Los Angeles
Improv classes
Every school and company we know of running improv classes in Los Angeles — what they teach and where to sign up. Details come from each school's own site; confirm dates and prices with them directly.
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M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater
Six-level improv program (Improv 101 is a 6-week course at $365; 201 through 501 are 8-week courses at $395 and 601 is 8 weeks, currently unpriced), each meeting three hours a week and ending in a live showcase — the Improv 101 showcases play Sunday evenings on the main stage — plus three-level sketch and stand-up tracks, kids classes for ages 10-16, and a Weekly Drop-in Class every Saturday from 12-2pm ($17.50-$33.48).
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The Groundlings Theatre & School
One of the country's leading improv training programs: an open Intro Track (Improv for Beginners, $55 for a single session; Improv Workshop A, $365 for six sessions) then the audition-gated Core Track from Basic Improv ($580 for twelve sessions) through Intermediate to the Improv Lab ($600, eleven sessions plus a show), plus specialty workshops from $55 to $600 in voiceover, character creation, performance series and sketch writing.
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The Pack Theater
'One of Los Angeles' most beloved independent comedy schools and theaters since 2016', taught by working professionals and pitched at people put off by the gatekeeping or price tag of older comedy schools. Improv, sketch, character, stand-up, TV pilot writing, voiceover and clown, in person and online. Most 8-week courses are $330 (Intro to Improv, Mondays 7-10pm, next start October 19; Fearless Scenework, Saturdays 12-3pm from September 19; Improvising In Character, Thursdays 7-9pm from October 1, $300; Character Workshop, Sundays 2-5pm from October 4), a 4-week online improv course is $150, a 4-session Intro to Clown is $200 (Mondays 12-2pm from October 5) and the 8-week TV pilot writing class is $430. Tuition can be split with PayPal Pay in 4 or PayPal Monthly at checkout.
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Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB)
The UCB Training Center teaches improv comedy from Improv 101 up, plus sketch comedy, a writing program, musical improv, stand-up, clowning and acting, at the Franklin campus in Hollywood with additional classes in Glendale.
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ComedySportz Los Angeles
Short-form curriculum since 1988: 101 Improv Toolbox (6 weeks, once a week for 2 hours, $275), a one-day 102 intensive (3 hours, $65), then 201 Characters and Relationships, 301 Spacework and Physical Storytelling and 401 Performance and Games (6 weeks each, $300, or $275 in advance), plus an invitation-based graduates' Rec League and annual advanced master-class intensives.
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Impro Theatre & School
Narrative long-form school teaching unscripted storytelling to actors and non-actors — a welcoming, non-competitive path toward improvising full-length plays in the styles of the world's great playwrights. 30+ years in LA.
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Actors Improv Studio
North Hollywood improv studio on Magnolia Blvd running weekly adult improv classes in person (Wednesday nights 7:30pm) and online (Tuesdays 7pm Pacific), with a free first-class audit for newcomers.
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Fanatic Salon Theater
Culver City's 50-seat indie theater runs an Improv Drop-In with Jeff Michalski on Saturdays at 11am, Improv for Teens with Ruth Rudnick, and The WPA (Writer, Performer, Artist) with Second City ETC founder Jane Morris on Wednesdays at 7pm; the room is also available to rent for shows, readings, music and classes.
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Held2gether
'Improv for Life' — a Long Beach improv school and troupe running comedy classes for all levels in improv, sketch and stand-up, from a Level 1 Improv Comedy Foundations course upward, plus corporate workshops and private performances.
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Improv for the People
Westside improv school teaching at The Pico Theater on Pico Blvd — weekday evening (7-9:30pm) and Saturday morning (10am-12:30pm) sessions across several instructors, all $185/month including four classes per month, plus a Saturday night improv show at the theater.
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Improv-LA
Improv school pitched at everyday confidence and communication as much as comedy, with in-person Levels 1-4 and an Improv for Everyday course across Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Burbank locations (free parking), plus comedy writing, voice-over, corporate training, one-day classes and an on-demand online course. Level 1 is $345 for six weeks with Afterpay payment plans; graduates get monthly performance slots and a free-to-attend showcase at the Los Feliz studio.
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Jump Start Comedy Improv
Hermosa Beach improv school run by director Julie Martin: an adult comedy improv class on Wednesday nights (7-9:30pm) with free parking, children's improv classes, Zoom classes, private and group coaching and business workshops, with ensemble shows and community jams at the Pier Ave 2nd Story Theater.
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LA Connection Comedy Theater
Burbank Magnolia Park improv house running all-ages short-form shows in the style of 'Whose Line?', with kids and teen improv shows every Saturday and a four-week introductory improv class; class pricing by phone or email.
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Rogue Improv LA (GO ROGUE!)
A free weekly long-form improv drop-in on Monday nights in Mar Vista, with the theme and teacher changing monthly across beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, plus a free monthly variety show in Los Feliz.
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The Improv Trick
Founded and taught by actor Bill Chott (SNL, Disney, The Ringer): a five-week beginning improv course ending in a showcase, five-week next-level intensives for experienced improvisers, and an online improv jam — in Pasadena, Valley Village/Studio City and on Zoom.
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The Playful Stage
Long Beach improv and acting school blending theatre with personal growth, running improv and sketch comedy classes, performance classes from short-form games to themed narrative improv, private coaching and a free sampler class.
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WE Improv
Community improv school and theatre in Franklin Village with classes capped at nine students: 101AB Foundational, 201 Intermediate, 301 Advanced, 401 Advanced Form and an Imperfect Improv elective, plus Harold intensives with Dan Lippert and screenplay and pilot-writing workshops, with every standard curriculum class including four performances. Three-tier 'Garden Tier' pricing (Community, Supportive, Sustainable); non-audition team building and a residency programme.
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World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS)
Level 1: Intro To Improv ($250, 6 classes and 1 show) through Level 2: Game of the Scene and Level 3: Harold Structure ($340, 8 classes and 1 show), plus advanced courses ($160-$400), multi-week 'Bitness' intensives, specialty workshops like Hip Hop Improv ($160, 4 classes), one-day workshops at $40 and $16 weekend drop-ins for intermediate and advanced improvisers.
Before your first class
Learn the fundamentals free.
Our twelve-chapter course covers yes-and, listening, game of the scene and more — read it in an afternoon and walk into class ahead.