A black-and-white photo features a glasses-wearing individual in a light shirt, dramatically holding their chest. The image is adorned with bold text: Rise Comedy and Improv 401: Pattern and Heightening. Discover the dynamic flair of Denver comedy at its finest!.

Class Details

Class Runs: Tuesday evenings @ 6:30 PM - 9:15 PM MT
Class Dates: Tue 1/27/26 - Mon 3/10/25 (7 classes total)
Location: RISE Comedy, 1260 22nd St, Denver, CO 80205
Instructor(s): Asa Erlendson
Price: $361/person

Special Notes:

Students will receive an email with class details and links 12-24 hours before the class. If you do not see this email, please check your spam folder as well!

Minimum class size is 8 students.

Improv 401 (Tuesdays 1/27-3/10 @6:30pm-9:15pm)

In Level 401 you’ll learn to recognize the pattern that scenes naturally create and learn how to exploit the tool of heightening to maximize the pattern’s impact in the scene.

Prerequisite: Level 301

Student Showcase: Monday, March 16th OR Tuesday March 17th

Instructor: Asa Erlendson and Improv officially met in 2007 at Pitzer College in the group Without A Box. Things got hot and heavy when he co-founded a group called ImpRAWv in which he had a transcendent experience in an experiment called The Beehive (watch “My Dinner With Andre” to get the reference). When he moved back home to Denver in 2011, Asa and Improv started going steady while at the Bovine Metropolis. First, as a student, and eventually as a coach and teacher. Things got really serious when he joined the group Governor Jack. With Governor Jack, Asa was able to meet, study with, and perform with amazing improvisers from cities and schools all around the country while absconding to festivals in Denver, and from New York City to Salt Lake City, but no further West than that… yet. Since they first met, Improv has introduced Asa to a variety of genres, styles, and forms. He can truly say he is a better person for knowing Improv. And even though he has messed around with sketch and has a growing friendship with stand-up, his heart will always belong to Improv, its community and all of its teachers and students.

Financial Assistance

We understand that financial circumstances can sometimes make participation challenging. Please know that your presence, voice and contributions are valued here, and we are committed to making our programs as accessible as possible.

We have a few ways to help folks experience our classes. First off, all of our volunteers can take up to one full level class every term. Our volunteers learn positions at the theater and agree to a regular schedule at either our box office, tech booth, or our HM position which helps get the shows started on time. If you have a skill or trade or item that could be of benefit the theater, we're open to talking to you about it. We also offer payment plans for more flexibility, look into them at check out.

If those options aren't helpful, we offer an inclusion scholarship that will help Rise best reflect Denver. If you feel that you have a perspective and experience that Rise could benefit from we offer scholarships each term for our leveled classes. Apply below.

Link to Scholarship Program: https://risecomedy.com/rise-comedy-inclusion-scholarship/

If you have circumstances beyond these options or would like more details on any of them please reach out to [email protected] with the subject "Financial Assistance"