Let's talk about... Los Angeles, and its Improv

javelina · Post by **javelina** » September 27th, 2007, 12:33 am

Hello,

It seems that several improv-type people have recently relocated from Austin to Los Angeles, and at least one Angeleno has migrated to Austin. Soon to be of the former, I have several broad questions about improv in Los Angeles:

- So what's the improv scene like there? Warm and cudley? Blood sacrifice required?
- Google tells me there are at least four theaters with training courses: IO-West, Impro, Second City, and Bang. Comments on these houses? Good? Bad? Any other training classes to recommend or avoid?
- Are there any "below-the-radar" venues for playing, practicing, jamming?
- Any recommended LA-specific internet forums? playimprov.com seems to be broken.

Thanks much.

ben

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » September 27th, 2007, 12:45 am

Add to that list The Groundlings, UCB and The Westside Eclectic.

The Westside Eclectic I know is pretty open and supportive, and has a free jam on Thursdays. The Groundlings is the polar opposite of that.

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » September 27th, 2007, 12:49 am

the Groundlings are a bit hard-core for the career-oriented
but then again, so is the rest of l.a.
IO, ucb, ect. know how to nurture a community
but no matter how much you know about improv, it's kind of a given that to enter into a community you need to attend classes.

I'm not entirely sure about the westside e. & jam, but it's worth a shot

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · September 27th, 2007, 12:58 am

it's very cliquish out here. not a lot of room for jamming or experimentation that i've seen. and yeah, classes are pretty much your only way in the door...or, y'know...coming in with some pretty good clout and connections and starting up a kick ass comedy festival in their own backyard. that helps too.

that said, there are some amazing troupes out here and in house a lot of the theatres are pretty supportive. the folks at Westside eclectic were nothing short of awesome, and i've heard good things about IO (though i haven't gotten a chance to go yet). i just got accepted into one of the smaller "clans" at Ultimate Improv, and so far they seem more focused on long form and scene work than gimmicks and games which is good.

as i'm starting to put my own troupes and projects together, which i definitely want to have that "Austin" flavor, i'm hoping the cross pollination between Austin and L.A. with the handful of us moving out here and the troupes like Shiner and Impro Theatre coming out to OOB helps create and foster a more diverse and inclusive community that thrives on interdisciplinary creativity and experimentation as opposed to the dominant paradigm out of here of "this or that" where improv is limited by the one school of thought adopted by the theatre teaching it rather than reaching out and breaking down boundaries and conventions which is what improv is so perfectly geared for.

that, or we get lots of beer and sex.

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » September 27th, 2007, 1:55 am

i second the good vibes for the westside eclectic. it's a nice little venue and they're looking for fun and interesting concepts for shows. they enjoy diversity there. i can tell already.

the training course situation and cliquishness is true for any big market. it makes me ill, but that's the biz, right? unless you already know people, you're gonna have to go through them to get plugged in.

did i meet you in austin, ben? we should hold hands and walk on soft ground together when you move out here. i would like that.

jeremy

York99 · Post by **York99** » September 27th, 2007, 9:47 am

I was out there for a few years and I'm sure the scene has evolved a lot since then. In general, however, there is not really an improv community. There are communities within particular theaters and there is a lot of crossover amongst the theaters, but still not like Austin. It's partly because of it's much bigger size.

One problem I had was that in classes and on teams, almost all of the improvisers were in it for the improv, but there would be one or two requisite players who were there because their agent suggested they take improv to supplement or compliment their acting skills. These people often were grandstanding come show time, which, as you know, can kill an improv performance.

I think it just takes a little time to really find the improvisers who are on the same page as you, but there are many badasses out there.

PM me or talk to me some time if you want some more specifics. I did iO and SC there.

starkserious · Post by **starkserious** » September 30th, 2007, 5:17 pm

What about the ACME Theatre? I know they do lots of sketch shows and have really good classes for writing sketch, but I can't remember if they have improv shows and classes.

bethwarriorprincess · November 19th, 2007, 12:40 am

Hi Ben!

If you are still looking, I also recommend the Empty Stage. It's pay as you go, it's small and supportive, and Stan Wells who runs the place and teaches there is really good. (He comes from a Groundlings background - I believe he was a member in the 80's.) You can start performing there usually before too long.

And see the group "The Transformers" there on Staurday nights. Scott Wanio a writer from SNL and Ted Michaels from the Groundlings and Puppet Up are two buddies of mine in the show, and they are fantastic.

As for the various schools, classes are the only way in. And if you are going that route, I can't recommend Groundlings enough. I come from that theatre, so I am biassed of course, and there are certainly other good theatres to go to with good people (IO being my other favorite,) but for a highly structured, no-nonsense approach to really solid scenework and character development, you can't beat it.

It seems like the Groundlings has gotten a bad rap around these parts, and I am not really sure why. I found my experience there to be both inspiring and extremely informative. My fellow classmates were generally supprtive and friendly, and my teachers were amazing. (I myself was a really nice teacher there, and all my students at least were pretending to have a lot of fun.) Plus, I had many friends that left the theatre go on to do other great stuff, which is a great way to keep working yourself when your buddy calls you in for something.

The school is set up like a conservatory, so people do become anxious about passing one level in order to go to the next, but I always encouraged my students not to worry about that aspect, and just milk each level that you get into for all it's worth. I learned something wonderful every time I taught Basic.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your move to LA, and feel free to ask me if you need suggestions on neighborhoods, eatieries, or more guidance with theatres out there. I was there for a lot of years. Give it some love for me.

Beth

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » November 19th, 2007, 1:24 am

i wholeheartedly second the transformers call. i saw them at big stinkin back in the day and they were very dialed in an organic. i still use some of the stuff i learned from watching them when running rehearsals.

javelina · Post by **javelina** » January 2nd, 2008, 1:44 pm

Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses. I've decided to go with classes at the Impro Theatre. I'm really looking forward to this. The instructor is Dan O'Connor -- his professional bio seems extensive.

Jeremy, we did meet a couple of times during Jams at the Hideout this past spring. Yes, lets! get together sometime and see a show.

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » January 2nd, 2008, 2:01 pm

Ben Javelina wrote:Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses. I've decided to go with classes at the Impro Theatre. I'm really looking forward to this. The instructor is Dan O'Connor -- his professional bio seems extensive.

Jeremy, we did meet a couple of times during Jams at the Hideout this past spring. Yes, lets! get together sometime and see a show.

Impro Theatre! Awesome. If you wouldn't mind posting about your experiences in the classes, I think a lot of people on the forum would be very interested in hearing about what they do.

mpbrockman · Post by **mpbrockman** » January 2nd, 2008, 2:46 pm

beardedlamb wrote:we should hold hands and walk...

In L.A.???!!!!

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » January 2nd, 2008, 2:53 pm

Ben Javelina wrote:I'm really looking forward to this. The instructor is Dan O'Connor -- his professional bio seems extensive.

I've taken a number of workshops with Dan and he knows his shit. Also, Dr. Jeremy Lamb performs with Dan in LA as part of a troupe called Hello.

improvstitute · Post by **improvstitute** » January 2nd, 2008, 4:26 pm

Ben Javelina wrote:Thank you to everyone for the helpful responses. I've decided to go with classes at the Impro Theatre. I'm really looking forward to this. The instructor is Dan O'Connor -- his professional bio seems extensive.

Kareem is right. Dan is amazing. I have been lucky enough to take several classes from him as well as teach along side him at UT for the MBA students. He is a real pleasure to learn from. He is also a great guy to just hang out with!

I am also kicking Dan's ass at fantasy basketball right now. What he is blessed with in improv skills, he more than lacks in fantasy basketball skills - and vice versa. Yin and Yang (or possibly Chang and Ang).

Austin Improv

Let's talk about... Los Angeles, and its Improv

Let's talk about... Los Angeles, and its Improv

ACME Theatre?

Some good LA improv theatres fer ya!