135 N. La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 525-0202

ACME Comedy Theatre started in 1989 under the direction of M.D. Sweeney. Now helmed by Travis Oates, the school is a mixture of many styles of improv training, with their signiature form being the soap opera form, developed at Dad's Garage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

The coursework starts with improv and moves to sketch. Performers can stop at level 3 improv to try out for the ACME's improv troupes, or continue on through their intensive writing lab and writing performance lab with the eventual goal of joining the ACME sketch company.

A talented performer can complete their entire program in around a year. Students must pass one level to gain entry to the next. Some school's coursework can be transferred allowing students to start at higher levels. Performance opportunities begin at level 3, class price ranges from $350-$575 for 10 week courses, junior companies are dues paying and include weekly workouts, main companies are non-dues paying. Quarterly opportunities to join classes. Total coursework cost - around $2100 not including dues.

457 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.653.6886

Bang is one of the smaller improv schools in L.A., but they've been around since 1995, no small feat.

Bang has its root in Second City style improv. They have 5 class levels, and their main goal is to get performers on stage. They also have their students learn from different teachers along the way, allowing for various styles of teaching to be experienced. All students start at level one to form a team that will continue throughout their training.

Talented students can complete their program in under a year, plus they have ongoing master classes. Students perform very early in their process, with open shows containing various levels of improvisors. Class prices range from $200-$275 for 8 week courses. There are no dues for performers. Classes appear to start every 8 weeks or so. Total coursework cost - around $950.

733 N. Seward Street
Hollywood, CA
800.905.2844

ComedySportz was founded in 1984 by Dick Chudnow, based on the work of Keith Johnstone, founder of Theatresports. ComedySportz differs in that it mainly focuses on the "sports" aspect of the form, the competitive games used, rather than leading to longer scenes.

ComedySportz has a four level program, focusing on the skills needed to perform games used in a ComedySportz show.

Talented performers can expect to complete the coursework in 24 weeks. Performance is by invitation only in their main company, with ongoing workouts available for free. Class prices range from $270-$295 for 8 week courses. There are no dues for performers. Classes start every 8 or 9 weeks. Total coursework cost - around $885.

Okay, so if you're here, you probably know what we're about, but just for comparison.

The Empty Stage comes out of the Second City style of improv, but is based on the Clap-in form, developed by our director Stan Wells and also seen in the Groundlings "Crazy Uncle Joe Show".

The focus is on multiple stories combined into one. There are no mistakes, only opportunities. Improv here is the skill of taking what the audience sees on stage and making it true.

The clap-in style fosters both quick and slow play, allowing for various kinds of comedy to coexist.

Training is ongoing - there are no fails. Most of our students are also performers. Even our Advanced level students take classes on an ongoing basis, to stay sharp and play with various performers. The master class is more of a directed workout than a training ground, but our players find they often develop new facets to their skills as improvised actors.

The school offers beginning and intermediate ongoing classes, and now that the company is "at large", we hold limited availability advanced and master classes. E-mail info(at)emptystage.com for details if you believe you'd qualify for advanced/master training.

Talented performers can expect to complete core coursework in approximately 30 weeks. Beginning classes perform once or twice for each 8 week session. Intermediate and advanced students perform four times every 8 week session. Students in advanced or master classes may be invited to join our main company shows, Being Humans or The Waterbrains. Students from our musical class may be invited to perform in The Fortune Room, our musical show. Class price ranges from $240-$275 for 8 weeks. Peformance groups have dues, determined by each group. Classes run on a continual basis - if you want to start, you can start this week! All classes but advanced and master run on 8 week cycles for tuition. Advanced/Master are drop-in. Total coursework cost - around $975, not including ongoing advanced/master drop-in classes.

7307 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-934-4747

The Groundlings began in Los Angeles in 1974, under the artistic direction of Gary Austin. Our own Stan Wells was a director there in the late 80's.

The Groundlings program is extremely competitive, with only 300 total spaces for students, and auditions for each level. In addition, there are a very limited number of spots in their performance groups, and gaining entrance to their main performance group, The Groundlings, is on an elective basis.

However, all of that selectivity means that those who make it to their top level are highly sought after, and even those that don't are well prepared for the competitive world of professional comedy.

The Empty Stage boasts a number of its alumni among The Groundlings Alumni, including (besides Stan Wells): Ted Michaels (Also a former Upfront student and member of The Transformers), Lisa Kudrow (former Transformer), Scott Wainio (another member of The Transformers), John Stark (yet another Transformer), Kristin Wiig (former member of The Perks, one of our past main shows), Annie Sertich (current Waterbrain), and Bob Mitchell (of The Fortune Room), to name just a few.

Talented performers can expect to complete coursework in around 2 years. Students perform after about 1 year. Opportunity to be considered for Sunday company after 2 years, main company typically 3-4 years for consideration, pass fail (if you audition and are not selected, it's difficult to be considered again). Class price ranges from $225 to $675 (some classes meet twice a week) for 6 or 12 week courses. New classes start approximately every 6 weeks. Total coursework cost - around $2725.

6366 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
(323) 962.7560

Improv Olympic was started by Del Close and Charna Halpern as an alternative to the Second City. Unlike Second City, IO performs improv for the sake of improv, as opposed to using it as a tool for other acting or for writing. IO also focuses on long form - the Harold.

IO West is characterized by the sheer number of different groups who perform there. Just have a look at their schedule and see.

IO West offers 6 levels of training, as well as additional courses on writing.

Talented performers can complete coursework in around one year. Students begin performing after around 24 weeks. Class prices range from $300-$315 for 8 week courses. New classes appear to start every 8 weeks. Total coursework cost - $2715.

6560 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6217
888-873-9285

Possibly the greatest name in improv comedy training, The Second City boasts as its alumni some of the most well known comedy actors, including most of the cast of the original Saturday Night Live.

The Second City style is built upon the work of the godmother of modern improv, Viola Spolin, and her son, Paul Sills along with Del Close and David Shepherd.

The Second City originally had a Los Angeles presence at a theatre in Santa Monica, but the Northridge quake closed its doors. Our own Stan Wells was a part of the theatre created from the ruins, the Upfront Comedy Theatre, which unfortunately closed in the 90's.

The Second City has a broad curriculum, geared toward their style of long form, the Harold, as well as sketch writing. Their school is structured as a conservatory, similar to a collegiate program.

Second City has many options, including immersion and short term classes. A talented performer can expect ot complete the conservatory program in about 1 year. Students begin performing after the first 8 weeks or so. Class prices range from $325-$375 for 8 week courses. New classes start every 12 weeks. Total coursework cost - around $1750.

1727 N. Vermont Ste. 208
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 401.6162

Inspired both by the work of Viola Spolin and televised wrestling, English born Keith Johnstone devloped the idea of combining theatre and sport as a way to interest the average man, who he felt found theatre of the day pretentious. It also was a way to get around the social mores of England at the time - theatre was heavily censored, but sport wasn't.

Theatresports in Los Angeles was originally located at Hollywood and Cahuenga, but has since relocated to the Impro Theatre.

L.A. Theatresports focuses on the games that they perform in their shows, as well as preparations for their improvised play and film form. The school has four levels plus special classes and ongoing workouts.

Talented performers can complete coursework in around 32 weeks. There do not appear to be any student performance opportunities, although one assumes the company is selected from talented course graduates. Classes are $299 for 8 weeks, and $128/month for ongoing advanced workouts. New classes appear to start every 12 weeks. Total coursework cost - about $1025.

5919 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 908.8702

With roots in Second City style long form improv, UCB began its life in New York, where UCB's founders, Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, noticed an absence of that style of comedy.

Their focus is on long form improv and sketch comedy writing. Their school has a college-style structure, with multiple specialty classes at the higher levels.

Talented performers can complete coursework in about a year. There are student performances at the end of every 8 week level. Classes are $300 each for 8 week courses. New classes start on an ongoing basis. Total coursework cost - $2400 not including invite only workshops.

1323-A 3rd Street
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 451.0850

The new kid in town, Westside Eclectic takes over from the former Santa Monica improv schools - Second City Santa Monica, Upfront Comedy, National Lampoon, Improv Underground, Comedy Underground.

They teach a combination of improv styles, but all lead to long form. They offer four levels of improv classes plus sketch writing.

Talented peformers can complete coursework in around 38 weeks. Students begin peforming after 12 weeks. Classes are $300-$425 for 6-14 week courses. Total coursework cost - $1675