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 five-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 6 weeks of instruction with 2.5 hours of instruction each week and a class show!

INSTRUCTOR: Roland Mechanik
DAY / TIME: Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 PM (2.5 hours)
DATE RANGE: 6 weeks. 8/25, 9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29
CLASS SHOW: Tue 10/6 8:30 PM *subject to change
LOCATION: 1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214
PREREQUISITE: Level 4 at Kickstand

ABOUT ROLAND MECHANIK
He/Him
Roland has been teaching improv at Kickstand for over 7 years now! Roland has a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and studied at UCB NY before moving to Portland and joining up with Kickstand Comedy about a decade ago. Roland co-produces/co-hosts a monthly queer improv variety show at Kickstand called Small Fruits. He also performs regularly as one half of the world-famous human mannequin cabaret act The Roland and Muriel Show, which was just featured at SF Sketchfest and was the winner at Portland’s First Annual Comedy Pageant in 2024. Improv credits include: SF Sketchfest, Vancouver Improv Festival (Vancouver, BC), Stumptown Improv Festival, Portland Queer Comedy Festival, All Jane Comedy Fest. Stand up credits include: Kickstand Comedy in the Park (x3), headlining the Tomorrow Theater, and hosting for Nico Santos at Helium. Roland was featured on OPB for a spotlight on queer storytellers and is proud to have been the first openly trans masc improviser in Portland (as far as he knows)!

ALL SALES ARE FINAL, AND NO REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR CLASSES   

The policies below are essential to Kickstand's mission. Everyone must agree to uphold them while being part of the Kickstand community.  Please be familiar with our policies before beginning classes at Kickstand.  You can find these policies listed on our website. We have also linked  to them below.

Thanks again for your interest in classes at Kickstand! We cannot wait to meet you!