IN PERSON Classes

MONDAY NIGHT SERIES: COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE 2 - MAKING A SHOW

Class Type Open
Dates April 21 thru June 9, 2025
Times 6-9pm, Mondays ONLY
Location JJ Gym, 6232 Mary Ellen Ave, Valley Glen, CA 91401
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $399 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“A miracle happens.” FQ, Beijing

You’ve experienced the improvisations, the musicality, and the characters. You’ve delved into action, rhythm, trickery and energy. Now take the next step and create a brand new show! David’s vast and award-winning experience in the art form will help you sculpt new material, create wonderful lazzi (comic bits), build comic monologues and duologues, and tell a great story, working alongside your peers and having an amazing creative experience. This class culminates in a public performance for friends and family.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: Commedia dell’Arte 1 or comparable experience

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 2

Class Type Intermediate
Dates April 27 thru June 8, 2025
Times 6-9.30pm, Sundays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, El Sereno
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

Clown 2 offers an amazing opportunity to explore clown archetypes. Bring your vulnerability and playfulness to the Auguste, the clown at the very bottom of the ladder, and the Joey, also known as the boss clown, the clown that wins! The class brings incredible transformations, a deeper connection with your clown, and the joy of creativity in this beautiful discipline.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: Clown 1

FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOP: SILENT MOVEMENT PRACTICE

Class Type Open
Dates May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Times 10am-Noon, Fridays ONLY
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $279 per month

A unique, original class that explores energy, physical communication, and connection - with self and others - in silence. Fusing elements of meditation, contact improvisation and balance work, Viewpoints, and David’s own movement curriculum, each session unfolds without speech and opens up new channels of somatic listening and learning. By joining this class, you pledge to enter the studio in silence and to maintain that silence throughout the class experience.

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: MAD CIRCUS SKILLS WITH MATT WALKER

Class Type Open
Dates May 17/18, 2025
Times Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm
Location Screenland Studios
10501 Burbank Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA, 91601
Instructor Matt Walker
Cost $299

He’s back! Learn the proper tricks and techniques of various circus skill disciplines. Including juggling, balancing, and hat tricks! Ringling Bros. Clown College graduate and former circus clown Matt Walker will guide you through the necessary practices and protocols to add to your bag of tricks! Hands (and feet) on training on all the circus apparatus over the course of the weekend. Develop practical application of these skills to help create a vital, well-rounded clown! Or, just kick-ass at parties! Additionally, your material will be considered for possible inclusion with The Troubies residency at The Colony Theater in Burbank in July!

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SPECIAL WEEKEND WORKSHOP: DEVISING THEATER

Class Type Open
Dates June 21/22, 2025
Times Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $299

From clown shows to dramas, solos to ensemble performances, David's experience in devising makes this weekend workshop essential for creators, writers, performers, and directors alike. Last offered during the pandemic, this is a rare opportunity to explore this precise and influential curriculum. Explore the potentials of space, theme, movement, text, and image in the process of devising original material for the stage.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 3

Class Type Advanced
Dates July 20 - August 24, 2025
Times 6-10pm, Sundays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“Incredibly transformative! Clown School taught me truly life-altering skills!” CSH, Los Angeles

For participants who have come through the Clown progression, the chance to make a Clown show together. Enjoy the thrills of your clown character making material and creating beautiful routines. Everything culminates in a presentation for friends and family. Don’t miss this totally unique opportunity to be a part of a fabulous adventure!

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: Clown 2

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

Book your place now for the astounding Clown School Summer Intensive at The Clown School in July 2025. Welcoming participants from all over the country and all over the world to Los Angeles, the Intensive is rigorous, irreverent, playful, personal and profound, with a unique and transformative clown curriculum that can’t be found anywhere else! From vulnerability to a relationship with an audience; from levels of energy to physicalization and imagery; from emotional connection to archetypes and routines; this comprehensive exploration of the beauty and wonder of clowning offers a breakthrough experience for performers, comedians, artists, professionals, the curious, and the seekers of all stripes. A rare opportunity for newcomers and returners alike to go big and go bold - and release parts of the self into the creative process that have, until now, remained blocked.

MONDAY NIGHT SERIES: VAUDEVILLE!

Class Type Open
Dates July 21 - August 25, 2025
Times 6-9pm, Mondays ONLY
Location JJ Gym, 6232 Mary Ellen Ave, Valley Glen, CA 91401
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $399 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“I can't remember the last time I felt so creatively inspired!” JE, Los Angeles

Do you have a vaudeville act or an eccentric routine you want to develop? From nutty physical comedy to bizarre musical numbers, from quirky clown business to surreal dressing up, the broad church of vaudeville is a place where your craziest notions are welcome, and where they come to life! Burlesque, song, dance, poetry… Anything is possible! Enjoy our instructional course that can accommodate your inspiration and, at the same time, will teach you how to make something out of nothing. The final class consists of a live presentation of your material to friends and family.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

Hot on the heels of our Summer Intensive comes a new intensive in the art and practice of mime. A glorious opportunity to explore the art form as it relates to the world of clown and physical comedy. Learn isolations that help you to articulate your physical movements; beats, phrasing, punctuation, and sub-divisions to develop the grammar and language of mime; and develop hilarious and poignant scenes that test and stretch your compositional abilities. Perfect for performers, artists, and seekers who want to practice silent story telling as a unique, magical, and exciting art form.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!

THE CLOWN SCHOOL SILENT MOVEMENT PRACTICE INTENSIVE

Class Type Open
Dates August 11-15, 2025
Times 10am-Noon, Monday-Friday
Location Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California 91601
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $349

To reserve your place in this class, email administrator@theclownschool.com

A unique, original class that explores energy, physical communication, and connection - with self and others - in silence. Fusing elements of meditation, contact improvisation and balance work, Viewpoints, and David’s own movement curriculum, each session unfolds without speech and opens up new channels of somatic listening and learning. By joining this class, you pledge to enter the studio in silence and to maintain that silence throughout the class experience.

SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES: CLOWN 1

Class Type Open
Dates September 7 - October 19, 2025
Times 6-9.30pm, Sundays ONLY
Location The Stomping Ground, 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
Instructor David Bridel
Cost $449 (discounts available for previous Clown School participants)

“I think all people, big and small, fat and tall, outlandishly extroverted or shy and squeaky, believing or non-believing, happy or sad, beautiful or butt ugly, ready or not, should TAKE. THIS. CLASS.” KS, Los Angeles

Delve into the magical world of the clown. Learn to meet an audience on equal terms. Discover the energies inside you waiting to be tapped, relish the liberation of laughter, confront your fears and support your peers. You’ll be amazed how the clown inside you emerges into the limelight and experiences the pure pleasure of connection.

Clown 1 is our foundational class, and most popular offering.

Ages 18 and older.

Prerequisite: None. All experience levels welcome!