Unleash your inner SNL writer in this fun and beginner-friendly sketch writing course! You'll learn what makes a sketch work, explore your creativity, meet new people, and have fun! 

In this fun, introductory course, you’ll learn how to turn your ideas into laugh-out-loud sketch comedy. Each week mixes discussion, group exercises, and in-class writing time in a fun and supportive environment. In this course you will learn how to:

 🧠 Generate and develop sketch ideas from scratch
 ✍️ Write first drafts and edit with constructive feedback
 💡 Identify what makes a sketch land (or flop)
 🗣️ Pitch ideas and collaborate in a supportive group
 🚀 Build, heighten, and end with a strong comedic button

We’ll even touch on how sketch comedy has evolved, from vaudeville stages to streaming sensations—and why knowing that journey isn’t just helpful at trivia night, but makes you a smarter, sharper comedy writer.

You don’t have to be an aspiring comedy writer to love this class! You’ll sharpen skills that go way beyond comedy - creative collaboration, clear communication, confident pitching, and thinking on your feet. Whether you’re stepping into comedy for the first time or just want to try something new, you’ll discover how to express yourself in smarter, sharper, and funnier ways. If you’ve got something to say, this class will help you say it in the funniest way possible. Plus you'll meet new people, have a blast, and forget the worries of the world each week.

🗓️ WHEN
Mondays | 6/22 - 7/27 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Course is 6 weeks. No Dates are skipped.

📍 WHERE
Polk Stables, 1533 Lewis St, Indianapolis, IN 46202

💵 TUITION
Early Enrollment- $199 through 6/7 - Save $50!
Regular Enrollment: $249

💳 PAYMENT PLANS
Want to split your tuition into smaller payments? We got your back! We offer a simple 4-payment plan spread over six weeks, so there's no need to pay it all up front. Choose “Pay With Payment Plan” at checkout.  Please note: All payment plans include processing fees.
➡️ Installment Plan: Four payments over 6 weeks. Option ends with early enrollment deadline.
➡️ Split Plan: Pay 50% now and 50% in one month.
➡️ Flex Plan: Miss the installment plan window or need a bit more flexibility? We also offer payment plans through AfterPay by request. Email [email protected] for details.

🎓ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Mike Marbach is originally from Philly and now resides in the Hoosier state. He is the founder Crossroads Comedy Theater and the Executive Director of Crossroads' operations in Indianapolis. Mike has been studying, performing, and teaching improv since 2005. He has taken classes with and performed with iO Chicago and The Annoyance Theater in Chicago and has also studied  with the UCB Theater in NY. Mike has also countless workshops from improv instructors from across the country. Some of the people Mike has had the honor of studying with include Susan Messing, Mick Napier, Mark Sutton, Jill Bernard, Joe Bill, Charna Halpern, Scott Adsit, Mike O'Brien, Noah Gregoropoulos, Jet Eveleth, Jason Chin, and many more. Mike also taugh improv at Drexel University as well as co-created an improv course for Lawyers at Duke University.

Mike served as Class Registrar and Education Director of Philly Improv Theater (PHIT) from 2009 - 2017, a position in which wrote the core curriculum for the improv program, created new courses, trained instructors, and taught dozens of classes over those years. Mike then took the title of Artistic Director which he held until 2020 when the theater closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He created and directed the long running Philly shows Study Hall: Comedy Inspired By Lectures and Not Yet Rated: An Improvised Movie, and the sketch comedy epic A Nightmare on Jawn Street. Mike also directed directed the award winning improv teams Asteroid! (retired) and the Future, which still performs together 10 years later. He also performed in his own weekly show The Seltzer Hour featuring Mike Marbach and Friends and his yearly tradition of reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas in over 50 different celebrity impressions.

Mike also runs the Crossroads Comedy Theater Podcast Network, which features comedy and pop culture themed shows covering topics such as Game of Thrones, Star Trek, Comic Book Movies, Lord of the Rings, sketch comedy props, with more to come. When not doing Crossroads things Mike likes to watch tv / movies, listen to audiobooks, go bowling, or work on a new celebrity impression.