ACME COMEDY THEATRE
Ensconced in a sleek midtown L.A. location, the Acme Comedy Theatre is host to a professional sketch comedy troupe managed by M.D. Sweeney, and improv workshops taught and run by Cynthia Szigeti, Kate Donahue, Todd Rohrbacher, and Audrey Rapaport. Said Szigeti, who directed the Groundlings School for six years before she joined Acme, "We pride ourselves here on a direct, hands-on approach with each student. My other personal emphasis is, Show me how smart you are; play to the top of your intelligence, not to the lowest common denominator." Acme auditions prospective students for its 12-week basic improv class, then invites them (or not) into its 12-week intermediate class. Some are developed with the potential of moving into Acme's professional performing company, though the company also casts from outside the classes. Acme also offers a writing workshop. The basic workshop is $350 for 12 weeks. 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 525-0233.
GARY AUSTIN WORKSHOPS
Austin, the creator of the Groundlings and a member of San Francisco's Committee, is an acting teacher who uses improv to help actors develop spontaneity, performance skills, characters, and material. Auditing is allowed. (818) 503-3571.
bang. STUDIO
The studio offers a continuing semester-based improv class taught by Aliza and Peter Murrieta (both members of Chicago's Second City), Evan Gore, David Razowsky, and Eric Johnson, which focuses on basics, character work, and long-form improvisation. Aliza wanted to make an important distinction, explaining, "We are dedicated to the study of improvisation, as opposed to showcasing, in a non-competitive workshop. However, our master class students perform weekly in our space." Master classes are available. Class size is limited to 10. The first class is $250, with discounts for continuing students. 457 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 653-6886.
JUDY BROWN'S STAND-UP
COMEDY WORKSHOP
Standup and sitcom writer Brown may be known to readers as the L.A. Weekly's comedy writer. She offers small ongoing classes, eight sessions for $250, on putting together a professional standup act, which culminate with comedy club performances. She also offers one-on-one sessions. "Lots of my students are not always funny or witty in their private lives," Brown said. "I don't know that I could teach them to be funny in their private lives, but I can teach them to be funny in a professional comedy act." She emphasizes "turning what you're already doing and thinking into a professional comedy act." (310) 396-8425.
JUDY CARTER'S STAND-UP
COMEDY WORKSHOPS
"I tell people: Your life doesn't suck--your life is a joke," said Carter, a veteran of 55 television shows and author of the book Standup Comedy. In her eight-week workshop on standup technique, she teaches performers and writers to "turn their problems into punchlines. People really learn that all the problems in their life are premises for a standup act, a one-person show, for sitcom writing." And, she boasted, her students have had a high success rate, both in comedy clubs and on sitcom writing staffs. Her class, which is limited to 11 people and costs $395, culminates with a performance. It's also available on audiotape. (310) 915-0555 or (800) 4-COMICS.
JEROME CLEARY'S
COMEDY IMPROV
WORKSHOP
"I always went to improv class just to work out," said Cleary. "But now I find that from doing it for years, I have so many tools in my bag as an actor, I'm able to leap to the occasion immediately when I'm given a script at an audition. I have so many choices that are really deep and rich and three-dimensional, all from doing improv." In his ongoing, class-by-class workshop, Cleary uses his training at the Groundlings and with John Moody to help students build the same kind of rich background in classes that include warm-up exercises, character work, and extended scene work. His fees are $90 a month, $170 for two months, or $25 a class, with the first class free. Private coaching is also available for comedy and dramatic material at $50/hr, as well as scene study and cold reading. (310) 364-4500.
COMEDY CLINIC WORKSHOPS
AT THE ICE HOUSE
The Comedy Clinic, run by Keith Hackland and Kim Lamorie, offers ongoing classes on standup comedy for all levels, taught in a club setting. Fees are $300 for an eight-week course. Private coaching is available. Regular showcases for students are presented. (213) 427-5808.
THE COMEDY COACH
"I train comedians rather than comics," said Steve "Comedy Coach" North, making an important distinction. "Comedians are funny people; comics say jokes or do funny things." With his wife and coaching partner Barb, North offers private coaching as well as ongoing classes, with a regular live show at L.A. Connection, for $130 per month, and private coaching for $75/hr. (818) 347-5098.
COMEDY ON THE LOT
AT CBS STUDIO CENTER
Bill Margolin and Paul Ryan, who has been teaching for 15 years, offer comedy classes for beginning to professional levels, with an emphasis on improv, audition techniques, and cold reading for children ages 7-12. The program is currently enrolling for its fall semester; an interview is required. 4024 Radford, Studio City. (213) 965-1804.
COMEDYSPORTZ LOS ANGELES
This approach to improv organizes teams in athletic-style competition. L.A.'s own nine-year-old professional team offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced improv workshops, which run in six-week periods for $165 each and are taught by James Bailey, Phil Ward, Pablo Marz, and Pat Dade. There is a limit on class sizes. (213) 871-1193.
THE COMEDY STORE STAND-UP
COMEDY WORKSHOP
A child and sibling of comedians, Sandi Shore has conducted this eight-week standup workshop for more than five years at the Comedy Store, and now offers it at two locations, Hollywood and La Jolla. In Hollywood, it's mainly by agent referrals, and costs $350; in La Jolla, it's a lot of corporate students, costs $250, and is offered in brand new facilities in the Promenade Mall. She also offers private coaching for $75 per 45-minute session. (213) 460-2426.
GREG DEAN'S STAND-UP
COMEDY WORKSHOP
Greg Dean believes that "your sense of humor is the one place where you are always right." He'll teach you how you can continue to develop it so that you can make other people laugh. Author of Step by Step to Standup, Dean has performed at the Comedy Store and has also worked as a road comic and Ringling Bros. clown. He offers beginning and advanced-level six-week standup comedy classes, in which students improve their joke-writing and performance techniques. Auditing is permitted. Call to arrange for a free introduction. (310) 285-3799.
THE DENNY EVANS
COMEDY WORKSHOP
Evans, who has more than 30 years of television and stage experience, has offered acting classes that use improvisation techniques for the past 12 years. "The class is three-quarters professional actors who work out every week and still explore themselves," Evans said. "I put the emphasis on the acting, because the most believable performance is usually the funniest. So I try to prevent them from going for jokes, and instead emphasize creating funny characters that will fit any situation." The ongoing three-hour classes meet on Sunday evenings and acceptance is by an "informal audition." Evans also stages regular showcases for his classes. One-hour private sessions are available for $40; semi-private sessions for two actors are $20 for each actor. West Hollywood Playhouse, 666 1/2 Robertson Blvd. (310) 535-6874.
ANDY GOLDBERG
A member of the Off the Wall improv group since 1975 and author of Improv Comedy, Goldberg has been teaching for 15 years. He offers an ongoing class applying improv techniques and character development. He allows a free audit. (310) 479-1498.
THE GROUNDLINGS SCHOOL
This 23-year-old sketch-comedy institution, home of the famous Groundlings performing troupe, has a four-tiered training program in improv as a means to develop material. In an ever-shrinking pyramid, students audition for the basic level, then must be invited up to the intermediate class, to the writing lab, and finally into the ongoing advanced workshop. All except the writing lab and the advanced level are 12-week classes for $375. A "pre-beginning-level" class called Funshop is also available for $180; auditions are not required to join, and the classes often include non-actors. 7307 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 934-4747.
STANLEY MYRON HANDELMAN
Handelman is a working comedian who believes that anyone can learn to be funny if put into the right environment. He has been teaching comedy acting and writing for 25 years. An interview is required. Private coaching is also available. (818) 883-7175.
IMPROV OLYMPIC
Home of Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, and Andy Dick, Improv Olympic is now forming classes in long-form improvisation. Classes begin on Jan. 6. Classes are small, taught by experienced leaders in the field, and performance opportunities are available. 6472 Santa Monica Blvd. (213) 694-2935.
IMPROV UNDERGROUND
Developing its own style of ensemble improvisation, Improv Underground recently relocated its new school of comedy to 320 Wilshire Blvd., just off the Third Street Promenade, in Santa Monica. The new cabaret/classroom/ theatre starts sessions in January with regular performances by students and established improv groups; the troupe is currently enrolling students at all levels for 10 eight-week classes. Former director of the Groundlings Stan Wells, currently directing the Transformers, teaches ensemble work, improv, listening skills, and character development alongside Second City veterans Jane Morris and Jeff Michalski. The price for the classes is $250, and working audits are allowed. (310) 451-3966.
STEVE KAPLAN
THE COMEDY INTENSIVE
Steve Kaplan, an executive producer for HBO Workspace and the former artistic director of the Manhattan Punch Line Theatre, teaches this weekend workshop designed for writers, actors, and directors "who want to succeed in the serious business of being funny." The workshop uses theatre games, improvisation, videotapes, and other exercises to provide students with practical comedy tools and techniques. Topics covered include script analysis, cold reading, monologues, and rehearsal and audition techniques. Class size is limited and the fee is $150. Private coaching is available for $75 per hour. (310) 289-3900.
KIP KING
One of the original Groundlings, King has been teaching his unique on-camera techniques, which emphasize comedy and commercials on television, since 1981. He allows auditing at half price, but encourages participation. Fees are $350 for 10 weeks, and King has a pay-as-you-go policy that allows actors to earn one week free (pay a two-week deposit upfront and stay for 11 weeks instead of 10) as well as a money-back guarantee after the first class. Returning students can enroll for another 11 weeks for $300. Agent nights are frequently scheduled; and guest casting people are often invited. Classes are based at West Side Casting in West Los Angeles: (818) 784-0544.
HARVEY LEMBECK
COMEDY WORKSHOP
Emmy-winning director Michael Lembeck and his sister Helaine took over the workshop 16 years ago, 18 years after the late Harvey Lembeck began it. Among the workshop's former students are Robin Williams, John Ritter, and Penny Marshall. As they use improv as a method to teach comedy, the Lembecks offer three levels of ongoing classes, which show students how to play comedy legitimately in scenes. (310) 271-2831.
MARK LONOW
Having taught for seven years, Lonow offers two 10-week classes in acting and standup comedy, with the help of his daughter Claudia Lonow (both writers and performers). Standup classes culminate with a final onstage performance at the Improv. Claudia also offers private coaching. Tracy Roberts Studio, 12665 Ventura Blvd., 2nd Floor, Studio City. (213) 936-9550.
L.A. CONNECTION
COMEDY PRODUCTIONS
Artistic director Kent Skov, who trained with the Committee and with Second City, leads this production company and 21-year-old comedy program, offering training for all ages. The program offers an adult improv repertory company that provides training and allows members to perform (with pay) before an audience on a weekly basis. This year the company will regularly perform long-form improvs, loop movies, and write sitcoms, as well. Sketch comedy and dramatic improvisation are also slated for the coming year. An audition is required. L.A. Connection also offers weekly comedy improv training for children on Sundays. 13442 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 710-1320.
L.A. THEATRESPORTS
"I don't care when directors throw me a curve during auditions," said Dan O'Connor. Why not? Because the narrative-based comedy improv technique of Theatresports--which O'Connor helps teach in 12-week workshops--"keeps me energized and positive on the job." Indeed, don't confuse the Theatresports performing style--in which teams of performers square off in improvisatory battle for audience approval--with its training approach, which has to do with narrative and storytelling structure, not competition. "It's not set-up, set-up, punchline," explained O'Connor of the narrative approach to comedy. "It's, How do you tell the story, and get the humor of that, as opposed to just going for the gag? (Though sometimes we just go for the gag, too.)" The eight-week workshop runs $375, with a discount for paying in advance, and there's an advanced level at $125 a month, into which students must be invited. There are also one-day weekend master classes for $40. (213) 469-9689.
DEE MARCUS
Actress/writer/producer/director Marcus is a co-founder of two long-running improv shows, Funny You Should Ask and Off the Wall; the latter has included Robin Williams and Garry Shandling in the cast. She currently offers weekly improvisational comedy workshops for actors, writers, directors, and producers. The focus is on improvisational scene work. An interview is required, but she allows students a free audit before joining. Marcus said the classes are intended for advanced students, but she occasionally accepts beginners for a separate class. She added, "I don't necessarily go by the usual levels. I evaluate each student on their own smarts." (310) 395-1830.
MICE ACTING/
WRITING WORKSHOP
Emmy-nominated writer Mike Chain, who's also worked as a producer and an actor, offers this weekly advanced acting and writing workshop taught through spontaneous scene work. Chain, who has been an instructor for 17 years, teaches improv based on spontaneous scene work, not Spolin theatre games. Auditing is required, and the monthly fee is $150. Chain also teaches directing and voiceover technique. (818) 762-7547.
BRIAN MULLIGAN
IMPROV WORKSHOP
A co-founder of New York City's IMPRO! and former improv instructor at NYC's Riverside Shakespeare Academy, Brian Mulligan offers improvisation workshops and classes emphasizing "truthful spontaneity." The improv techniques he teaches, based on those proposed by Keith Johnstone, "usually lead to comic situations, but not necessarily. It's not about a wacky accent, or getting a laugh right away--it's more of a back-door approach." In the games Johnstone developed, Mulligan said, "Character comes organically out of small, specific choices, played off your partner." A 15-year member of Theatresports International, Mulligan also offers private coaching. The course, suitable for all levels, features an invited performance on the final night. Acceptance is by interview. (213) 960-2075.
THE BARRY NEAL
COMEDY WORKSHOP
A standup and actor who's been performing for nine years and teaching for five, Neal offers a six-week workshop on the business aspects of standup comedy, from booking to commercial material. The cost is $300, with the first week a free introduction and the last a club gig. His private coaching, at $75 per hour, is available to performers as well as businesspeople and politicos. (310) 274-8048.
AVERY SCHREIBER
Schreiber, who for 10 years was one half of the Burns & Schreiber comedy team, originally trained at the Goldman Theatre of the Arts Institute and spent five years with Viola Spolin at Second City. He teaches an eight-week basic improv program, as well as an eight-week intermediate workshop, both for $280. He also has an advanced group that is purely invitational, and also offers private coaching. (818) 989-4775.
CYNTHIA SZIGETI
Former head of the Groundlings' training program, now head of Acme Comedy Theatre's improv workshops, Szigeti privately coaches actors and standups for $50-$75 an hour. Students have included Lisa Kudrow, Conan O'Brien, Tim Metcalfe, and Jaleel White. (818) 980-7890.
TAMARA WILCOX-SMITH
Wilcox-Smith, alumna of San Francisco's Committee and former head of the National Improvisational Theatre, counts Griffin Dunne, Rita Rudner, and Jerry Seinfeld among her former students. Wilcox-Smith teaches two-weekend intensives on basic, intermediate, and advanced improv technique for $500; a comedy weekend workshop for $200; a weekend intensive on directing and teaching improv for $200; a 12-week children's improv class for $350, and an improv-based writing class, which starts with a four-day (40 hour) $400 intensive, and then becomes an ongoing class for $120 a month. She said her classes take place in a "non-evaluative environment" and are suitable for both actors and standups at all levels. An interview is required and audits are allowed. She also coaches privately for $75/hour; $50/hour for students from her classes. (213) 461-2020