6 Classes to Build Your Performance Skills in the DC Area

To Be or Not to Be

Shakespeare

Pay homage to the Bard during classes led by Shakespeare Theatre Company. A spring course focuses on Much Ado About Nothing, ending with a performance for friends and family. The seven-week course is $299.

Play for Laughs

Comedy

Grab a mic at the DC Improv Comedy School and start practicing your punchlines. The intro stand­up class ($450) breaks down how to write and deliver jokes, and students finish with a “tight five” set. You can also sign up for sketch or improv lessons. One-day workshops start at $70, six-week sessions at $295.

Battle of the Bands

Instruments

Jack Black won’t be your teacher, but it’s never too late to live out your rock-star dreams by learning to play guitar, bass, keyboard, or drums at School of Rock. A program places students in a band, with one private lesson and one group jam a week, culminating in a live performance. Prices vary by course.

Yes, and . . .

Improv

Think on your feet during classes at Washington Improv Theater. Five levels of instruction range from “Foundations of Improv” to “The Harold,” named for a classic storytelling technique. Sessions run eight weeks, with a showcase at the end to flaunt your new skills. Each session is $350.

On a High Note

Singing

Belt your heart out at Levine Music, which offers voice lessons at studios across the region. Sessions (starting at $65) are one-on-one, and you set the focus, whether that’s finding your voice or refining your technique. Instructors have experience in opera, choir, and orchestra.

Break a Leg

Acting

The Theatre Lab offers a wide range of acting courses, from two-hour drop-in classes covering the basics ($50) to multi-week sessions on specific topics (starting at $310). Courses include scene study, video-game voice acting, the Meisner Technique, and more.

This article appears in the December 2024 issue of Washingtonian.