Musical Improv Level Two (in-person)

Musical Improv Level Two (in-person) with Frank Spitznagel and Nikita Burdein

Full...

Check below to see the full schedule for each session, see if your class skips a week for a holiday, and check out the date and time of your class show(s).

Class Description


Taking the fundamentals you learned in level one, Musical Improv Level 2 shows you how to make your improvised scenes and songs look and feel more like a Broadway musical! Exercises in listening and emotional commitment will give you the solid scene-work you need to launch into songs. Also, you will explore different song styles, learning about want songs, philosophy songs, charm songs, and metaphor songs. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance. Prerequisite: Musical Improv Level One

All students will be asked to show proof of vaccination prior to the first session in order to participate in this class

NOTE: Current mask policy for musical classes is that masks are required for students. This is reassessed on an ongoing basis.

Instructor: Frank Spitznagel

Frank Spitznagel is the Musical Director at Magnet Theater and a piano accompanist who frequently plays for such improv groups as I Eat Pandas, Veal, The Made-Up Musical, Gusto, and many others. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano performance. His work can be heard on several studio recordings. Frank has composed for Comedy Central and the Aspen Comedy Festival. He accompanied Itzhak Perlman in an original jazz composition by Benny Golson at Lincoln Center. He also played the American premiere of The Hired Man Off-Broadway. He has been musical director for productions such as Nunsense (all incarnations), A Chorus Line, Chicago City Limits, and several original musicals.

Instructor: Nikita Burdein

Born in Ukraine, raised in Chicago, and now in NYC, Nikita is an improviser, video producer, theater maker, and other multi-hyphenate (son, brother, friend, etc.)

He trained at the Magnet Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade Theater before becoming a house performer at both theaters and a teacher at the Magnet of Musical Improv. He can be seen Fridays at the Magnet Theater's Premiere: the Improvised Musical (the longest running weekly Musical Improv show in NYC!) Nikita can also be seen at the UCB Theater on Harold Night with this team, The Prophecy. He also performs regularly with Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, and with Shitzprobe, with monthly shows all around NYC.

Full Session Schedule


Session Schedule*

  1. Oct 9, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  2. Oct 16, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  3. Oct 23, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  4. Oct 30, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  5. Nov 6, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  6. Nov 13, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  7. Nov 20, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)
  8. Dec 4, 2022, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
    at Michael Howard Studios - Studio 2
    (152 W. 25th Street, 10th fl)

Show Schedule*

  1. Dec 11, 2022, 6:00 PM
    at Magnet Theater
    (254 W. 29th Street)
  2. *scheduling subject to change