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Musical Improv Level Two with Nikita Burdein and Stoddard "Stoddy" Blackall

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

Learn how to put your thoughts and emotions into song and take your improv scenes to the next level! In this 8-week course you will learn the song structures you need to make up musicals on the spot. No need to be an experienced singer! Through exercises in group dynamic, support, and movement, you will learn how to turn every song you improvise into a full-blown musical number. 8 weeks of classes followed by a class performance.

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.

Instructor: Stoddard "Stoddy" Blackall

Stoddard Blackall is a musician and composer with a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music, and composing accolades from the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. He is co-owner of Sunny Songsters Children’s Entertainers, and teaches songwriting and improv to senior citizens with Vintage Improv. In addition to being an all-night entertainer for Brandy's Piano Bar and The Duplex, Stoddard has served as pianist for various musical improv groups at the People’s Improv Theater, Magnet Theater, and UCB.
Stoddard was so deeply inspired by Frank Spitznagel, positively impacting his musical improv pianist career through the years.

Stoddard’s original cabaret, Slanted, premiered at Don’t Tell Mama in 2022, and was revived at the Triad Theater in 2023. Stoddard is also a founding member, pianist, singer and saxophonist for the rock and roll band, The Caterers, sharing the stage with Coincidance star James Manzello, The Voice’s Gene Taylor, and drummer Alex Feldman. The debut album for Stoddard’s original musical, Hiccups, on Relationship OCD, was released on July 20, 2024. Stoddard’s original music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, YouTube Music, and Amazon music. His next album, HoneyBe, will be releasing in November of this year so make sure to give him a follow!

Full Session Schedule

Session Schedule*

Jan 19, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Jan 26, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Feb 2, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Feb 9, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Feb 16, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Feb 23, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Mar 2, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)
Mar 9, 2026, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
at TBA
(at a studio space TBA in the vicinity of Chelsea, Manhattan)

Show Schedule*

Mar 15, 2026, 6:00 PM
at Magnet Theater
(254 W. 29th Street)

_{*scheduling subject to change}