Lovely improv school with great classes. I took two of their main classes (12 and 10 weeks), plus a few workshops, and had a great time. I loved that each class ends with a graduation show; I was anxious at first, but it ended up being a great time in an intimate venue with a supportive audience of mostly friends and family. (And to be technical, you can opt out of the performance if you're really not feeling it, but most people do it.). The instructors have a down-home vibe and are good at coaching their students. They usually have a social at a nearby pub after performances, and the community vibes are great. My classmates ended up being very diverse, from a full spectrum of economic classes, cultural backgrounds, genders, and ages. I was especially impressed with the students who were not native English speakers; they did a great job. Classes and performances are generally held at the studios above the Players Theater in Greenwich Village, just minutes from the W 4th St subway station. It's a great location, with lots of casual/fast food options nearby if you're in a rush after work to get to class. All in all, a great community of improvisers and teachers. Bathrooms: At the end of the hall. There's only one, it's small, but it's clean and it works. Oh, and I really loved Mallory, my instructor. Someone should give her a raise or something. ‍ read more

Improvolution - Improv class! - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I have taken just about every class offered at Improvolution. The teachers are amazing and accessible, including the Founder, who is a Groundlings alum. They teach character-based improv in a safe, supportive environment for beginners and veterans, and for people with acting aspirations and people with a wide variety of interests and background. I highly recommend any classes offered there. read more

I highly reccommend improvolution. They are experts at what they do and teach! Our class was incredibly fun and informative. I will be signing up for level 2! read more

I took "From Stuck to Productive" with Elizagrace and Rebecca and can't recommend this class more. I went into class with a general feeling of "stuck" - I wasn't sure what exactly it was that was causing me this feeling. With the mixture of improv exercises and writing prompts, Rebecca and Elizagrace helped me get out of my thinking brain and identify the "stuck" feeling hiding below the surface. Through one of the writing prompts, I realized that I really did not want a public ceremony for my upcoming wedding, but rather a much more intimate ceremony with just a few family members. This is something that had been nagging at me for months, but I wasn't able to access what exactly it was about my wedding that was leaving me feeling so unsettled. Rebecca and Elizagrace created a warm, welcoming, and safe environment that helped me dig deeper to get to the root of my internal discomfort. I got more out of this class than I expected and will definitely be retaking it in the future to uncover other things hiding in my brain. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh perspective, or really anyone just wanting to have fun and connect with others! Thanks a million to Rebecca and Elizagrace! read more

I took the Intro to Improv class with Michael Goldfried and had a fantastic time. The class was a lot of fun and the time went by quickly. The activities were fun, engaging, and insightful. Michael was extremely supportive, funny, and knowledgeable. My only con was that the room the class was held in was extremely cold. At times, it made it difficult to concentrate because I was freezing (like toes in snow freezing). read more

The special Valentine's Day class I took with Sarah and Anthony was amazing! I had the best time learning new skills and challenging myself with a great group of people. I can't recommend Improvolution enough! read more

Excellent class. Great instruction and fun experience.

I took intro to improv class and then full Level 1 course (12 weeks). This school is amazing. I had amazing experience with Rebecca (honestly, she can also serve as a therapist she's so good) and with entire improv crew. We had a chance to also work with other instructors and meet them during our graduation show. Everyone is great. They taught us that improv is for everyone, it really is. I recommend that you take intro to improv class to see for yourself. Classes are for three hours but you don't even feel how time flies. Some of us were non-native speakers and it was not an issue at all. You'll brush up your communication skills, listening, team-work, creativity and meet amazing people. I am certainly signing up for Level 2 as well. read more

This is the place to come to if you want to learn Groundlings style Character based, embodied Improv. I resisted Improv for years because I came from Opera and modern theatre and only wanted to study Groundlings style Improv. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of places you can study this specific style of Improv in the city and Improvolution is the place you want to go to do it. Take any class you can with Holly, her capacity as a teacher is unreal! Michael Goldfried is an amazing teacher as well. I have had lots of teachers here and they were all very good. Holly is on top of teacher training and the quality is high. Good performance opportunities. Really a hidden gem among Improv schools. I've moved on from Improvolution, as is common in the Improv world, but would take classes here again in a heartbeat. read more

I took the 12-week Level 1 course this year and cannot recommend it enough. My intention was to stretch out of my comfort zone and I can safely say, mission accomplished. Even more importantly, I was able to do it in a safe, encouraging environment. The teacher, Paula, was incredible and the other people in the class were all cool, fun, interesting, and helped to create an unforgettable experience. If you're on the fence, just do it. You will be so glad you did. read more

This place is amazing. I had no idea what to expect from improv (...see what I did there?), but I couldn't have had a better experience. The people at Improvolution know what they're doing, they bring incredible energy to their work, they somehow don't intimidate those of us who are completely new to it, and they party after every show. I'm relatively reserved and I tend to over-plan everything I do, so improv was not exactly familiar territory for me, and I had a killer experience here. It's difficult to make decisions based on internet reviews, because the people involved usually make all the difference in anything. But Improvolution has that one nailed--the teachers are awesome and you'll make new friends from all sorts of backgrounds. If you're on the fence, just do it. read more

I'm addicted. I've tried other schools and after I found Improvolution I couldn't stop scratching the improvisation itch. I thought I'd stop after the Intro. Nope. The. I thought I'd stop at the 4 week Yes And class. Nope because before it was even over I started the Level 1 Intro. All the instructors are amazing. I don't know that I want to perform and it doesn't matter as I love the impact on my life and it makes me so happyyyyyy!!!! read more

It's taken me wayyyy too long to write this review, but since this was hands down the most life changing class I've ever taken post college, I had to post! I took the intro class over a year ago and in 3 hours I learned more about owning my voice than any manager, teacher, conference, or panel could teach me. The fundamentals of improv can be applied to any job or career, you don't just need to be an aspiring actor or comedian. Plus, as a woman navigating a male dominated industry, this class was unbelievable in helping me to gain back some of my confidence (and nab that promotion I'd been vying for). I'll be back for sure. read more

I took my intro to improv class today with Rebecca Stuard, what an amazing experience. Definitely going to do the 10 week course read more

Improvolution - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

I took my first improv class last week and it was an amazing experience on a stormy day. Michael used every second to give us the basic principles. I felt so comfortable which is the first step. I am definitely going back there read more

Meant to write this a while back. Well deserved 5 star review. Had such a great experience and the teacher (Rebecca) plus assistant were awesome. I was initially intimidated to do improv but finally decided to man up and take the class. All scared for nothing because I was actually good lol! She was the perfect teacher and made everyone comfortable. Fun class and memorable experience. Everybody became friends by the end of the class. Positive environment. I plan to attend again. read more

My wife sent me to Improvolution to shut me up about after talking for 7 years about wanting to try Improv. Through a friend she heard of Holly's school and I went to the test run class, figuring there was nothing to lose. 2 shows, and 16 classes later I'm an improv junkie, falling in love with the medium, the teachers, and most importantly the people. What can i say, Improvolution makes learning the art of improv fun. Holly and the other teaches help you to get out of your head and stay present in the moment. I feel fortunate enough to have joined with a really great group of people who after 4 months playing and growing together are now my good friends. I'd go so far to say that much of what I've learned in class has extended into my business life...helping me to think on the fly, go-with-the-flow, and listen to what people are saying. I've heard that other schools make improv competitive. Here they strive for collaboration. love this place. read more

Totally worth it! I took the Intro to Improv as well as the Fundamentals of Improv (12 weeks) both with Rebecca Stuard, and it was one of the scariest yet one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. I took these classes because I've heard that it helps in all aspects of life, especially how you communicate in the workplace. Improv is all about "yes, AND...!" It's about learning to trust your gut and accept whatever you bring to the table. It's also about teamwork, which means accepting and building off of your teammates' ideas. You don't have to be funny to do this. Humor happens when you fully commit to your ideas and character. Don't worry about this being scary! Growth only happens when you face your fears. And it's all growth happening in a warm and welcoming environment! Also want to note that Rebecca pushed all of us to reach what we were all capable of doing, while being extremely supportive! She does constructive criticism right! Because of improv, I'm now more confident in the way I speak, and have skills and tools to work effectively in team settings. Not to mention it's extremely fun! Especially performing in the show at the end of the 12 week class! read more

Without a doubt, the best class I have ever taken in New York City! And I've taken a lot over my six years living here, from Groupon cupcake classes to Gotham writing workshops. The intro class was the highlight of my week for 10 weeks this past spring. I actually feel a hole in my life now that the class has ended! If you are shy, awkward, a little bit fearful, nervous, quiet or just want more confidence and a stress-reliever from your busy work week, this class is for you! The best part is you don't have to have any acting or comedy experience. You don't even have to be funny! I was so, so nervous when I signed up -- how was a shy, awkward, scaredy-cat gal like me gonna do improv and then perform in a live show at the end of the course?! It seemed like a crazy idea. Somehow, though, without even realizing it, every week I got more and more comfortable. I have no idea how it happened, but pretty soon I was doing sketches and making people laugh and having a blast. I attribute that transformation to the great teachers at Improvolution. Rebecca Stuard is AHHHMAZING!! She makes everyone feel so comfortable and at ease. Her direction is clear, she's super supportive and also a hoot! She's honestly a gift to this world. Like one of those good souls you meet every now and then. I can honestly say that all the staff I've met at Improvolution have been that way too. They're just good people! Not pretentious or "oooh look at us we're actors!" The people in the class were also gems, which I think says a lot about the school and its mission. No pretentious acting experts. Just really cool, normal people from all walks of life (young, old, business people, creative types, etc.) who wanted to gain more confidence for work or break out of their shells. The live "graduation" show at the end was one of my top 10 life moments - it was so great to stand up on stage in front of our family and friends and make them laugh. Once again, Rebecca directed and led us so that we wouldn't feel awkward at all. She puts you in skits that play off your strengths. This sounds cheesy (forgive me, Yelp!), but this class really did change my life. It gave me more confidence, helped me express myself more in every area of my life really. Even my friends and family noticed! Week after week, I started to find that I was getting more creative in my actual job and able to speak up at meetings more and be more honest even with my co-workers. I made some really great connections in the process too and really do feel like part of the Improvolution family. Whenever I go to one of their Friday shows, Rebecca and co. greet me like I'm a long-lost child! So great to find that in the middle of our great big city. Feel so, so happy to have stumbled upon Improvolution! If you're wondering about improv or this class, sign up. You'll be thanking your lucky stars that you did! read more

I LOVE the Improvolution School and it's teachers! I took the Intro Class with Sarah this past summer and because I loved it so much I signed up for the Summer Level 1 Class with Rebecca. It's been the best decision I've made in 2015! Rebecca & Sarah are just so amazing! They make you feel so comfortable and at ease. And plus, they make funny jokes that make it even easier to get into the groove of the class! I'm a very shy, anxious and soft-spoken person. But Rebecca makes you feel so at ease that even for shy people, non-funny people, non-actor people, and just normal people it's so easy to get into the class and feel comfortable! You end up having the most fun ever! I highly recommend this class to anyone considering improv!!! read more

Great school for improv. Not as competitive or overly serious as many others in NYC. Classes are fun and the instructors create a supportive and encouraging environment. I went for fun, but have learned a lot of skills that help in my job. I highly recommend to all who are looking for a fun way to build skills and meet people. read more

I've completed Intro and Launch into Yes and I love it! Still much more to learn but these classes are fun, educational and supportive. Every session I walk in more confident than the one before. I can't wait for the next round of Level One to be posted so I can jump back into improv with Improvolution. read more

Improvolution is quite simply amazing. I've made a ton of memories doing classes and shows here. The teachers are fun, nice, and supportive and the students are always right there with you. If it wasn't for Holly making me fall in love with Improv two years ago I wouldn't have found Improvolution. I honestly could go on forever about how much I've learned and how much I adore Improvolution. Just go take a class or two or participate in the shows. I GUARANTEE you will have a blast! read more

As a business professional, I registered for an improv course at Improvolution with the goals of improving my public speaking abilities and presence as well as learning to think more quickly and articulately on my feet. In my industry, the corner offices don't go to the quiet introverts who would rather not be the center of attention. I chose improv over toastmasters because improv seemed to have creative and artistic merit and therefore, in my opinion, was less like dreary work. To my surprise, I ended up having the time of my life. I was absolutely terrified at the beginning of my first class and numerous classes thereafter, but my abilities, and confidence, grew over the course of a couple of months in ways that I had not expected. The course was a TON of fun and it provided me with skills that I use on a daily basis. read more

I've always bit a bit of a ham while also being a bit shy, and was both drawn to but also nervous about doing improv. What if you don't know what to do? Some say that many fear public speaking more than anything, and in improv not only are you speaking in public, you're pantomiming, mimicking, etc., and then having to be funny too?...whoa, let me just watch others do that, I thought. Well, Improvolution was a great way to dip my toes in and begin to learn the art of improv in a short time. After hearing from a friend how great it was, I took a condensed intro class, and I loved it. They really broke down the basic rules of improv and helped us to take our attention off of ourselves and put our attention on what was happening in the group; to not try to be funny, but to be interested in what was emerging (which was almost always a real riot!). The instructor was right there in every moment, participating, coaching, with care and sensitivity to each of us and to the dynamics of our interactions. Not only a great time, but also a way to grow and expand, to say yes and let go. I've carried over some of the principles I've learned to my interaction in everyday life, which has helped me to respond rather than react. Big thumbs up...(check out their improv. shows too...what a hoot!). read more

I have only taken the first level with Improvolution, but the class was not scary and so much fun! I like that it is character based rather than "who can come up with the most clever obscure references" improv. It really is for everyone too, there were so many different kinds of people (as in, what they do for a living) in my class. I would recommend this school to anyone that wants to learn in a low pressure atmosphere. (which is the best way to learn) read more

I've seen several improv shows here, which were so good that they inspired me to sign up for one of their courses. It's world class improv being performed by pros and novices alike. I highly recommend it! read more

I couldn't ask for a more supportive, comfortable and FUN atmosphere to learn improv. Holly and Improvolution ROCKS!!

Improvolution rocks. It is a non-competitive environment, it's character-based improv, which means the focus is on learning to play real characters, not on being funny. I've taken classes with Holly since she began in New York. It's been incredibly rewarding to all aspects of my life. Improv, it turns out, is basically learning a new communication skill that you can take with you out of the classroom and into the rest of your life to become a better communicator, collaborator, instigator, idea generator....I've drunk the koolaid! read more

I have taken up to level 3 with Improvolution and am also part of an all women's improv. class that is just starting to perform together. I am an actor/improvisor and want to say that "Improv for Everyone" definitely includes those who DO want to make a career out of it as well. My teachers challenge me as an improvisor in an environment that is both energetic and extremely supportive. Students come to Improvolution from all walks of life and everyone can get something out of taking classes there! read more

I have been a student of improvolution for the past 4 years, and feel as though I have climbed mountains! Having zero experience prior to my level one improvolution class, I was welcomed, and taught with support, growth, and fun. I have taken all levels and am now able to perform for the shows with tons of confidence - knowing the premise is to "yes and" everything! Holly Mandel is truly open and a gift to anyone lucky enough to study with her. The rest of her staff is also fantastic, I have been in class with all of the teachers, and they are all amazing and supportive. read more

A great place to find your own voice(s). The school's character-based approach frees you to find drama, pathos, and of course humor in every scene you play. Not feeling the pressure to be "funny" paradoxically brings your funny out more and in more surprising places. Been taking classes for a year, with no prior experience, and I am now completely addicted! read more

I have been taking classes and work shops for the past 3 years and doing many fun shows. The great thing about Holly and the school is there is no pressure. You just have fun. You learn to trust each other and yourself. It's a character based approach. And when you find your character your system automatically knows how to take in and respond to your fellow players. And the scenes are real and real funny without even trying. And when you get in the grove you feel kind of like your on the planet Avatar (Like in the movie) in each scene you become a part of something bigger than yourself, you trust your fellow players, and the flow of it all. It's like a fun ride at the amusement park. And you and the audience have a great ride. It will help you relax and open up at work or auditions. It's lots of fun and a great school. The teachers are players as well and love it. Your friends will love the shows too. Anyone can improv. Come join us and open up, relax and have some fun. Cheers. Pat Ceasar :-) read more

This school has a great vibe and is not hyper-competitive about Improv, while teaching you solid skills. As Megan mentioned, all types of people take the classes and find that the lessons learned can apply to many areas of life. Just the simple act of learning the "rules" and saying "Yes, and..." in life is transformative. Learning Improv skills can prepare you to meet life's challenges and have a more flexible inner nature in general, whether you are in it for professional or personal reasons or both. But enough about waxing philosophical. It's really just a no-holds-bar fun time and I've been working it with Holly and her school for about 2 years and I'm hooked! She is an incredibly insightful and passionate person to study with and taught many of the classes herself, also has a excellent group of instructors and an overall great community of people involved. I've made some friends in classes who are wonderful, and I get to perform regularly, which I enjoy. read more