Acting is much more than just reciting lines and working on your memorization skills. If you’ve ever seen a Hayden Christensen movie, you’ll understand. Read more in “IMPROVE WITH IMPROV” Here.

Improv is an excellent acting exercise for actors of all skill levels. You learn to trust yourself by opening your instincts and listening to other people (believe it or not, not a lot of actors listen). Improv studios teach call and response, which is a way of acting real under imagined circumstances. Having completed coursework on your resume from any of these LA Improv Studios will help you impress casting directors and improve your own ability.

Upright Citizen’s Brigade

Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh founded the Upright Citizens Brigade after the success of the Upright Citizens Brigrade sketch comedy show that ran for three seasons on Comedy Central. The theatre opened in Los Angeles in 2005. Commonly referred to as “UCB” the theatre hosts a variety of comedy shows seven days a week, including: improv, stand-up, sketch and talk/variety etc. For Improv and Sketch courses visit losangeles.ucbtrainingcenter.com

Groundlings

The Groundlings are celebrating their fortieth anniversary of entertaining LA audiences. Alumni include the likes of Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Lisa Kudrow, Maya Rudolph, Will Forte and Paul Reubens. If that roster isn’t impressive enough, they’re having shows all season long to celebrate forty years of making Angelenos laugh. Improv classes for aspiring performers run six to twelve weeks long.

Second City

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Second City is home to alums like John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey. Big enough to earn the title of “largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world” Second City offers a variety of classes including Improv and Writing. The shows at Second City have a unique cabaret style seating which means you will be sitting at tables and might be sharing the laughs with some new friends.

What are you waiting for? It’s as easy as taking the next step and making it up as you go!

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