We are very excited about our first weekend back with live classes. 8 students joined us over two days in Central Park. Even during terrible storms we found a great place to avoid the rain at Bethesda Terrace.
We have added a few online slots to meet demand. We realize a traditional camp timing is often over whelming, so here is the updated list of sessions open to campers. If a full week of camp is overwhelming, many of these sessions are available for drop in as well.
COMEDY CAMP registrants can attend ALL of the following $225/week, $700 FOUR weeks CLICK HERE to register and get links to shows and classes now available SEVEN days/week.
SHOWS
Professional cast improvised based on audience suggestions and participation (free for students and their families)
– Mondays 3pm SHOW for the whole family
– Thursday 8pm SHOW PG13 Teens and older
I have been very please with how far we have come since March, developing new games and adopting many of the faves for the ZOOM platform.
CAMP ONLY SESSIONS
CLICK HERE to register
(FULL DAY Usually do two blocks, Half day usually do ONE of the following)
– 9:30am-12:30 EST Morning Warm-up and Improv Comedy
– 12:30pm-4pm EST Musical Comedy, Stand-Up Comedy and Fun hour 3-4
– 5-7pm EST A repeat of the morning classes for west coast students and those that like to sleep in or otherwise busy in the morning.
MORE CLASSES
Classes available for drop in online and in person – completely free for any campers signed up for half or full day.
(ALL free of charge to campers to drop by anytime)
– Sunday-Thursday 5pm, Friday 1pm Online Improv Classes for kids/teens 10-15 $25/class, $75/FOUR classes
– Friday/Saturday 9:30am IN PERSON classes in Central park NOW At Bethesda Terrace. $40/clas, $120/FOUR weeks
ADULT CLASSES
Teens (teenterns) 16 & older are welcome CLICK HERE
– Sunday/Tuesday 7:15pm Stand-up comedy
– Monday/Wednesday 8pm Improv Comedy
DUE TO THE EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-19, ALL PUBLIC CLASSES AND SHOWS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED TILL FURTHER NOTICE. STAY SAFE AND INFORMED!!!! WE WILL RETURN LIVE ASAP. EMAIL us for more info!
HOWEVER WE WILL BE OFFERING A NUMBER OF ONLINE CLASSES AND ENTERTAINMENT, MOSTLY FREE TO THE WORLD TO USE & SHARE with premium online classes and shows available at grossly discounted rates (compared to our live programs in Times Square and Touring nationwide).
NOW AVAILABLE – ONLINE COMEDY CLASSES FOR KIDS & TEENS
WELCOME TO ONLINE IMPROV COMEDY THEATER – Below is a playlist of ONLINE Shows, Podcasts, music and more fromm the cast of EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH Improv, it’s students and colleagues from around the world!
Videos VARY in their appropriateness for younger audiences. Parental Guidance recommended!!!
ONLINE School assemblies and private shows now available!
30- minute shows
$200 for up to two full classes (50-60 #students plus teacher, staff etc)
We invite all into ZOOM meering
Mute and hide video of audience
So all you will see is the cast
NOW IN OUR 18th SEASON – 6000+ shows since December 2002
Live comedy shows and classes in Times Square NYC and touring Nationwide
Comedy Camp Final Week, Fall Classes 2019 QUICK LINKS – get discounted registration for classes and comedy show tickets by clicking links below
EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH Improv at LOL Times Square 711 7th Ave @ 47th Street. Fridays 5:30, Saturdays 5:30 fun for teens and older Click link for $5 tickets (reg $20) There is a two drink minimum.
EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH Improv at Broadway Comedy Club 318 West 53rd Street @ 8th Ave. Saturdays 3pm, Sundays 3pm, Wednesdays 1pm All ages friendly. Click link for $5 tickets (reg $25) There is a one drink minimum.
****Comedy Students are entitled to free tickets to ALL of our public shows!!!****
COMEDY CLASSES for KIDS & TEENS Monday 8/26-Thursday 8/29 9:30a-4pm $250 (reg $450/week) includes lunch, snacks and 2pm showcase on Thursday.
COMEDY 4 TEENS Fall Classes Saturdays 10am ages 13-17 COMEDY 4 KIDS Fall Classes Saturdays Noon ages 8-12
Fall classes start September 7 and run every Saturday thru the end of October. The students will showcase their original stand-up comedy and improv games on November 2, 2019. All fall students are invited to bonus / make up classes November 9, 16, 23. So if you attend every week that is 12 weeks of classes for JUST $200 (reg $250 – rates going up to $300 in 2020)
A division of Improv Theater LLC (AKA EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH Improv, LMAO Off Broadway, Improv 4 Kids, Improv 4 Teens) Shows & Classes in Times Square and Touring Nationwide.
While we are very proud of our students that have begun to get some national and professional notice in competitions and gigs on TV, commercials etc, we are much more excited to see all of our student become better students in all areas.
Improv and Stand-Up Comedy help students discover their best selves building self confidence, creative writing, critical thinking and public speaking. We offer weekly classes Winter, Spring and Fall, plus Summer Camps. We also have teachers at schools, camps and community centers on weekends and after school. Each session starts with Improvisation, playing games that are a ton of fun while teaching valuable life skills. These are the same games we play with corporate groups to develop better leaders, team building, sales, service etc. For our public sessions we include Stand-Up Comedy, taking stories of experience and observation, then crafting original comedy routines. Each session ends a performance showcase of original and improvised comedy skits. The classes and workshops integrate perfectly with cultural arts, language arts and character building/guidance programming.
Ethan Harkavy, Improv 4 Teens Student, on Netflix “Master of None” with Aziz Ansari
Our classes for kids & teens include both Improv & Stand-Up Comedy training. By combining the two, students receive a comprehensive education in creative writing and critical thinking while developing strong community and leadership skills – team, public speaking, self confidence, respect, listening, focus, eye contact and more. $40 to drop in, $250 includes 8-week sessions, with performance showcase, FREE admission to bonus master classes and FREE tickets to public professional shows. Bring this program to your school/community center. Our teachers are in residency all over the NYC area. EMAIL for more info
Upcoming Performances EMAIL for more info on shows, classes, group sales, private events and touring company needs.
TUESDAYS 7pm LMAO ALL STARS Times Square NYC LMAO is back in Times Square. The cast of EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH veterans take stage with interactive musical comedy. Many guests invited on stage to play. The show ends with an Improvised musical. Popular
destination for college and corporate groups. PG-13 comedy OK for teens and older but designed for 18yo+. $25 plus TWO drink min
SATURDAYS/SUNDAYS 3pm Times Square NYC EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH takes stage for interactive musical comedy show based on audience suggestions and participation. Bring the whole family! Popular destination for birthday parties, student groups, families,
scout groups etc. $25 plus a ONE drink minimum.
IMPROV 4 KIDS Farmingdale, Long Island, NY Sundays 7pm Sept 9, Nov 4. Bring the whole family! $25 ticket includes general admission to the show, pizza and other snacks, and FREE workshop at 6pm. 3 and under FREE with adults. Workshop recommended for 8yo
and up. $25 includes all. No additional purchase required.
STAND-UP COMEDY at the Broadway Comedy Club $25 plus two drink minimum
CLICK ABOVE LINKS, Select Class day/time. Select registration option. Proceed to check out.
Saturdays 10am COMEDY 4 TEENS CLASS Times Square NYC
Saturdays 12pm COMEDY 4 KIDS CLASS Times Square NYC
Sundays 6pm COMEDY 4 KIDS/TEENS CLASS Farmingdale, Long Island
SUMMER CAMP 2018 Times Square NYC Starts July 9
WINTER CLASS SHOWCASES
March 17 (NYC) ; March 18 (LONG ISLAND) Talk to your teachers this weekend about specific times.
INVITE THE WORLD so all can have a great audience.
STUDENT APPRECIATION DAYS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Saturday March 24 Winter Classes; Saturday May 26 Spring Classes Open to all students and families from ALL classes for kids/teens
1pm Master Class with Walt Frasier, Artistic Director
2:30 PIZZA PARTY for students and families – The whole family is invited for the 3pm Show. We will get pizza. There is a 1 drink minimum/guest at the show. RSVP ASAP Family Name and number of attendees for the class and show. Tickets to the show (reg $25pp) and pizza are on us for all that have attended the entire session and their families. We ask all purchase a beverage ($5-15/drink plus tax/tip includes plenty of non alcoholic options) before show starts to go with the pizza.
SPRING SESSIONS Start April 7/8
PLEASE NOTE: In the past we have often lost students for Spring Showcases in June, so we will be running Showcases before memorial day with lots of classes after the 3 day weekend.
We may run a second showcase, if there is interest, at the end of June as well.
FEES
$40/week
$150/Month (4 weeks)
$250/10-12 weeks of classes, performance and FREE tickets to professional show
MAY 26 1p-4:30p Student Appreciation Day (See Above)
BONUS/MAKE-UP CLASSES in June 3, 10
Our LI program is small so we can only build in a couple bonus classes, however you are welcome to join us in the city at any time for Saturday programs as make-up sessions
January 2018 Field Trip Booking Special for NYC Area Schools – We already have great rates, but coming up on our slowest month of the year, we want to offer K-12 schools a great rate. EMAIL for more info.
January 2018 Field Trip Booking Special for NYC Area Schools
Improv 4 Teens
Improv 4 Kids
NYC DOE VENDOR
Regular Rates 2018 $12pp, Min $600
JANUARY ONLY Book before 12/22 $600 flat rate up to 150ppl inclusive of chaperons
Since 2002 EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH has presented over 6000 shows for K-12 and family audiences in Times Square and touring schools, camps, community centers and private events. Hilarious interactive musical comedy is improvised based on audience suggestions and participation. No two shows are ever the same. Every 5 minute the MC interacts directly with the students to get suggestions for the next scene or song (called games in Improv). 3-4 games require students on stage directly steering the comedy.
Workshops dramatically increase the educational value of the program. Students play a series of games under the direction of our teaching artist. While teaching Improv and Performance, students learn creative writing, critical thinking, public speaking, self confidence, listening, focus, respect/team communications and more.
Learning how to Improv is one part acting, one part creative writing. In addition to creating fun character we spontaneously write a story as a team. Listening and Responding – always saying / thinking “YES! And…” – we start our stories, establishing characters and setting. This process requires trusting and respecting our scene partners.
The workshop is so much fun students do not even realize the educational components. But you will as they start to participate in their every day studies, engaging in discussions, reading in class and listening better to lectures.
Bring these programs to your school, camp or community center.
Assemblies Programs
After School
PTA Nights
Workshops
Residencies
After school Programming
Professional Develop for Teachers, Staff
NYC 5-BORO NON-PROFIT RATES
– Ask about rates outside NYC area. We regularly travel DC to Boston
$600 ONE show in NYC all 5 boros, 4 teaching artists (Day time rates)
Reg $800-1500 for Corporate Events etc
– $300/additional consecutive hour for shows/workshop
– $1500 day of shows/workshop (Up to 2 schools same county, 4 shows/workshops)
– $6000 5-day residency (Up to 10 schools same county, 20 shows/workshops)
Improv Field Trips Middle / High School Students (L-5 too see Improv 4 Kids) NYC DOE VENDOR – Bring your school for one of the coolest edutainment Field Trips in New York City. See a great show, participate in an educational workshop and we even can supply a NYC Pizza Party Lunch. We also travel to schools through out the Tri State Area for assemblies, PTA Nights, After School Programs, Workshops, Residencies and Professional Development. EMAIL US for private show and groups booking requests.
“A production you and your children don’t want to miss” 2007 ABC NEWS NYC
CULTURAL ARTS – LANGUAGE ARTS
CHARACTER BUILDING
Field Trips to Times Square – improv Comedy Shows and Workshops
Our 45-60 minute interactive musical comedy show is Improvised based on suggestions from the audience. We take the students’ favorite TV shows, movies, books and daily activities and turn them into comedic songs and scenes. Many students are invited on stage to more directly steer the comedy.
CULTURAL ARTS – the show presents professionals from stage and screen performing live music and theater. Every show presents 3-4 original stories via mini plays/skits, historical slide shows (with audience volunteers posing for fake photos), and interactive games with characters responding directly to audience questions. Every show has songs of varies styles representing Jazz/Blues, Jig, and Madrigal. In longer performances we create a mini Broadway Musical, Opera, March and other styles.
LANGUAGE ARTS – Improv is story telling with characters/relationships, settings and action. Improv stories create a clear story arc (beginning middle and end). Improv teaches to speak clearly and project for all to hear. We instruct our audience volunteers to be heard in the back of the theater as well. In some shows we present Spoken Word. We are often paired with reading programs at schools and libraries.
CHARACTER BUILDING – We reinforce that our team needs to work together and respect each other to get through an unscripted scene. YES AND…, the number one rule in Improv, directs us to support our team and every thing they say and do. We stress we can be funny without making fun of our colleagues, without being disrespectful, without leaving another feeling bad about them selves. This all plays well into Anti-Bully Themes, Social Emotional Learning and Community Building programs.
Studies at John Hopkins University and else where have also discovered laughter reduces stress, builds stronger connections with others, increases heart health and produces higher test scores. As much as we try to justify our existence in traditional academic terms, it is probably the laughs that are our strongest asset to schools.
CREATIVITY – COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP
Our workshops further the educational value. Students play a series of theater games under the direction of our teaching artists. Each game works on different skills that teach Improv, but every game develops powerful life skills. Learning Improv actually develops better students that work together to solve problems, engage in discussions, and better learn new things. Our students absorb information rather than memorize and regurgitate.
“Humor and creativity work in similar ways,” says humor guru William Fry, M.D., of Stanford University. “By creating relationships between two disconnected items, you engage the whole brain.”
Improv requires creativity and critical thinking. Playing Improv games actually creates better thinkers. And we teach story telling, which develops creative writing skills.
Improv builds a strong community. Humor breaks down walls of ego and insecurity. “YES AND…” develops strong bonds. Improv requires every member of the team support each other, listen to their needs and suggestions, respect every individual. Students learn to use humor that deescalates a situation.
Improv develops leaders. The number one fear is a phobia of public speaking. While having fun students overcome this fear. In every game we encourage students to think and speak without fear of judgment or misspeaking. Removing insecurities, we bring out a student’s inner strength. In a short time student discover to speak freely and clearly. Students learn to laugh off missteps, leading to better learning from mistakes and faster growth.
Self confident students do not become bullies or victims of bullying behaviors. Self Confident students engage in discussions. Self Confident students to not respond to the unknown with defensive posture. Improv helps find Psychological Safety and Performance Drive which puts a team into the learning zone.
Our team also delivers Team Building Workshops for numerous Corporations. Recent clients include JP Morgan Chase, Twitter, Louis Vuitton, Coach, BDO, Master Card, BING/Microsoft, Home Depot, Walmart Ecommerce (JET) and dozens of smaller firms. We bring this same training to teens and preteens. It is a simple message with tremendous application. When a team embraces psychological safety for all, the entire team thrives. When a school embraces this, every student, teacher and parent becomes a partner in education. This has to start with great leaders that embrace the concept and encourage their team of faculty and staff to do the same. This is why we encourage a professional development program to coincide our programs for students. Too many schools do one or the other. The entire population needs to learn the concepts and proactively participate daily.
Groups from Microsoft BING, BDO, and JP Morgan Chase learn Improv to develop better team and individual skills for the work place. Adult Field Trips
RESIDENCIES
In a few schools, via a one week residency, we present an assembly to introduce our program to the entire population, professional development workshops for teachers, and then go into every classroom to show teachers how to use Improv, while teaching the students our basic concepts as well.
In other schools we send our teachers in weekly to develop a team of students. By the end of 8-15 week programs students are ready to perform for friends and family. They develop stronger communication skills and become leaders in the school.
Improv Field Trips Middle / High School Students NYC DOE VENDOR RATES
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE $25pp includes Field Trips with show, workshop and lunch (pizza and bottled water. No additional fees. 2-3 hours as per your timing (depending on school/bus schedules) . This program very popular with big 5th grage/8th grade trips, high school theater programs and more. EMAIL US for private show and groups booking requests. Let us know the date(s) you wish to attend, the number of students and adults, and your preferred package form below.
OUR MOST POPULAR PACKAGE $15pp includes show & workshop ( 2 hours total).
SHOW or WORKSHOP ONLY $10pp. These are 60-minute programs with time to eat lunch – up to 90-minute space rental. (We usually charge $25pp for our public shows and workshops ) Min $500 for a show, $200 for a workshop.
For any above program with a show, prices above are based on a minimum or 50 students. Once minimums are met we offer a fee adult chaperon admission per ten paying students. Inform us of special needs and we can usually accomodate. We add shows to the calendar almost daily, with 3 casts and multiple theater spaces at our disposal. For larger groups (100+) we can sometimes do a price break (offering seasonal incentives etc). For smaller groups we can often find a show already scheduled or bring a group into a public show on weekends, after school times or some evenings.
EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH tours nationwide to Schools and Events as well as Field Trips to Times Square
OH MY! Mick delivers a hilarious routine. You will never think of pet stores the same
From November 4, 2017 comedy showcase from our Times Square NYC fall classes. EMAIL us for more info about shows, classes and more.
See both shows (kids and teens programs) from Nov 4 in full CLICK HERE
NEW – LONG ISLAND CLASSES
Sundays 6pm Comedy 4 Kids & Teens
Improv Comedy Class for kids & teens.. These were previously private programs now open to the public. Great group of students already meet every Sunday night. COME PLAY WITH US!!! All students are invited to bring their family to our professional shows Saturdays/Sundays at 3pm in NYC
http://www.thecomedykids.com/
TIMES SQUARE classes winter session starts January 6, 2018
NYC Comedy Classes include instruction in both Improvisation and Stand-Up Comedy. Each week students play various warm-up, technique and performance Improv games designed to teach performance and life skills. We run 8-week programs (actually 9-11 weeks with bonus classes and showcase) Winter, Spring and Fall as well as Summer Camp. Regular students also receive FREE tickets for the whole family to our public shows by the professional cast.
WINTER 2018 Registration includes
January 6, 12, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24
Bonus Classes March 3, 10
Showcase 17
Over 6000 professional Improv Comedy Shows in Times Square and touring nationwide since 2002. The cast of EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH
COME BE A PART OF THE SHOWS
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Field Trips to Times Square
Touring K-12 Schools, Camps and Community Centers
Workshops
After School Programming
Residencies
Professional Development for Teachers
NYC DOE VENDOR via Improv Theater LLC
Improv 4 Kids / Improv 4 Teens plays 300+ shows for K-12 groups in Times Square and touring Schools, Camps and Community centers throughout the New York City Tri-State Area and beyond. We host student groups for day time field trips and at our public shows. We present school assemblies, PTA Nights, Fundraisers and more. Many schools use our teaching artists for after school programming where we recreate our public classes. EMAIL us for more info about shows, classes and more.
Calling all Brooklyn K-12 Schools. Improv Theater LLC – producer of Improv 4 Teens, Improv 4 Kids – now has three after school programs every Tuesday at Brooklyn Schools. EMAIL us today about dates/rates for assemblies, PTA nights, workshops, after school residencies, professional development for teachers and FIELD TRIPS to our Times Square theater.
What does this mean for EVERY Brooklyn School? We have three amazing Improv Comics in the boro AND we can now offer huge discounts on assemblies and workshops Tuesday mornings.
Brooklyn K-12 School Assembly Discount
We charge schools nation wide $800 for one show. NYC Schools usually pay $500-600/show. But now, every Tuesday morning we can send a show to any Brooklyn School for as little as $300; Or $750 for THREE consecutive morning hours of shows & workshops (reg $1200-2000). I could match this offer Tuesday evenings after 7pm for libraries, PTA nights or other kid/teen/family event.
We have presented 300-500 shows for K-12/Family audiences yearly since 2004. Fimd out why 5000+ audiences love this show.
“A production you and your children don’t want to miss” ABC NEWS
Every show by Improv 4 Kids / Improv 4 Teens includes 2-4 songs, 2-4 interactive games with audience participation on stage and additional scene games. Every 3-5 minutes the MC is interacting with the audience to get ideas for scenes and songs. No two shows are every the same. We can also steer the stories and songs toward a theme that fits your school’s agenda for the year. In past we have worked well with PARP and other pro reading programs, Anti-Bully, SEL, Story telling / Language Arts, Cultural Arts Music and Theater, and more. But our greatest value is providing laughter, which reduces stretch and makes school a fun place. Laughter in the classroom increases test scores and mental/physical health of students and staff.
Check out LMAO Off Broadway Improv in Times Square Saturdays 3pm (Added shows for group requests)
Our workshops further the educational value, getting students up on their feet to play a series of games that teach creativity (writing and critical thinking), community (team, respect, listening, eye contact) and leadership (self confidence and public speaking). Improv is the most fun way to develop a student body confident to participate in class, which leads to better learning and testing.
After School or In School Residencies
look similar to our public programs. Our teachers work with a smaller group of students working towards a performance showcase. Compared to a typical theater program, EVERY student is a star and gets equal stage time to develop these valuable life skills. Most plays and musicals benefit a small group, depending on a larger group to play ensemble or work tech. Improv utilizes every student. Every member of the team is valued and gets a chance to shine.
We also have residency programs that will send a teaching artist to EVERY class in the school to introduce concepts of YES And, listening, public speaking and more to every student. We often pair this with professional development.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for TEACHERS
by Improv Theater LLC is both Corporate style Team Building and offers valuable techniques for the class room. We find many teachers lack the self confidence to lead a class. Every team is only as strong as its weakest link. Improv can be used to role play historical and literary characters. We show teachers how to use games in the classroom to get students focused and break the tension before a big math or science test. And Improv gets the staff laughing together, breaking down walls or resentments and insecurity and building strong bonds. In addition to many K-12 schools, we have worked with teams from 100s of corporations including Twitter, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Louis Vuitton, Coach, BDO, Home Depot and even US Medicare Accountants.
My mother is from Brooklyn so every chance I get to see her home boro I take it. Still my favorite place for pizza LOL
PS RSVP to be my guest anytime to our NYC Shows Saturdays/Sunday 3pm at the Broadway Comedy Club 318 West 53rd Street. Audit the show before bringing it to your school. .RSVP for free tickets for the whole family.
EMAIL us today about dates/rates for assemblies, PTA nights, workshops, after school residencies, professional development for teachers. Also ask about our FIELD TRIPS to our Times Square theater.
K12 Schools have enjoyed our shows, workshops and residencies since 2004. In addition to hosting field trips in Times Square NYC, we travel nationwide, with shows DC to Boston almost weekly – well over 5000 shows for K-12 audience in the past 12 years alone. EMAIL us to bring this program to your school, or bring a student group to our Times Square Theater eightimprov@gmail.com
K12 Schools Assemblies, Residencies and more
Improv Comedy is an amazing cultural arts assembly. While delivering the laughs we introduce both music and theater education. But Improv offers so much more than just performing arts entertainment. Improv is all about story telling, working as a team, and communicating clearly to the audience and other players. This is why the shows often pair with Language Arts and Guidance (Character Building) programming. During our shows we teach about focus, listening, eye contact, and respect. In some cases we direct steer our shows to align with anti-bully and social emotional learning concepts.
Cultural Arts Assembly, Language Arts Assembly, Character Building Assembly all in one show!
Our shows are highly interactive. At a typical k12 schools assembly, we will invite as many as 20 students on stage. Meanwhile the entire show is improvised on the spot based on audience suggestions. Every 3-5 minutes the MC is talking directly to the students and faculty about ideas for songs and scenes.
ONE SHOW FOR ALL AGES
Now of course not all K12 Schools students are alike. But we gear the show for the crowd at hand. For younger grades K-3 the show is more clownish in nature. More physical silly comedy holds their attention. The older the audience the more the show appears like our programs for adults and college crowds, however never inappropriate for school audiences. the students at times will feel they are watching a live show akin to MTV programming. But this is more of a edgy style, than content.
Paired with workshops and study guides these shows are invaluable tools for schools. Most schools hire our team for shows OR workshops. but the schools that truly benefit form our services include both. Workshops provide far ore educational value, but with out introducing the art form and our team via a show, we are just another educational component. But starting with a show or two, you introduce our team as the fun people. We are not “teachers” in the eyes of students. So when we come into the classroom as teachers, student pay attention and absorb what we teach.
You will be surprised at which students leap out of their shells to participate, which they continue to do after we leave. We have found that the simple task of overcoming fear of public speech (along with embarrassment and ridicule) creates students ready to participate and learn. you no longer have to get students to memorize and regurgitate for tests.
Students that take our weekly classes become leaders in the school. Whether via a 1-week residency or weekly after school sessions, our full time students develop a powerful grasp of communication skills. Students learn to process anxiety. Students develop a strong critical thinking mind. Writing skills increase. Class participation increases. Each of these programs ends with a showcase presentation. Many students of our public programs in NYC have even been book on TV shows. Many have been recognized by industry casting directors and agents. But all of their parents report amazing increases to school and social progress.
SEL – SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
A new popular trend in K-5 schools is SEL. Improv is wonderful at teaching social emotional learning. Improv IS social emotional learning. Improv is all about making great bold choices that support the team. In our workshops we teach physical control and focus as we develop listing and eye contact skills.
We also loosely tie this into our corporate teambuilding programming. We teach almost the exact same show & workshops programs to teams form JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Twitter, GM, BDO and 100s more including US Medicare Accountants.
Since 2015, we have included the Psychological Safety concept forwarded by Google Teams research. their finding was the number one reason a team succeeds is Psychological Safety. We have that students that feel Psychologically Safe are succeeding. Those with any physical, mental or emotional abuse (or just stress) – whether through home, school or neighborhood interactions, struggle.
Studies at John Hopkins and Stanford have discovered Laughter alone can reduce stress, increase cardio health and lead to better test scores.
Many k12 schools love our improv shows for family nights and fundraisers. These shows most closely resemble our public programs in Times Square Off Broadway. We are amazingly kids friendly, but we do not feel like a “kids” show, so parents and older siblings love us too. In some cases we have performed at all adult fundraising nights.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
More and more K12 Schools are taking advantage of our Professional Development Programs.
We are very excited about our first weekend back with live classes. 8 students joined us over two days in Central Park. Even during terrible storms we found a great place to avoid the rain at Bethesda Terrace.
