Comments on: Which Improv School is Right for Me?

By: KL

KL — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:35:57 +0000

Eva’s post was from awhile back, but I will go ahead and answer anyway. I think improv classes are for anyone who wants to join them. They’re not just for 20 somethings. I’m 33 and a HS teacher by day; and after a 10 year hiatus from acting in college, I now take improv lessons regularly. Bring whatever you bring to the improv class–life experience you have that others may not have, your skills, your creative explosions. :D It’s important to know yourself and to be confident in your abilities. It’s all about bringing your POV in a scene, about listening, about surfing on the tide of the moment–not about age. If there is any incongruity in a scene regarding age or references you don’t understand from the younger generation, so be it. Life is full of people of all ages, and so I think it is good to have a balance, don’t you? Do what you love, we only have one life. Good luck.

By: eva

eva — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:29:24 +0000

I am fascinated with improv and would love to try it. But I am older (over 40! I feel like I’m confessing guilt to a horrible crime!) and a mom and it seems like improv (and comedy in general) is all about twentysomethings right out of college and not a very welcoming environment. Is there any group that welcomes “nontraditional” students? BTW, I just finished a Master’s Program and although everyone thought my scripts were very funny, every professor and working professional told me there was no future in comedy.

Funny but discouraged!

By: CourseHorse

CourseHorse — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:44:55 +0000

It can’t hurt to try a few before you pick a school to stick with — unless you’re using the reputation of the school to get you in somewhere, I’d focus on the classes that seem to make you most excited about it and offer you the most useful instruction that you might not have encountered elsewhere. Also, for a few other options, check out Gotham City Improv and the People’s Improv Group.

By: Cris

Cris — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:45:59 +0000

I’m interested in knowing if UCB will help to establish my ability to act in T.V. Commercials. If not, can anyone reccommend the right cold reading or commercial technique classes to take in NYC. TVi teachers haven’t been showing up. They are apparently too busy because of their dayjobs– thanks

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:14:29 +0000

You know, part of it is what kind of theater you want to become involved with as a performer too. I’ve trained at all the training centers in NYC, and I don’t think you’re going to go wrong with any of them. I do think, however, there is a difference in how the experience of the performers on house teams at different theaters.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:25:21 +0000

Excellent article — I’ve often wondered this myself and didn’t really know how or who to ask. Now the work has been done for me. Sweet.