vacation to Bermuda, what are you going to bring?”  Laughing together is huge and music is a big part of our program.   We play a rhyming game with song “DO RON RON” and we tap into imagination. We are also working with nurses and healthcare practitioners to help them answer patients creativity.  Laughter is the best medicine.”

Write Sarah at sdurham@floridastudiotheatre.org, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for July 18 and 19 for FST’s 15th annual Improvisation Festival, where professional acts from all across world to perform three to four  shows at a time in all five of their theatres. This events is one of the only curated festival “invite only” in the country and also international, so don’t miss it!