Spring Focus: Old School Sketch Comedy
Some of the most iconic moments in comedy were born in sketch:
Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, Kids in the Hall, Mad TV, Key & Peele.
This class gives you the same creative tools to build your own original sketch show from the ground up.
writing, character work, ensemble collaboration, and live performance
More Details Coming Soon
Just bring your ideas, your instincts, and your sense of play.
Old School Sketch Comedy
8-Week Intensive on Tuesdays May 5th – June 23rd
- Time: 8:00 PM – 10/10:30 PM (depending on class needs)
- ^Cost: $550 in Full – Or $300/mo (Two Pay Plan)
- *add on tuition cost: $450 in Full – Or $250/mo (Two Pay Plan)
- Instructor: Brandy Hotchner
*Enrolled AZAA Students get this discount for adding the class onto their enrollment.
This class requires a minimum number of students, until that is met…
^Registration requires a $75.00 deposit to secure your spot.
Come play. Write it. Build it. Perform it.
This class was such a hit, students asked for it back.
So we’re bringing it back… Leveled up.
FULL CLASS OVERVIEW
In this special AZAA performance class, you will create original sketches from the ground up and bring them to life in a live audience performance.
This is 8 weeks of writing, creating, laughing, building characters, and making something that didn’t exist before you walked in the room.
It’s fun. It’s a little chaotic. It’s ensemble-driven.
And by the end of it… you’ll have a full sketch show.
Yes. You will perform.
Who This Is For
Actors who want to loosen up and expand their range
Improvisers ready to turn ideas into material
Creators who love comedy and want to make their own
Anyone who misses the feeling of just playing
No sketch writing experience required.
ABOUT BRANDY HOTCHNER
Over the ten years Brandy lived and struggled in New York City, she won three best actress honors in one act play festivals, was seen on stage at (among others) Ontological-Hysteric Theater, Ensemble Studio Theater, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, Playwrights Horizons, Circle in the Square and New York Theater Workshop. She has appeared in 11 independent films and directed original works at Ensemble Studio Theater.
Old School Sketch Comedy: FAQ
Do I need improv experience?
No. While improvisers often enjoy sketch comedy, this class focuses on writing, character creation, and performance, so actors of many backgrounds can thrive.
Will we actually perform?
Yes. The class culminates in two live performances at Arizona Actors Academy where the ensemble presents their original work for an audience.
Do I have to write sketches?
Yes—but you won’t be doing it alone. Writing is collaborative and developed through exercises, group work, and rehearsal.
Is this like Saturday Night Live?
In spirit, yes. You’ll develop original sketches with an ensemble, rehearse them, and perform them live.
Is this class only for comedians?
Not at all. Many serious actors take sketch classes to develop timing, bold choices, character work, and spontaneity.
High Performance Improv Program Overview
From Tuner to Turbocharger
You’ve got the fundamentals now it’s time to floor it.
High Performance Improv is designed for improvisers who are ready to level up. This class supercharges your existing skills and pushes you into new creative territory with performance-focused training, technical precision, and bold artistic risk-taking.
What You’ll Master:
🧩 Synthesis of Skills: Understanding how the parts work together and how to make them sing under pressure
🎭 Longform Improvisation: Build rich, multi-layered narratives with compelling characters and evolving arcs
😂 Sketch, Genre & Short Form: Sharpen comedic instinct and timing while mastering audience-ready structures
💥 Improvised Drama: Deepen emotional stakes and bring raw truth to unscripted performance
🛠️ Performance Craft: Learn how to rehearse, refine, and deliver polished improvised work
How the Program Works:
- Every intensive features a different focus advancing sills for performance.
- Requires prior improv training or instructor approval
- Best suited for students who have completed three Improv Mechanics modules or equivalent experience
- Some intensives culminate in a public performance
This is your test track.
High Performance Improv will challenge, transform, and prepare you to take the stage with confidence, skill, and artistry.
Buckle up — some of these rides end with a show.
High Performance Improv Program Overview
From Tuner to Turbocharger
You’ve got the fundamentals now it’s time to floor it.
High Performance Improv is designed for improvisers who are ready to level up. This class supercharges your existing skills and pushes you into new creative territory with performance-focused training, technical precision, and bold artistic risk-taking.
What You’ll Master:
🧩 Synthesis of Skills: Understanding how the parts work together and how to make them sing under pressure
🎭 Longform Improvisation: Build rich, multi-layered narratives with compelling characters and evolving arcs
😂 Sketch, Genre & Short Form: Sharpen comedic instinct and timing while mastering audience-ready structures
💥 Improvised Drama: Deepen emotional stakes and bring raw truth to unscripted performance
🛠️ Performance Craft: Learn how to rehearse, refine, and deliver polished improvised work
How the Program Works:
- Every intensive features a different focus advancing sills for performance.
- Requires prior improv training or instructor approval
- Best suited for students who have completed three Improv Mechanics modules or equivalent experience
- Some intensives culminate in a public performance
This is your test track.
High Performance Improv will challenge, transform, and prepare you to take the stage with confidence, skill, and artistry.
Buckle up — some of these rides end with a show.