Improvolution

New York, United States

4.7

11 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 212-696-6893
Website:
www.improvolution.org
Address:
115 Macdougal St, New York, NY, 10012
Greenwich Village
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
360 ftWest 4th Street-Washington Square (A,B,C,D,E,F,M)
780 ft6th Avenue & West Houston Street
0.3 mi9th Street (PATH)
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Today –
Local time (New York) 11:50 Wednesday, 9 July 2025

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Description

Specialties

Improvolution is the ONLY groundlings based improv school in NYC. Founded by GROUNDLING alumna Holly Mandel in 2001, Improvolution is an improv school, performing group and dare we say philosophy of how to live, create, and collaborate on and off stage…(yes, we dare!)

We stand firmly behind our motto that improv IS for everyone. If you want to learn it, we can teach you. It’s not about being funny or clever or aggressive. It’s about getting behind the part of yourself that is fearless, creative, open, and likes working with others.

History

Established in 2001.

Improvolution was founded by Los Angeles Groundlings alumna Holly Mandel in January 2002 when she moved to New York after deciding to leave LA and, well, move to New York. As a Groundling she performed, wrote, directed and taught as a Main Company member for over six years, studying and performing with some of the best in improv and sketch comedy. She created the longest-​running long-​form show in LA before leaving, «The Crazy Uncle Joe Show» which you can see any Wednesday night at The Groundlings. She also studied with the wonderful Second City director Jeff Michalski and the fantastic Stan Wells of The Empty Stage in Los Angeles.

Holly teaches at and directs Improvolution’s shows, as well as performs with Groundling alums and various troupes. She also teaches improv at Pace University, HB Studio and coaches both individuals and groups.

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11 reviews of Improvolution

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Larchmont, NY
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.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
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!!!
Place rating: 2
New York, NY
Very disappointing. The instructor had what was undoubtedly an off-​night, but it resulted in an opening night session of an intensive that featured a lot of word salad. Worse, the unforgivable sin of an improv course that was a glaringly hostile environment.
Improv is a wonderful thing, and the character improv method taught by Improvolution is awesome. As I said, it was an off-​night, I hope it goes differently for others, but for me the experience was terrible.
Place rating: 5
Astoria, NY
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.
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
I took my intro to improv class today with Rebecca Stuard, what an amazing experience. Definitely going to do the 10 week course
Place rating: 5
Ocean City, MD
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!
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
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.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
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!).
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
I love Improvolution. Holly is a wonderful teacher who makes the whole process easy and fun. With small classes, you get a lot of individual attention, and true to her motto, it really can be for everyone. I have taken at least six rounds of classes and keep going back for more, and now perform on a regular basis with the many of the same people I took Level 1 with. Great people, great fun! If you’re on the fence about taking improv, try Improvolution. It’s a nice laid-​back environment in which to learn.
Having said that, where can I find an improv school where I can learn to come up with the «most clever obscure references», Megan G?
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
I’ve taken up to Level 3 at Improvolution and it’s been an amazing ride. The skills you gain in the classes aren’t just for fun in class, but are really ways of being that apply to life in general… The freedom to be authentic and spontaneous; saying yes to others and life; ways of relating that support the whole of what you’re part of, rather than just gaining for yourself. These are ways of relating that the whole world could benefit from… change yourself via improvolution and change the world in the meantime.? Maybe not too far fetched. I also really appreciate Holly’s style of teaching that holds students to finding ways to improv that transcend the old lower kinds of humor that so many other groups are stuck in (taking jabs at one another, resorting to potty humor etc.)
I also frequent the Saturday $ 10 drop ins and am always bummed when I’m not able to make them… it’s a great way to work out, be silly, and have fun while learning something in the process.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Ok, full disclosure… this is my improv school which I began about 9 years ago after moving to NY from LA where I was a Main Company member at The Groundlings. I performed, directed and taught there for many years and when I headed to the Big Apple in 2002, I wanted to bring everything I had been taught and had experienced at The Groundlings… character-​based improv that is built on support, trust and letting the best part of yourself out to play. Our motto is «IMPROV FOR EVERYONE» — we believe improv is not just for actors and comediennes who want to make a career of comedy, it’s for anyone and everyone who has that dual experience when they think about doing improv — the «Oh My God, it terrifies me AND Oh My God, I REALLY want to do it!» experience. Our teachers are awesome… they just are. And I’d have to say the people who have come through the school may have a variety of backgrounds and strengths but under it all, they’re all just great, fun, nice, talented folks!