Designed by the artistic director of the 28-year-old Precipice Improv Theater, this class playfully brings out your creativity in a completely supportive environment.

Students take this workshop to:

Have Fun in a Playful Atmosphere

Get in Touch with the Artist Within

Learn Communication/Presentation Skills Useful in Work Situations

C hallenge themselves to create stories with others in real-time

Experience Personal Growth

Develop Acting Skills

Classes are held in downtown Bethesda, Maryland, in a beautiful classroom at Imagination Stage. Plenty of parking 1/2 a block away in a free municipal garage. 4-minute walk to the Bethesda metro station.

Reviews

"Class was a great release. I think my inner comic genius started to eek out! Overall it was a blast!" — Lauren K.

“I was always jealous of my friends who had an 'artistic outlet' — a way to express themselves outside of work and family. I can barely draw a stick figure and I leave musical instruments to people who can play them. Stepping into Gary’s beginning improv acting class opened that creative door for me. Anyone can do it. Blissfully, “talent” or being funny isn’t required. All I needed was the desire to have fun. Gary takes care of the rest. Going to improv class is a highlight of my week, and no, I’m not a recluse! As a bonus, the class has given me the confidence to speak in front of others when the need arises. Think wedding toasts and presentations. I’m so glad I found this class!” - Julie S.

A bout the teacher

Gary Jacobs has been producing, performing, directing, and teaching improvisational theater in the D.C. area for 42 years. In 1995 he founded Precipice Improv Theater. Precipice dedicates itself to improvising full-length comic plays as good as the best scripted plays performed today.

Upon hearing of Gary's plans for Precipice, his mother was heard to say, "This will either be the most brilliant contribution to Western Civilization since the invention of scientific one-point perspective by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1415, or theatrical suicide.”

While the jury is still out on that prediction, audiences have enjoyed over 200 Precipice performances. In January of 2023, Precipice’s four improvised comic plays served as the centerpiece of the First Bethesda Improv and Comedy Festival.

Gary is also the artistic director of the Center for Narrative Improvisation and producer of the Bethesda Improv and Comedy Festival with Alice Lipowicz.

Gary’s first passion is teaching. He started teaching locally in 1985 after five years producing, acting and directing improv theater. In 1989, Gary started the first year-round, drop-in improv class in the D.C. area, which he taught continuously for 12 years until September 11, 2001, when the government building he used for the class was closed to all outside groups. He started this year-round drop-in class again in 2015, which ended with the recent pandemic.

In 2005, Gary started teaching across the country at companies such as ImprovBoston, Bay Area Theatersports in San Francisco, the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica, the Chaos Theater in Phoenix, Unscrewed Theater in Tuscon, and the Ventura Improv Company in Ventura. He has also taught overseas at the Improv Bandits in Auckland, New Zealand, and the Court Theater in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Gary is writing a book entitled Principles of Improvising Plays and Scripts for Stage and Screen.

Precipice Improv's Improv-For-Everyone Workshop - 1 class intro - Bethesda