Unique Access Workshop
Genre Improv with Lisa Merchant
Join multi-award winning instructor LISA MERCHANT in the steamy salons of Tennessee Williams and concrete jungles of film noir. A hilarious and essential building block for actors and improvisors for character development and those moments when the audience asks for “film noir,” you can deliver the classic clichés like a natural. “What do you know about anything? You probably had your bread buttered on both sides since the day you were born.” (Raw Deal 1948) A workshop not to be missed.
$339 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Tuesdays, 7pm – 8:30 pm EDT
• January 19, 2020 to February 23, 2020 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 12 students per class, max.
• Age 18+
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Unique Access Workshop
Auditioning the song with Steve Ross and special guest Michael Walters
Do auditions make you nervous? Tired of hearing “thank you” three bars into your tune? Singing well is one thing. Choosing the right song is everything. Learn performance, style and delivery techniques from two industry giants of stage and casting. Students will come prepared with one musical theatre number ready to polish. Then, based on your particular vocal range and tonal quality, Stratford veteran STEVE ROSS will personally select a second song for you to add to your repertoire. In the final class, you’ll perform a simulated audition with one of Canada’s top musical theatre casting agents, MICHAEL WALTERS.
$425 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Mondays 7pm – 9 pm EDT
• January 18, 2021 to February 22, 2021 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 8 students per class, max.
• Age 18+ (Consideration given to teens based on referral.)
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Michael Walters
(Click for Michael’s bio)
Do auditions make you nervous? Tired of hearing “thank you” three bars into your tune? Singing well is one thing. Choosing the right song is everything. Learn performance, style and delivery techniques from two industry giants of stage and casting. Students will come prepared with one musical theatre number ready to polish. Then, based on your particular vocal range and tonal quality, Stratford veteran STEVE ROSS will personally select a second song for you to add to your repertoire. In the final class, you’ll perform a simulated audition with one of Canada’s top musical theatre casting agents, MICHAEL WALTERS.
$425 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Mondays 7pm – 9 pm EDT
• January 18, 2021 to February 22, 2021 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 8 students per class, max.
• Age 18+ (Consideration given to teens based on referral.)
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Unique Access Workshop
Making the Pitch with Wendy Hopkins and special guest Brent Haynes
Develop the elements necessary to pitch your Web/TV series idea with writer, director and pitch pro WENDY HOPKINS. From log lines to pitch structure and story arcs, the goal of this class is to produce a succinct, compelling pitch that will help sell your series to producers, crowd-funders, and network executives. Learn how to shape your idea to tell compelling stories, for not just a few episodes, but for several seasons. In the final class, each creator will present a simulated pitch of their series idea to BRENT HAYNES, Head of Television Development, at Shout! Factory Entertainment in Los Angeles, California.
$425 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Wednesdays, 7 pm – 9pm EDT
• January 20, 2021 to February 24, 2021 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 8 students per class, max.
• Age 18+
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Brent Haynes
(Click for Brent’s bio)
Brent Haynes
(Click for Brent’s bio)
Develop the elements necessary to pitch your Web/TV series idea with writer, director and pitch pro WENDY HOPKINS. From log lines to pitch structure and story arcs, the goal of this class is to produce a succinct, compelling pitch that will help sell your series to producers, crowd-funders, and network executives. Learn how to shape your idea to tell compelling stories, for not just a few episodes, but for several seasons. In the final class, each creator will present a simulated pitch of their series idea to BRENT HAYNES, Head of Television Development, at Shout! Factory Entertainment in Los Angeles, California.
$425 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Wednesdays, 7 pm – 9pm EDT
• January 20, 2021 to February 24, 2021 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 8 students per class, max.
• Age 18+
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!

Start Me Up Series
Learn OnLine Winter 2021
Warning: If we start you up, you may never stop.
These workshops are dedicated to those wanting to try something new or just shake off the isolation dust. It’s a great way to ignite your creativity and get your feet wet. It’s safe, supportive and FUN!
You deserve this!
Start Me Up Series
Start Me Up: Improv with Linda Kash and friends
Come experience the fun of improvising. This workshop is for first timers and those wanting to refresh their improv skills. It’s all about jumping in and having fun. Over six weeks you’ll explore the basics of improvisation through games in our safe, no pressure, supportive klusterfork ZOOM-room. It will leave you feeling energized with a new found confidence. In short…this is an improv class for everyone!
$339 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Mondays, 7 pm – 8:30 pm EDT
• January 18, 2020 to February 22, 2020 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 12 students per class, max. Additional classes will be added as needed.
• Age 18+
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Start Me Up Series
Start Me Up: Singing with Kate Suhr
“The only thing better than singing is more singing” – Ella Fitzgerald
Are you a shower crooner, or perhaps a driving diva? Have you always wanted to gain the confidence to share your voice with others? Let Canadian recording artist and actor KATE SUHR guide you to your voice through the rudiments of sound and vocalization to sing with confidence in our supportive group setting. All that’s required is your willingness to try and two popular songs from any genre with pre-recorded accompaniment.
$339 (tax incl.)
Dates and Times (6 classes):
• Tuesdays, 7 pm – 8:30 pm EDT
• January 19, 2020 to February 23, 2020 (6 weeks)
• Online via Zoom
• 8 students per class, max.
• Age 18+
Or…
Can’t make this session? Sign up to be put on our waiting list for the next session.
Space is limited. Register now!
Unique Access
Party Primer
Q: Want more fun in your screen time?
A: Invite an Improv Comedy Specialist to your next video-conferencing event.
Hold the awkward and double the awesome. We break the ice and get everyone laughing so you can move on with your meet-up. Cocktail hours and office parties, reunions and birthdays, book clubs and girls’ nights. We’ll catapult your online event into the stratosphere of fun.
Our Improv Comedy Specialists (your Party Primers) are improv pros: seasoned teachers and alumni from the world-famous Second City Mainstage. You’ll be playing games and learning improv fundamentals before Aunt Ursula can say “can you hear me?” When your Primer guest leaves, your event carries on with new energy and a lot more laugh lines.
If you have a group of six or more who want to learn improv in private, weekly classes, contact us to set up a session. Primer visits can be 30-45 minutes long and host 6 to 50 participants. Pricing is based on duration and number of participants.



Intimate classes
(12 participants max.)
Live and Interactive
(not recorded or packaged for masses)
Students engage with and get feedback from instructors and special guests.
For students aged 18+
We bring
• Unique access to improv and stand-up comedians, actors, singers, voice and monologue coaches, writers, directors and casting agents
• Courses designed for all skill levels
• A safe, intimate space to learn from encouraging and supportive instructors delivered online through Zoom video conferencing
Our instructors bring
• 10,000plus hours of professional industry experience and exceptional teaching skills
• Practical, applicable techniques and sometimes homework between classes
• A supportive, welcoming and encouraging learning environment
You get UNIQUE ACCESS to the industry’s best talent sharing their wealth of skills and experience.
Beginner, intermediate and professional level courses available.

Upcoming UNIQUE ACCESS workshops

klusterfork Workshops
Unique Access to PROS at the top of their game.
Learn, practise, play. Repeat.
DON’T MISS THIS!
Only klusterfork (and a global pandemic) gives you unique access to some of the most highly-sought-after talents in the working arts.
These may be one-time opportunities.
You can find improv, comedy and singing classes anywhere but you won’t get talent of THIS stature in one room.
GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!
klusterfork LearnOnLine Workshops
LOL FAQs
What do I need to LOL?
You need a strong Internet connection and a device with working microphone and camera. You want a quiet place without interruptions. You don’t want to be near blenders and chainsaws. Nor do you want to wake sleeping babies with your uncontrollable laughter.
How many people can join on one screen?
Two people can share a device if they have both enrolled and will get equal playing time. No more than two per screen please.
What if I’ve paid but can’t make a class or my Internet is down?
Since each class happens only once, sadly, we can’t make do-overs happen. Lock it in your calendar, check your tech status early and come ready to play!
How does a newbie prepare for improv?
Same way we all do, just show up, bring your best self and be in the moment. Some instructors encourage people being on their feet but otherwise, whatever is comfortable for you is best. Even the pros are a bit nervous before performing – use it as fuel to energize you! We create a safe place for everyone to feel comfortable. Since students mostly playing games in pairs of two or three, there’s plenty of time to watch, listen and learn. After all, we’re here to have fun.
klusterfork supports and encourages diversity. Bring your best self and you’re already a perfect fit.

LINDA KASH is a familiar face to Canadians as the Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese angel and has an extensive career of credits in television and film including Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and the Fargo series opposite Ewan McGregor. She runs the Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA), founded in 2007 with her late husband Paul O’Sullivan, teaching improv and acting skills to children, teens & adults.

LISA MERCHANT has been studying, performing and teaching the art of improvisation for 26 years. She is a Professor of Improv at Humber College, a senior faculty member and corporate facilitator with Second City Training Centre and has been guest faculty with Osgood Hall Law School. She coached Canada’s Olympic teams for the London 2012 Summer Games and Sochi 2014 Winter Games. She has earned countless nomination and awards from The Canadian Comedy Awards including three times for Canada’s Best Improviser.

STEVE ROSS has been an actor for almost 30 years and has been a company member with The Stratford Festival of Canada for 16 seasons. He has performed at many of the regional theatres across the country, with credits including: The Producers, A Christmas Carol, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, London Road, Assassins, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Full Monty. Some Stratford credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, The Grapes of Wrath and To Kill a Mockingbird. Steve is a proud graduate of The National Theatre School.

ROBERT MARKUS is a Stratford-based actor and singer, most recently known to audiences for performing the titular role in Mirvish Productions’ Dear Evan Hansen. Selected other credits include Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, as well as roles in The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof (Stratford Festival of Canada), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Theatre Aquarius), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Mayfield Theatre), Gabe in Next to Normal (Theatre Calgary and Citadel Theatre), Pinnochio in Shrek and Denny in Dream a Little Dream (Grand Theatre), Mary Sunshine in Chicago (Drayton Entertainment). Robert has appeared in productions at The Shaw Festival, The Vancouver Playhouse, Young People’s Theatre, Ross Petty Productions, and The Musical Stage Company.

ROBERT MCQUEEN is an Associate Artist with The Musical Stage Company in Toronto and on faculty at HB Theatre Studio in New York City and Arte Studio in Mexico City. Recent directing projects include 42nd Street for Theatre Under The Stars (Vancouver), the New York premiere of Forest Boy, The Magic Flute for Vancouver Opera, Capriccio for Pacific Opera, La Bohème for The Canadian Opera Company; Where Elephants Weep at the Chelna Theatre in Phnom Penh, Carousel for the Galaxy Theatre in Tokyo; The Immigrant for the Harold Green Theatre and Man Of La Mancha for the Stratford Festival of Canada. Robert was the Associate Director for the Broadway, Toronto and all Latin American productions of Mamma Mia. In February 2020, he directed Caroline, or Change at Toronto’s Winter Garden theatre for which he received a Dora nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. He currently calls Stratford home.

STEPHANIE GORIN is an award-winning casting agent with over 25 years casting Canadian television, film, and musical theatre productions. Recent musical theatre casting credits include Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Kinky Boots, Les Miserables, War Horse, Bombay Dreams, The Lion King. She’s a five-time Emmy award nominee and one-time Emmy winner (Best Casting of a Mini-Series, Fargo) and won a Canadian Comedy Award for her comedic documentary, The Casting Room. She is a recipient of the Ontario’s Premier Award for Excellence in Creative Arts.

DAWN WHITWELL produces and hosts Dawn Patrol, one of Toronto’s most popular weekly, live comedy shows. As a standup, Dawn has been featured at Just For Laughs in Montreal, JFL42, and as a writer for CBC’s Baroness von Sketch Show. Dawn is also the founder of Comedy Girl, a stand-up comedy class she created to amplify diverse voices through laughter. She has been teaching stand-up since 2002.

ED SAHELY has been teaching Group Improv for Actors to the first-year theatre students at George Brown College for the last twenty years. He spent seven years performing and writing with The Second City and received a Dora Mavor Moore Award for work on the Toronto Mainstage. Ed is co-creator of the improv troupe Not To Be Repeated, which developed into a television series aired on CTV and the Comedy Channel. He has countless television and film credits in Canada and the US.

ANDY MASSINGHAM has been an actor, teacher, director and playwright for over thirty years. His Dora award-winning wordless play Rough House toured Canada and the US. Andy conducts physical theatre workshops at Second City, Tarragon, Toronto Film School, University of Ottawa and Humber College. He has appeared at the Stratford Festival, N.A.C., Theatre New Brunswick, Banff Centre, Soulpepper and many others.

JAN CARUANA has taught improv classes across the country and has coached numerous improv teams. She is an award winning performer and writer with credits including Baroness Von Sketch, Kim’s Convenience, Mean Girls and the young adult juggernaut The Next Step. Last year, Jan directed the critically acclaimed sketch troupe Not Oasis in their Fringe Hit We’ve Come From Away.

PAUL CONSTABLE is an alumnus of Toronto’s Second City. While there, he helped co-create six Mainstage shows, including the Canadian Comedy Award Winning Psychedelicatessen. He has appeared in various films and TV shows, including Downsizing, The Twelve Men of Xmas, and Murdoch Mysteries. On stage, he has been in musicals such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and They’re Playing Our Song. As a teacher, he taught improvisation with the Second City for close to a decade. Most people know him best as Gary, the Canadian Tire Guy, a part he has been playing not quite as long as a certain angel with a cream cheese fascination, but close …darn close.

JACK MOSSHAMMER is a 30-year veteran actor and improv performer. Writing, acting and teaching credits include Second City (Toronto and Los Angeles), Bad Dog Theatre, TheatreSports, Humber College and The Toronto Film School. He was in the improvised movie Man of the Year and can be seen playing Seymour in the vintage improvised soap opera Train 48 (available on Prime).

JANE MORRIS is the Johnny Appleseed of comedy clubs, having opened the Chicago Comedy Showcase, the Second City ETC, Second City Los Angeles, Upfront Comedy, the Comedy Underground and currently managing the fanaticSalon in Culver City. She has most recently been seen in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Shameless, AP Bio and in 2019, Steven Soderburgh’s The Laudromat. A founding member of the Second City ETC in Chicago, Jane was the first woman director and changed the cast dynamic from the traditional 4 man 2 woman troupe to 4 women and 3 men. She teaches a writing-for-performance workshop at the fanaticSalon every Wednesday evening and performs live at the venue on a regular basis.

JONATHAN WILSON is an award-winning playwright and actor. He served as the playwright in residence at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre and worked as a writer/improviser with The Second City Toronto in seven productions. Jonathan is also part of the long form improvisation group Not To Be Repeated that was the basis for a 12-episode comedy series on The Comedy Network. Jonathan’s plays include Kilt and My Own Private Oshawa, which was also filmed as a Comedy Special for the CTV network.

JEFF MICHALSKI has taught all forms of improvisation for over twenty years, as well as developed his own long-form techniques. He has performed across the United States, Canada, and Ireland in theatres and nightclubs and has directed Second City companies in Chicago, Los Angeles, Kilkenny, and Toronto. Founder of the Second City ETC, he also helped create the Second City Training Program in Chicago and Los Angeles. As a producer, director and performer, he has worked with Dan Castellaneta, Chris Farley, Amy Sedaris, Mike Meyer, Steven Colbert, Ryan Stiles, and many more.

Daytime Emmy Award nominee, MICHAEL WALTERS began casting over 25+ years ago and in 2003, established Dayton/Walters Casting with his business partner, Sherry Dayton. Selected animation credits: Paw Patrol The Movie (upcoming), Snoopy in Space, PJ Masks, Esme & Roy (2019 EMMY Award Nomination for Outstanding Casting). Selected theatre credits: Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, (upcoming), Matilda the Musical, Once, Hairspray, The Producers (all for Mirvish Productions), Jersey Boys (Dancap), The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, ShowBoat, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond (all for Livent).

Writer/director WENDY HOPKINS has created and produced 6 original TV pilots including the Canadian Comedy Award nominated FANCY for the CBC, American Freak and Nature Boy (with Harland Wiliams) for Comedy Central, and she co-created the Gemini award winning series,The Tournamentserving as both a writer and director during its run.
Wendy has directed award winning television including Corner Gas, G-SPOT, Lovingspoonfuls and co-direced the feature film Wetonkawa, nominated for the SlamDance Grand Jury Prize.
A Toronto Second City alumni, she spent years performing in television, film and stage roles including her Melbourne Comedy Festival hit, The Wendy Show. She produced 3 seasons of Turn Ben Stein Onfor Comedy Central, continues to consult on web series such as Life Of Mom and is a script and pitch consultant to everyone from new writers to Emmy winners in Los Angeles.

KATE SUHR studied Opera at The University of Western Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Applied Music from Humber College. Recent theatre: Good Ol’ Country Gospel (Drayton Entertainment); Tess Wilson in Bloom: A Rock n Roll Fable (4th Line Theatre); Nancy in A New Brain (Ryan DeSouza/Randy Read); Harper in Angels In America (New Stages); Our Lady Of The Spa in Nine (Podium Concert Productions); Glinda in The Wizard of Oz (Diversified Theatre); Rose/Mrs Winthrope/Claire in Secret Garden (Podium Concert Productions); Ariel in The Little Mermaid (Randolph Theatre); Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (LOT); Ensemble in Assassins (Steve Ross).
Kate is also a singer songwriter who has been featured at Boots and Hearts and many festivals all over Ontario. Her new single “Better off Together” will be released December 15th on all streaming platforms. Instagram: @katesuhr

BRENT HAYNES joined Shout! Factory in 2018 as the Head of TV Development for Shout! Studios. As the title suggests, he is responsible for the development and production of premium content for both traditional broadcast as well as digital streaming services.
With a 20-year history as a Broadcast Executive and Producer across many genres, Brent’s main focus has been comedy, his first true love. Previously he was SVP of Comedy and Animation at MTV in New York and also oversaw programming for The Comedy Network in Canada where he worked for more than 10 years. Before joining Shout! Studios Brent ran his own production company under the NBCU International banner. He’s developed and/or produced over a 100 scripted and unscripted series including The Tom Green Show, Corner Gas, Puppets Who Kill, Silent Library, Warren The Ape, Nikki & Sarah Live, World of Jenks and Crash Gallery.