more improv resources in the happy valley and beyond
**PLEASE NOTE, THIS LIST HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHUTTERED MANY VENUES, TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY... WE'LL REORGANIZE THIS ONCE WE SEE THE IMPROV WORLD POST-PANDEMIC**
Are you looking for opportunities outside of weekly classes?
Are you looking for improv outside of HVC School?
Have you taken all our classes and you still want more?
Want to start performing?
Just...Need...More...Improv?
Are you looking for opportunities outside of weekly classes?
Are you looking for improv outside of HVC School?
Have you taken all our classes and you still want more?
Want to start performing?
Just...Need...More...Improv?
Here’s a list of possibilities for you to take your next steps in improv
western mass
More Improv, More Better (HVC) Come to the jam to get in some stage time. Get a team together and apply for a showcase spot. This is your weekly opportunity to practice improvising from the stage.
Happier Family Comedy Show (HVC) Come see family-friendly, short form improv. Once you’ve gone through some Advanced Improv classes, you may be eligible to become a Supporting Cast Member, where you’ll get on-the-job training to become a performing improviser!
From Practice to Performance (HVC) Once you’ve got a team together who you want to perform with, we offer a performance-based class that will help turn your team into a troupe. Take the leap!
Private Coaching Session (HVC) Hire a HVC teacher to coach your group. Great for new and established performing troupes to get you to the next level, work on individualized skills, provide that key tune-up. Email us to take this next step.
Weekly Class Redux (HVC) Some students enjoy re-taking classes again. Another session, another group, and you’re at another place in your improv development.
OUTSIDE THE HVC COMMUNITY:
Improv with Bev (Thursdays at the Cancer Connection) A few HVC students have been active in this community, and it's a great program that could provide weekly doses of improv.
Valley Improv (MeetUp) Weekly improv drop-in in Easthampton with a very reliable and active community. Lead by a trained improviser. Nice folks.
J-ART/Phantom Sheep (Springfield JCC) Drop-ins and classes in Springfield.
Weekly Improv in Greenfield Amy Swisher directs a really lovely group of people in improv games every week. Several HVC students attend and report that it's loads of fun. Email Amy for more info.
The Joy of Laughter (MeetUp) - Weekly group in Northampton. It's not strictly improv but still looks like fun.
Happier Family Comedy Show (HVC) Come see family-friendly, short form improv. Once you’ve gone through some Advanced Improv classes, you may be eligible to become a Supporting Cast Member, where you’ll get on-the-job training to become a performing improviser!
From Practice to Performance (HVC) Once you’ve got a team together who you want to perform with, we offer a performance-based class that will help turn your team into a troupe. Take the leap!
Private Coaching Session (HVC) Hire a HVC teacher to coach your group. Great for new and established performing troupes to get you to the next level, work on individualized skills, provide that key tune-up. Email us to take this next step.
Weekly Class Redux (HVC) Some students enjoy re-taking classes again. Another session, another group, and you’re at another place in your improv development.
OUTSIDE THE HVC COMMUNITY:
Improv with Bev (Thursdays at the Cancer Connection) A few HVC students have been active in this community, and it's a great program that could provide weekly doses of improv.
Valley Improv (MeetUp) Weekly improv drop-in in Easthampton with a very reliable and active community. Lead by a trained improviser. Nice folks.
J-ART/Phantom Sheep (Springfield JCC) Drop-ins and classes in Springfield.
Weekly Improv in Greenfield Amy Swisher directs a really lovely group of people in improv games every week. Several HVC students attend and report that it's loads of fun. Email Amy for more info.
The Joy of Laughter (MeetUp) - Weekly group in Northampton. It's not strictly improv but still looks like fun.
improv for kids
HVCs Happier Kids Stuff: We are growing our comedy kids program. Check it out here!
Take Two: Improv classes for children/teens with Heidi Haas: Theater improvisation offers insight into how relationships can develop between people and encourages more effective interpersonal communication. Children can gain more empathy, learn impulse control, and new problem solving techniques.
Youth Improvisation with Becca Green Van Horne: The acting exercises, drama games and scene work are designed to encourage young actors to take creative risks, while increasing their improvisational comfort levels and self-confidence.
Take Two: Improv classes for children/teens with Heidi Haas: Theater improvisation offers insight into how relationships can develop between people and encourages more effective interpersonal communication. Children can gain more empathy, learn impulse control, and new problem solving techniques.
Youth Improvisation with Becca Green Van Horne: The acting exercises, drama games and scene work are designed to encourage young actors to take creative risks, while increasing their improvisational comfort levels and self-confidence.
beyond the happy valley
SeaTea Improv (Hartford, CT) So many shows, drop-in opportunities, and a terrific community just south of the border.
ImprovBoston (Cambridge) You can't beat the array of classes, workshops, drop-ins, and jams and quality of teachers at this school.
The Jam at ImprovBoston (Cambridge) Go to play with our big city friends. If you have a team, you can apply quarterly to perform in a guest spot in The Jam. Do it!
YAP at ImprovBoston (Cambridge) Regular Sunday drop-in workshop for all levels. Go to YAP then go to the Jam. A real Sunday fun day!
Improv Asylum (North End, Boston) A generous curriculum of all sorts of comedy classes and quality improv and sketch shows.
Magnet Theater (NYC) In addition to superb shows, they’ve got some fabulous intensives with excellent teachers. This NYC theater shares a similar philosophy as HVC. (More info here)
People's Improv Theater aka PIT (NYC) Another swell place to take classes, workshops, and see shows.
Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater (NYC) Go see people from your TV set live on stage. This well-known improv theater is a feeder for Saturday Night Live and so many other great shows. The vibe in classes is more intense than HVC, which makes it a great place to take classes and workshops if you want to challenge yourself and get your work to the next level.
Annoyance Theater Intensive (Chicago) Study for a one week intensive in Chicago with teachers like Mick Napier, Susan Messing, Mark Sutton and their talented staff at this famously uncensored improv theater.
iO Intensive (Chicago) Dream big, baby! Five weeks of round-the-clock improv and classes with some of the finest improv teachers in America. There also is a one-week intensive.
Second City (Chicago) Look at all the luscious comedy intensives you can take at one of the main chakra points of improvisation in the world.
Improv Utopia (Pennsylvania & California) Improv summer camp for adults. Yes, you heard us. It’s true!
HUGE Theater (Minneapolis) Summer intensive with the great and big-hearted Jill Bernard!
Improv Map of the World World domination through improvisation! Check out this crowdsourced map of improv theaters around the world.
ImprovBoston (Cambridge) You can't beat the array of classes, workshops, drop-ins, and jams and quality of teachers at this school.
The Jam at ImprovBoston (Cambridge) Go to play with our big city friends. If you have a team, you can apply quarterly to perform in a guest spot in The Jam. Do it!
YAP at ImprovBoston (Cambridge) Regular Sunday drop-in workshop for all levels. Go to YAP then go to the Jam. A real Sunday fun day!
Improv Asylum (North End, Boston) A generous curriculum of all sorts of comedy classes and quality improv and sketch shows.
Magnet Theater (NYC) In addition to superb shows, they’ve got some fabulous intensives with excellent teachers. This NYC theater shares a similar philosophy as HVC. (More info here)
People's Improv Theater aka PIT (NYC) Another swell place to take classes, workshops, and see shows.
Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater (NYC) Go see people from your TV set live on stage. This well-known improv theater is a feeder for Saturday Night Live and so many other great shows. The vibe in classes is more intense than HVC, which makes it a great place to take classes and workshops if you want to challenge yourself and get your work to the next level.
Annoyance Theater Intensive (Chicago) Study for a one week intensive in Chicago with teachers like Mick Napier, Susan Messing, Mark Sutton and their talented staff at this famously uncensored improv theater.
iO Intensive (Chicago) Dream big, baby! Five weeks of round-the-clock improv and classes with some of the finest improv teachers in America. There also is a one-week intensive.
Second City (Chicago) Look at all the luscious comedy intensives you can take at one of the main chakra points of improvisation in the world.
Improv Utopia (Pennsylvania & California) Improv summer camp for adults. Yes, you heard us. It’s true!
HUGE Theater (Minneapolis) Summer intensive with the great and big-hearted Jill Bernard!
Improv Map of the World World domination through improvisation! Check out this crowdsourced map of improv theaters around the world.
nearby improv festivals
Improv Festivals (Planet Earth) Almost every state in the union and many countries have at least one. Festivals are a great way to see lots of improv and take workshops from visiting teachers. When you’re ready, submit an audition video of your team to try to get a spot to perform, which is the best way to experience a festival. (Here is a long list of festivals)
Hartford Improv Festival Terrific line up of shows and workshops just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Happy Valley.
Boston Comedy Arts Festival (Boston) An easy drive and a great way to take in a lot of terrific improv and workshops.
Women in Comedy Festival (Cambridge/Boston) This festival kicks ass.
Del Close Marathon Every summer, UCB is the place to convene for a literal marathon of improv riches - round-the-clock shows, workshops and more. At the very least, buy some individual tickets to their all-star shows at FIT - you can't lose with those line-ups of talent!
Hartford Improv Festival Terrific line up of shows and workshops just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Happy Valley.
Boston Comedy Arts Festival (Boston) An easy drive and a great way to take in a lot of terrific improv and workshops.
Women in Comedy Festival (Cambridge/Boston) This festival kicks ass.
Del Close Marathon Every summer, UCB is the place to convene for a literal marathon of improv riches - round-the-clock shows, workshops and more. At the very least, buy some individual tickets to their all-star shows at FIT - you can't lose with those line-ups of talent!
