Welcome to Serious Comedy Theatre!

nEw Student?

We highly recommend every new Serious Comedy Theatre student take our Improv 101 and Improv 201 class to establish your foundation in the Theatre’s comedy philosophy. (We told you are are SERIOUS about comedy! 🧐🤓) This foundation is essential for every student to best decide what comedy track they want to pursue. Whether you are most interested in improv, stand up or sketch- it all starts with our foundation classes.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS!
Drop us a line if you have any questions at info@seriouscomedytheatre.com

OUR HISTORY

Serious Comedy Theatre started with one improv jam at Beacon Performing Arts Center in January 2019. Just two people sending an invite out into the world with no idea who would show up. That first jam quickly grew into something much larger: a thriving theatre with classes in improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy, as well as comedy shows every Second Saturday and Fourth Friday out of Two Way Brewing Company.

Meet our FOunder

Serious Comedy theatre was founded by Chris Fontakis, so he could make friends. For real.

He grew up in New York City, but performed shows in Los Angeles for 10 years at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, iO West (formerly Improv Olympic), and Groundlings. He also performed on the main stage at The Comedy Store, and countless other stand-up venues.

Besides spending years coaching and directing improv and sketch shows on various stages in LA, Fontakis also performed in sketches online for College Humor, Funny or Die, and Break. He wrote for numerous internet-based comedy shows, ranging from nerdy video game sketch shows like Game Stain on Mondo, to make-over shows, like Fashion Remix for Seventeen Magazine's YouTube Channel.

Back in New York and new to Beacon, Fontakis created Serious Comedy Theatre in 2019 with his roughly 15 years of improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy experience. And now he has made so many new friends!

Serious Comedy Theatre is currently run by the dynamic duo Chris Fontakis and Eli Barrett and has a host of amazing teachers.

CLASS POLICY

PAYMENT:

Classes are non-refundable.
Course credit will be offered if cancelled with a weeks + notice.

ATTENDANCE:
If you miss 2+ classes, you cannot perform at graduation and will not be entitled to advance to the next course level without first retaking the full course
Serious Comedy Theatre reserves the right, to remove any participant at any time for any reason including, but not limited to, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory behavior.

ADVANCEMENT:
Students are not guaranteed promotion to the next course level. Promotion is contingent on attendance, seeing shows and a demonstration of course concepts and will be decided by course instructor and Head of Academics.
[Shows are free to attend for currently enrolled students.]
You may re-take level 101 classes as many times as you wish.