Friends,

I hope 2026 is going well! It feels like Spring's come early here in Portland. And since Spring brings new growth, we've got some news that we're excited to share...

Longer Classes

Starting next cycle, our Foundations class series will join our Intermediate/Advanced classes in being 2.5. hours long. This will better accommodate our curricula. When he studied in LA, David's classes were always 3 hours long, but we're not going to expose you to that kind of commitment. Yet. 😂

Early Bird Pricing

For years, we've sent end-of-cycle emails with a special code to save money on classes. We are replacing that system with early bird pricing: the first four or five people that sign up for classes will get a discount. Once those slots are filled, registrations will go to the normal cost. We hope you'll take advantage!

INTRODUCING A BRAND-NEW CLASS: ​
​IMPROV FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

For years, our Foundations class series - taught by Natasha and Mary Pat - has been our most popular class. However, after taking that class, many of you stopped attending. We recently learned why: after Foundations, we didn't offer other non-performance improv classes. That now changes.

Today's big news: we are now offering these classes!

'Improv for Personal Development', taught by David Koff, will be devoted to bringing the core teachings of improvisation to our personal and professional world.

As many of you have seen, practicing improvisation can be a deeply psychological experience. So think of this new class series as a fabulous next step for those who complete Foundations and want to continue their journey off the stage. We'll leverage the power of applied improvisation and bring the core tools of improv to our daily lives. We'll anchor much of our work in the teachings of Augusto Boal and Paulo Friere, two educators who helped bring this kind of improvisation to the world.

This class is PERFECT for those looking to reduce social anxiety, increase confidence, navigate relationships more smoothly, and feel more comfortable in their minds & bodies. Begin changing your psychology.

While it isn't therapy, as we help you see and work with your own psychology, it will feel therapeutic. Together, we'll learn how to:

• 👂🏼Hear & understand one another, even in challenging situations
• 👣 Stand in the moment patiently & confidently
• 🗣️ Speak our truth calmly and kindly
• 👁️ See and label other people's non-verbal cues
• 💪🏼 Discover our strengths and, most importantly...
• 🧑🏼‍🤝🏼‍🧑🏼 Evolve friendships & relationships through the power of agreement

Now, whether you desire to learn improv as an art form for the stage or a transformational skill for your life, we have something at our studio designed just for you! Below are linkable images to our entire class lineup. Click to learn more.

📰 In the News...

Research Shows Improv Enhances Creativity, Confidence & Self-Belief

Improv isn’t just fun; science backs up what many teachers and participants have long observed. Here are the results from a study released last year.​

Creativity & Creative Self-Efficacy:​
Compared to a control group, those who participated in improv training over several weeks showed a stronger belief in their ability to generate creative ideas and solve problems. This suggests improv helps people feel more capable of thinking creatively over time.

Self-Esteem & Confidence:​
The same study showed that self-esteem also rose more in the improv group than in the comparison group, indicating that sustained improv practice can boost how people value and trust themselves.

This emerging body of evidence suggests that improv can support real psychological growth, which helps people become more creative, more self-assured, and better at navigating social and professional challenges.

📣 Community News

Taking Portland improv to Scotland Congratulations to Matthew Keesler and his duo partner, Ryan Gantz, who are heading across the pond to perform at the Edinburgh International Improv Festival! 🇬🇧🎭 Performing as "Dadvice", these two self-proclaimed “middle-aged dads from Beaverton” have been steadily making waves in the local improv scene. They’ve made it to the finals of Friday Night Fights and have performed at multiple venues in and around Portland. We absolutely love seeing members of our community take their creativity to new heights (and new continents). HUUUUUGE props to Matt and Ryan!

We can't wait to see you in the studio for our newest cycle. On behalf of the entire team, we wish you all a fabulous rest of the week!

Warmly,
Brittney van Eck
Studio Manager, Change Through Play