What experience level is required?

No prior improv experience is required; the workshop is structured for curious beginners while offering advanced frameworks that experienced performers can refine.

How long is the session?

The class runs for three hours and combines warm-ups, partner and group exercises, and short musical experiments.

What language is the workshop taught in?

Instruction is delivered in English by James Mastraieni, whose teaching draws on U.S. improv traditions.

Are there age restrictions?

The workshop is generally suitable for adults and older teens; contact the booking operator via the FareHarbor page for specific age or youth policies.

Is the space accessible?

Accessibility details vary by venue; contact the operator ahead of booking to confirm facilities and any special accommodations.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation and booking terms are available on the FareHarbor booking page linked with this listing; check that page for current policies.

Improv and Song Lab with James Mastraieni in Amsterdam

Step into a room in Amsterdam for a three-hour improv workshop led by James Mastraieni, a veteran performer and teacher whose credits include Second City, iO West, and nearly two decades with The Upright Citizen’s Brigade. The class, held in central Amsterdam, blends character-forward and situation-forward initiations with practical frameworks that help participants build the top of a scene quickly and confidently. Whether you want to rap, punchline, or shape improvised songs, the session converts stage anxiety into playful decision-making.

The location is Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands — the course drops you into the city’s compact theater circuit where small rooms and close audiences sharpen timing and listening. Key features of the scene include rapid character choices, situational anchors, musical improvisation, and structured frameworks that repeat as reliable patterns. The workshop emphasizes the human elements of comedy: clear offers, supportive agreements, and listening that turns surprise into forward motion. While there’s no natural geology to note here, the urban stage itself — old brick halls, wooden floors, and street-level windows — gives the work distinct acoustics and immediacy.

James Mastraieni brings a practical, organized approach rooted in decades of touring and coaching; his "Shared Experience" teaching connects performer and audience with precise, repeatable strategies. Students learn how to initiate scenes, make bold choices, and create improvised songs without needing prior musical experience. The class suits curious beginners and experienced improvisers looking to sharpen fast-start tools and musical instincts.

Why book this in Amsterdam? The city’s long history of live performance and experimental theater makes a short workshop feel like entry into a living cultural tradition. The setting encourages risk-taking in front of friendly local crowds, and nearby cafés and canal-side spots provide instant places to debrief and practice material. This workshop is a standout because it translates elite Los Angeles training to a compact European stage, offering a rare mix of American improv methodology and local performance flavor.

Practical notes: the session runs three hours; bring comfortable clothes, an open ear, and a willingness to fail forward. Expect vocal warm-ups, partner exercises, rapid initiations, and group song experiments. No specialized equipment is required, and the format rewards curiosity more than experience. For travellers who want a creative break from museums and canals, this workshop offers direct, social learning and the chance to leave Amsterdam with new scene-making tools and a handful of improvised songs. Workshops often include improvisation games drawn from U.S. sketch traditions, attention to vocal health, and short performance opportunities at the end; it’s a compact, high-value creative lab that fits neatly into a long weekend in the city. Book early, bring a reusable water bottle, and plan extra transit time between canalside cafés and the studio for getting there.

About Boom Chicago

Boom Chicago is an improv theatre and comedy venue based in Amsterdam, Noord‑Holland. The company programs a wide range of live entertainment, including short-form and long-form improv shows, stand-up comedy nights, special events, and workshops through its Academy.

Boom Chicago's calendar features headline performances such as The Famous Boom Chicago Comedy Show, Improv Spectacular, Sunday Night Live, and rotating guest acts including Ed Gamble, Fábio Porchat, Laureano Márquez, and international tours like Comedy Link Up featuring Jordan Rock.

The venue offers structured training with multiple Academy levels and electives: Intro to Improv, Level 2 (The 2‑Person Scene), Level 3 (Building Character), Level 4 (Advanced Scenework and The Joy Of Short‑Form Games), and Level 5 classes focused on long‑form play and hosting. Additional Academy programming includes musical improv intensives, comedy writing electives, student shows, and public jams and community nights such as Indie Night and Sketch Comedy Night.

Special events and collaborations are part of the program lineup — examples include Magic Bingo Brunch, Boom Gone Country monthly nights, Pro Wrestling Holland Live x Boom Chicago, and themed meet-and-greets with figures like Sjaak Swart. Premier seasonal and ticketed events range from Slide Slam PowerPoint Karaoke to holiday dinner-and-comedy shows.

Located in Amsterdam, Boom Chicago presents both local community nights and international touring acts, serving audiences and students seeking live comedy, improv training, and curated entertainment in Noord‑Holland. Show dates, times, and ticket information are listed per event to help visitors plan attendance and choose performances or classes in advance online easily.