Comedy School

Crafting Characters: A Workshop in Character Development for Storytelling and Comedy

This engaging and interactive workshop designed to help you create memorable and multi-dimensional characters for storytelling and comedy. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn the essentials of character building, including developing backstories, exploring physicality and voice and understanding emotional depth and motivation. Through lessons and exercises, you'll bring your characters to life and enhance your creative skills. Whether you're a writer, performer, or just passionate about character creation, this workshop will provide you with practical tools and insights to craft compelling and believable characters.

About the Instructor: Nikki Frias has contributed to Pop Sugar, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and Boardroom. She is an author, writing coach and teacher specializing in helping people find their form of funny. Her book is titled “Does this Divorce Make Me Look Fat?” and she currently teaches comedy writing at The Writer’s Center, and improv at the Washington Improv Theatre. Her second book "Damn, you still single?" is expected to hit shelves later this year.
09/25/2024 7:00 PM

Door Time: 6:45 PM

Other Showtimes

Wednesday, September 25 (online), meeting 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. This is an online class, conducted through Zoom. Participants must have a reliable Internet connection and a computer, phone or device with a web camera and microphone.

This engaging and interactive workshop designed to help you create memorable and multi-dimensional characters for storytelling and comedy. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn the essentials of character building, including developing backstories, exploring physicality and voice and understanding emotional depth and motivation. Through lessons and exercises, you'll bring your characters to life and enhance your creative skills. Whether you're a writer, performer, or just passionate about character creation, this workshop will provide you with practical tools and insights to craft compelling and believable characters.

About the Instructor: Nikki Frias has contributed to Pop Sugar, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and Boardroom. She is an author, writing coach and teacher specializing in helping people find their form of funny. Her book is titled “Does this Divorce Make Me Look Fat?” and she currently teaches comedy writing at The Writer’s Center, and improv at the Washington Improv Theatre. Her second book "Damn, you still single?" is expected to hit shelves later this year.


All sales are final. Refunds and exchanges are offered only when a show is canceled or rescheduled.


Admission Policies

  • Please note: An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting our establishment, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
  • Patrons must be 18 or older to attend events or classes at the DC Improv. Any exceptions are clearly noted in the event descriptions.
  • There is a two-item minimum per customer. This can be any combination of food items or beverages. Bottled water and soft drinks count as items. (The two-item minimum does not apply to comedy classes.)
  • Coupons or passes for free admission cannot be used for a show listed as a "special event."

Seating Policies

  • Matinees, the first show of any evening in our main showroom and all shows in our lounge showroom are seated by time of arrival. The earlier you arrive, the more options you'll have. Please note that the size of your party can affect what options are available to you, as certain tables and areas are designated for larger parties.
  • "Late shows" in the main showroom have assigned seating. Assignments are made in order of ticket purchase. Generally speaking, the earlier you buy tickets, the closer you will be to the stage.
  • If tickets are designated as being at a "reserved table," your party will have a table to itself. For general admission tickets, if your party does not fill an entire table, you may be sharing a table with other patrons.

This engaging and interactive workshop designed to help you create memorable and multi-dimensional characters for storytelling and comedy. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn the essentials of character building, including developing backstories, exploring physicality and voice and understanding emotional depth and motivation. Through lessons and exercises, you'll bring your characters to life and enhance your creative skills. Whether you're a writer, performer, or just passionate about character creation, this workshop will provide you with practical tools and insights to craft compelling and believable characters.

About the Instructor: Nikki Frias has contributed to Pop Sugar, Forbes, The Daily Beast, and Boardroom. She is an author, writing coach and teacher specializing in helping people find their form of funny. Her book is titled “Does this Divorce Make Me Look Fat?” and she currently teaches comedy writing at The Writer’s Center, and improv at the Washington Improv Theatre. Her second book "Damn, you still single?" is expected to hit shelves later this year.