NYC’s ONLY CHARACTER-BASED IMPROV SCHOOL
EVOLVE WITH IMPROV
Performance · Business • Self
WE ARE THE FIRST & ONLY FEMALE-FOUNDED, OWNED & OPERATED IMPROV SCHOOL IN NYC
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WE ARE THE FIRST & ONLY FEMALE-FOUNDED, OWNED & OPERATED IMPROV SCHOOL IN NYC 💅
WELCOME TO IMPROVOLUTION!
FOUNDED IN 2002 BY GROUNDLINGS ALUM HOLLY MANDEL
Lots of people believe improv is not for them. Or, they think they could never, ever do it.
Our company is founded on the conviction that IMPROV IS FOR EVERYONE. And the benefits extend from the stage to your business and to living a fulfilling life. We have evolved improvisation over the last 20 years to help YOU evolve!
We have plenty of ways you can get involved to become a bold & authentic improviser, to unleash more joy & creativity, and to develop into your best self.
Check out our site and reach out to us at any time if you’d like to talk about how we can help keep you growing, laughing, and making the impact you want to make!
Holly Mandel & Rebecca Stuard, Owners
Live a YES, AND Life!
Evolve into Your Best Self!
Unleash Your Creativity!
DON'T STOP EVOLVING
Too many people are just going through life instead of growing into better versions of themselves – both on and off the stage. Whatever your life or career goals, Improvolution can help you:
+ Know yourself better
+ Look for the positivity in life
+ Get unstuck
+ Increase your confidence
+ Improvise with all levels
+ Grow as a performer
+ Learn character-based improv from experts
+ Perform often
+ Collaborate using ‘Yes, And’
+ Be a dynamic listener
+ Upgrade your speaking skills
+ Break unhelpful communication habits
WHY IMPROVOLUTION?
Because we provide more ways to access, learn and apply improvisation than any other school.
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![Nancy takes improv class at improvolution]()
Nancy M
“My initial decision to take Improv was for my work… [improv] gave me the opportunity to work through restrictions I sometimes place on myself and find humor in almost anything. This newfound freedom has profoundly crossed over to all aspects of my life.”
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![Chelsea teaches improv class in nyc]()
Chelsea C
“The teachers are insanely talented, extremely knowledgeable and are very hands-on. The classes are the perfect size because you aren't overwhelmed with so many people fighting for stage time, and you can settle into a tight knit group. Taking classes and being part of the Improvolution Community has made me a better improviser and created a space to be myself, 100%.”
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![Rafael - NYC Improv Class Student]()
Rafael S
“Improvolution adamantly established a safe, caring, low-stakes environment that even a stubborn mutt like me could thrive… They are awesome. They are Improvolutionizing.”
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![Chrissy takes improv class in new york]()
Chrissy S
“I challenged myself to do something outside of my comfort zone, and I found an Intro to Improv class through Improvolution. It was after that class that I was hooked. I have the ability to say YES, AND... on a daily basis now, which only allows for positive growth in every area of life. Through taking classes at Improvolution, I learned that improv is about teamwork, support, listening, and saying YES to whatever comes your way.”
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![Meet Larry, a nyc-based improvisor]()
Larry R
“As a professional actor, classes at Improvolution helped remind me of the fundamental techniques, skills, and concepts that ground us as actors, but then they pushed me into new levels of understanding those techniques and ideas… Strong teachers, innovative ideas, effective results.”
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![Sebastion enjoys taking classes at improvolution]()
Sebastián I
“At Improvolution I rediscovered my love for acting…Improvising is being both free with your body and mind and alert and grounded with your partners and the present circumstances.”
IMPROV IS FOR EVERYONE
The performers. The business professionals. The learners. The curious.
Pick Your Improv
Choose the form of improv that best suits your goals – an intro class, an advanced class, corporate improv, or to see a show.
Show Up
Whoever you are and however you landed here, we invite you to show up and give improv the chance to transform you.
Experience the Magic of “Yes, And”
Laugh more and be ready for improv to change how you interact with people and how you perform.
WHAT KIND OF IMPROV ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
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For Performance
Choose from our robust improv class options that provide something for everyone: beginners looking to learn improv, seasoned actors wanting to add improv onto their professional toolbelt, or experienced improvisers seeking to expand their abilities and get a character-inspired approach.
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For Business
Bring improv to your workplace for professional development, team building, role playing or some hilarious entertainment.
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For Self
The tools that make improv work are essential life skills which will vastly improve listening, ease in speaking in public, co-creating with others, and pivoting, among many others. Let our Improv for Self workshops help you grow, gain confidence, and become your best self!
IMPROVOLUTION WAS FOUNDED BY THE GROUNDLINGS MAIN COMPANY MEMBER HOLLY MANDEL IN 2002.
It’s the first and only female-founded, owned and run improv school in New York City.
Our Founder and Artistic Director, Holly Mandel
Our Executive Director of the School, Rebecca Stuard
Our Executive Director of Corporate Education, Sarah Hicks
Our Education Managing Director of the School, Mallory Kinney
TRUSTED BY
We’re honored to be trusted by some of the world’s most reputable organizations.
FAQs
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There are many approaches to improv. IMPROVOLUTION is a character-based school like THE GROUNDLINGS in Los Angeles, where our founder Holly Mandel trained, performed, taught and directed.
Character-improv encourages students to discover a scene or premise from a unique character’s point of view. So, if the scene is about two people setting up for a picnic in the park, we are less concerned with “making a lot of things happen”, coming up with witty banter, or finding a pattern to keep repeating. Instead, we are interested in WHO are those two people? Are they uptight and worried, or are they extremely positive and encouraging about every little thing? This is what fuels the scene work: who the CHARACTERS are.
The best part is that it makes improv immensely fun and easy to do! There’s no pressure to write jokes, be witty, clever in every line, and come up with incredible information non-stop. Quite the opposite! You just pick a character and let THEM do all the work!
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Our classes and shows primarily take place at 115 MacDougal Street in the West Village. Occasionally, when we have more classes than classroom space, we will hold class at another central location. We also offer Zoom virtual classes. Check out our classes here.
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Most certainly! All of our teachers are seasoned improvisers themselves and went through the very training they are now teaching. Our process is geared toward each person developing at the rate that they need, which is why our classes are more personal and boutique.
Our foundation is and has always been one of support, respect, and inclusion. We also know how to help students grow – how to move beyond their current blocks and challenges. Growing doesn’t have to be terrifying or traumatizing! It can be fun, light and easy too.
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Because you have already read this far! CLEARLY something in you REALLY wants to do it. We invite you to say YES to that part, and let us take care of the rest.
Sure it SOUNDS terrifying, but truly it is not. A lot of people think improv means on day one, you and a total stranger will stand in front of the class and make up a scene that’s supposed to be nonstop laughs.Not so! In fact, it couldn’t be farther from that.Over the last 20 years, we have developed a process that slowly, step-by-step, introduces you to a piece of the improv puzzle. Every exercise has a specific takeaway or function, like going to the gym. Each machine works one muscle.
If a Level 1 class sounds like too big a leap, then try our INTRO TO IMPROV class.. You’ll be laughing and having a blast and won’t even notice that by the end, you’re IMPROVISING!
Best of all, you’ll begin to see ALL the ways improv can improve everything in your life – your work, your relationships, your hobbies, and even how you think about your own abilities and ambitions. Bringing those two little words, ‘YES - AND’, into your life will be a game-changer. Besides, as we always say, comfort zones are made of elastic, not cement! They STRETCH! So, what seems nerve-wracking today will be easy peazy tomorrow!
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The short answer is YES! The longer answer is it depends a lot on what you are hoping to gain and use improv for. Reach out to us so we can chat about your goals and plan the best way forward for you!
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If you’re brand new to improv, we suggest you take our INTRO TO IMPROV class, which is offered (in person (2.5 hours) or LAUNCH INTO YES, our 4-week start class.
Or if you’d like, you can just jump right into our 12-class Level 1 class!
