PTW Comedy Conservatory

Carlie Craig (MADtv, First Impressions with Dana Carvey) and PTW have joined forces to launch the first-of-its-kind Professional Style Comedy Conservatory Program, including various course offerings such as: PTW Comedy Crew, Comedy Junior, Comedy for the Camera and Comedy for Camera PRO! Find the best fit for your young comedian below:

THE PTW COMEDY CONSERVATORY!

Established 2023 by Carlie Craig (MADtv & First Impressions with Dana Carvey) and Performers Theatre Workshop

Join us! Be part of the PTW COMEDY CREW where you’ll create characters, develop comedic timing, and improvise among fellow performers.

This year’s masterclasses have truly been one for the books!

Check out our Comedy Crew Masterclass recap from the Fall and Winter semesters, highlighting the incredible hard work of our students alongside our very special guest artists…

HBO’s Skye Townsend and SNL’s Jon Rudnitsky!

Check out our new Comedy Conservatory Course Offerings below!

Please view the Comedy Conservatory Spring classes for more information!

PTW COMEDY CREW – AGES 8-18 / SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS

FOLLOW THE CREW ON INSTAGRAM HERE!

PTW Comedy Crew is a cutting-edge improv and sketch comedy troupe for performers’ ages 8-18, focused on performing all-original material LIVE! 

  • PRACTICING AND DRILLING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF IMPROVISATION
  • CREATING ORIGINAL CHARACTERS FROM SCRATCH IN PRIVATE LESSONS
  • WORKSHOPPING CHARACTERS AS A SCENE TO WRITE AN ORIGINAL SHOW
  • DEVELOPING ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS A TEAM
  • SKETCH AND JOKE STRUCTURE
  • TV/FILM INDUSTRY STYLE TABLE READS
  • LIVE PERFORMANCES IN FEBRUARY AND JUNE IN PREMIERE VENUES IN NEW YORK CITY

New Class Offerings!

Not available for Comedy Crew on the weekends? Check out our weekday classes!

Advanced Pro Comedy For Camera

(Add-On – Must have Pro Representation and be currently enrolled in Comedy Crew)

– AGES 8 – 18 –

THURSDAYS from 5:30-7:00pm

This is an advanced add-on weekday course for students who are professionally represented and enrolled in Comedy Crew.

  • NEW COURSE DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!
  • ON-CAMERA COMEDY TRAINING AND CHEMISTRY BUILDING AS A TEAM
  • CONTENT CREATION-BASED CLASSES
  • TRAINING OUR COMEDY CREW MEMBERS TO BECOME PRODUCING ARTISTS IN CAPTURING THEIR ORIGINAL / PAST WRITING ON-CAMERA.
  • OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMEDY CREW MEMBERS TO COLLABORATE CREATIVELY ON CONTENT CREATION PROJECTS.

Comedy for the Camera

(Mid-level / for non-Comedy Crew PTW Students)

– AGES 9-12 –

TUESDAYS from 5:30-6:15pm

– Ages 13-17 –

TUESDAYS from 6:15-7:00pm

A course for PTW Students interested in developing their comedic skills on camera and off.

  • LEARN HOW TO PERFORM MULTI-CAM MATERIAL FROM DISNEY AND NICKELODEON
  • BRING SKETCHES TO LIFE!
  • ADD BOLD CHARACTER CHOICES TO ELEVATE YOUR COMEDIC PERFORMANCE!
  • JOKE STRUCTURE ANALYSIS!
  • HOW TO ADD AN IMPROVISATIONAL SPIN ON COMEDIC SCENES
  • CRITIQUE YOUR ON-CAMERA PERFORMANCE

View the PTW COMEDY CREW Brochure
for more information about the COMEDY CREW program.

“I am so thrilled to have partnered with Performers Theatre Workshop over the last three years with the creation of the PTW Comedy Conservatory. Our students have achieved dreams we never could have expected after their curated comedic training — from Broadway, to Netflix, to HBO — we couldn’t be prouder of our Comedy Crew! Please join us and I cannot wait to share the gift of Comedy with your child!” – Miss Carlie (aka Carlie Craig)

Learn skills & tools for improvisation and sketch comedy.

Audition by submitting a short video.

Past Comedy Conservatory Masterclasses

Check out our article about this masterclass on BroadwayWorld New Jersey!

Jon Rudnitsky BroadwayWorld New Jersey Article

Check out our article about this masterclass on BroadwayWorld New Jersey!

Skye Townsend BroadwayWorld New Jersey Article

PTW In Action

“That’s PTW”
Sung by PTW students!

I Love PTW

Testimonials from PTW students!

Our Expert, Caring Faculty

Testimonials & Music Video!

Our Artistic Community Becomes A Theatre Home For Life

Our Supportive, Non-Competitive Environment

Testimonials & Music Video!

Welcome to PTW!

“The talent of the teachers here is amazing. It’s an honor to work with them. They give such individual attention, it’s great.”

-Jennifer K., South Orange, NJ
12-year-old PTW Student

Welcome to Performers Theatre Workshop

New Jersey’s Premier Performing Arts School For Young People

Where children learn to act, dance, sing and
play music — and reach their full potential!

– Study with stars of Broadway, Film and TV

– Act, dance, sing and play music ‘under one roof’

Attend for fun or for a career on stage

– Make meaningful connections and friends for life

At PTW, expert faculty train the total performer
in a non-competitive, caring environment.

PTW founders and teachers have graduated from:

PTW founders and teachers have performed on Broadway, Film & TV in:

PTW will help your child find their passion!

PTW students are as varied as the course selection we offer, but they share a love of theatre and the arts. With over 57 classes to choose from, we can help you find the perfect fit for your child’s passion, skill, interests and goals.

“Is PTW for children who want to be professional?”
“Can my child just go for fun?”
“Will my child learn and grow?”

The answer is yes to all 3! We can help your child achieve their ambitions whether they want to:

– Star on Broadway
Work in Film or TV
Get a part in the school musical or play

Build self-confidence
– Simply experience the joy of theatre and the arts

We’ve spent over 30 years building a warm, supportive, culturally rich community where children of all ages and levels can find friendship, confidence and skills that last a lifetime.

Based in Maplewood New Jersey, we have students from Essex, Morris, and Union County, and throughout the state. PTW is now one of the foremost performing arts schools in New Jersey and the entire New York Metropolitan area.

Flexible Payment Plans

Your choice of simple, easy ways to pay.

We believe every child should have the chance to follow their performing dreams. We provide flexible payment plans so that parents can afford to give their child access to training without having to pay everything at once. You can spread your payments out and choose your payment dates so you’re always in control.

Why not choose your class today?

PTW alumni have become successful in all aspects of life, in many diverse professions. They credit their success to the training, work ethic, and encouragement they received at Performers Theatre Workshop. What’s more, parents and students treasure the true sense of family at PTW that they haven’t experienced in other performing arts programs: 

“Everyone works together to make the whole performance better, and everyone is made to feel important at PTW.”

We would love to welcome your child into the PTW theatre family and help them on their own creative journey.
Click below to learn more about what we can offer your child.