Looking for something fun and interactive for your next event? Our professional trained interactive comedic actors will lead your guests down a mysterious path. The real fun starts when your guests break into teams to decide WHO committed the murder, as well as HOW & WHY. EMAIL for more information, dates and rates.
EMAIL for group discounts and private events. We daily add shows and classes at our Times Square NYC theater as well as touring schools, camps, community centers and family events. NYC DOE VENDORS
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.
Whether at our Times Square NYC theater, one block from the Colbert Show (close to all Times Square and Columbus Circle trains) at your office or other venue of choice (we deliver programming DC to Boston and beyond) we will deliver much needed laughter and powerful training for your team! EMAIL for more information, dates and rates.
Simply playing Improv comedy games develops a variety skills that will benefit your team, leadership, sales and service training goals. Beyond the much needed laugher and fun, build creativity, critical thinking, public speaking, listening, focus, self-confidence, self-awareness and even empathy.
Improv can be scary to some, as that ever present fear of the unknown, but we quickly put everyone at ease.
What happens in a workshop?
We start with a brief coming together moment with our teaching artist explaining the basics.
OUR #1 RULE: HAVE FUN, but never at another’s expense. Our goal is for EVERYONE to have fun. This 2-hour session is all about simply play and story. We not only avoid “comedy” that is offensive, we reach out to all to be included in the fun. We learn that TRYING to be funny, is usually not comedy.
IMPROV #1 RULE YES! AND…. We accept our team for who they are, what they say and what they contribute to the team. Our goal in Improv is to focus on making our team look amazing. We.can let go of ego and insecurity, as the entire team has our back.
#1 SKILL IN COMEDY? LISTENING!!! Listening with your eyes. Listening with the willingness to change. This becomes more and more important as we progress.
NOW WE PLAY!!!
We all come together in a circle and play some ice breakers. ZIP ZAP ZUP, PASS THE FACE and other games are silly in nature but reveal powerful tools to play correctly. We learn to truly observe each other, without judgement, with out negation. We accept/ receive an energy, (usually via simply physical gesture and sound or word) and quickly pass along. We dont have time to worry about judgemental eyes and thoughts. We simply receive and send, listen and respond.
We soon graduate, replacing silly sounds and gestures, with free association, one word stories and simple pantomimes of activities and story. Games like WHAT ARE YOU DOING?, YES AND… STORY, CATEGORIES, get us out of our heads, focusing on WHO WHERE WHAT elements of story. We replace thoughts of HOW should we act, to just acting, being in the moment, focused on task.
We progress to games like TEN SCENES, TEN MINUTES. Still not “performing” we break i to smaller groups, 3-5 each, and simply act out conversations based on a location or scenario. We just talk to each other, making simply choices about character, setting, plot etc.
By this point everyone is having fun. No one is worrying about “stage freight”. No one is worrying about self. Everyone is having fun.
We wrap up with a mini masterclass / mock show with 3-4 at a time playing a game. We demonstrate where you can go with Improv. When our participants leave, the shyest laughs at being afraid to improvise.
Why Improv?
Before the economic crash of 2008, clients splurged on fun. We even sent actors to Jamaics and others places abroad to help entertain massive retreats for financial corporations.
After 2008, every penny ad to be justified sith educational value. It wasn’t until 2015, when we discovered Google’s Project Aristotle, that we realized our greatest value to you is the laugher we help create. We help create Psychological Safety, we teach empathy. Through the games we show a better way.
Now, more than ever, after month/years of shut down, and cabin fever, in a world where anger, fear and uncertainty seem to rule and drive decision making in too many, we need the laughter.
Laughter IS the best medicine. It promote cardiovascular activity. Laughter breaks down walls while building trust. Laughter in the classroom raises test scores. Etc etc etc.
This is why our FIRST RULE is HAVE FUN but never at another’s expense. We literally ea h folks how to generate laughs without treating each other with distain. We build each other up. We include all in the fun.
Our Clients?
The New York Improv Theater is a one stop edutainment center for corporate team building, office / holiday parties and more. Our comedy shows and workshops deliver high impact results. Clients include Google, Mercedes Benz, META /Facebook, TikTok, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Twitter, Roblox, Rimowa, TD Bank / Securities, EI Digital, Accenture, Datadog HQ, Milbank, BING/Microsoft, Band of America – Merrill Lynch, Home Depot, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Coach, UBS, BDO, AMEX, Master Card, Macy’s, 360i, IBM, GM, Kraft, UNILEAVER, HBO, Prudential, Convene, Astra Zeneca, Estee Lauder, Conference Board and many more…
Walt Frasier international credits include theater, comedy, music and TV (Blacklist, Billions, Blue Bloods, Letterman, HBO, MTV etc)
Our professional musical improv comedy show is on break until September 9th, but you can get great stand-up comedy every night at the Broadway Comedy Club. See a great show TONIGHT! See line ups and links below. CLICK HERE for discount tickets (Just $10 for shows Sunday thru Friday. Saturdays $20. Pay $25-30 at the door). There is a TWO drink minimum per guest at the club. EMAIL us for group sales and private event booking – Stand-Up Comedy, Improv Comedy, Corporate Team Building and Entertainment, College Comedy Tour, K12 outreach and family events….
Broadway Comedy Club (318 West 53rd Street, Times Square NY 10019, 1 block form the Colbert Show and 5 minute walk form every Broadway theater) presents a lineup full of our Top Headliners. These are the best comedians from New York City who you’ve seen on Netflix, Comedy Central, Kevin Hart LOL, HBO, Showtime, Amazon and HULU. Plus surprise drop-in comics nightly.
9pm SHOW Tonight’s guests include: Cody Lewis (Hell Yeah!, The industry Room), Brian McFadden (CBS Late Show, Comedy Central), Julio Diaz (Netflix is a Joke), Audrey Mora (New York Comedy Festival, teenVogue, NY Times)
TUESDAY August 29, 2023
9pm SHOW Sharon Simon (SNL, Comedy Central, Wendy Williams), Julio Diaz (Netflix is a Joke), Audrey Mora (New York Comedy Festival, teenVogue, NY Times), Juju Fevry
WEDNESDAY August 30, 2023
9pm SHOW Adrian Smith (Buzzfeed), Carmen Lynch (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan), Mike King (Voted America’s Funniest Dentist, New York Times, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Comedy Central), Julio Diaz (Netflix is a Joke)
THURSDAY August 31, 2023
9pm SHOW Drew Beekler (Drew Wanna Know Podcast, Big Wave Comedy, and World Series of Comedy), Al Lubel (HBO, Tonight Show, Late Show), Jourdain Fisher (NBC, Comedy Central, BET), Julio Diaz (Netflix is a Joke)
FRIDAY September 1, 2023
9pm SHOW Al Lubel (HBO, Tonight Show, Late Show), Audrey Mora (New York Comedy Festival, teenVogue, NY Times), Troy Bond (NBC, Netflix, Disney), Omar Jenkins
SATURDAY September 2, 2023
9pm SHOW Laz Rivero (CBS), Brian McFadden (CBS Late Show, Comedy Central), Gregg Rogell (“The Tonight Show,” “Late night with Conan O’Brien”, and had his own half hour special for “Comedy Central Presents”), Troy Bond (NBC, Netflix, Disney)
9pm SHOW Al Lubel (HBO, Tonight Show, Late Show), Christine Meehan-Berg (Showtime, Prime, Venmo), Just Pam, Julio Diaz (Netflix is a Joke), Gordy McNiff (Broadway Comedy Club), Thelonious Fiorito (NBC, Ironchef, Flatbush Frolic)
9pm SHOW Adrian Smith (Buzzfeed), Gianmarco Soresi (Comedy Central, Netflix, THe Last O.G.), Troy Bond (NBC, Netflix, Disney), Brian McFadden (CBS Late Show, Comedy Central)
FEATURED COMIC Brian McFadden (CBS Late Show, Comedy Central)
Actor/Comedian/ Brian Scott McFadden is one of the funniest stand up comics working in the industry today. A regular on the NY comedy club circuit, Brian has recently taken his act to a whole new level with his high energy performances & some of the most unique, incisive & hilarious routines around. After making his debut on The Late Show with David Letterman Brian followed that up with an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS. A multi-dimensional performer Brian is both an accomplished stage actor, who has played Hamlet in New York, and a versatile voice over artist with a vast range of accents and character voices in his repertoire. Brian was recently seen on the big screen in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller & also performed in such films as Ice Age II with Ray Romano and Robots with Robin Williams & Halle Berry. Brian has just released his first live Comedy CD “What Women Want.”
Exploring with ways to use ChatGPT for writing, etc, I discovered AI sucks, except for coming up with horrible jokes that are barely blog worthy, but should never be spoken out loud. AI makes all dads look like great comics 😆
See LIVE comedy tonight, Live from Times Square NYC. CLICK HERE FOR DISCOUNT TICKETS.
EMAIL for group sales and private events. Also classes, workshops, professional development programming.
“Do you have a name or can I call you mine?”
“Is your name Google? Because you have everything I’ve been searching for.”
“Are you a magician? Every time I look at you, everyone else disappears.”
“If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cute-cumber!”
“Do you have a sunburn, or are you always this hot?”
“I’m not a photographer, but I can definitely picture us together.”
“Are you an angel? Because heaven is missing one.”
“Is your name Wi-Fi? Because I’m feeling a connection.”
“Are you a campfire? Because you’re hot, and I want s’more.”
“Can I follow you home? Because my parents always told me to follow my dreams.”
If looks could kill, you’d definitely be a weapon of mass destruction.”
“Do you have a map? Because I just got lost in your eyes.”
“Is there a rainbow today? I just found the treasure I’ve been searching for.”
“Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?”
“Do you have a quarter? Because I want to call my mom and tell her I met the person of my dreams.”
“Do you have a mirror in your pocket? Because I can see myself in your pants.”
“I must be a snowflake because I’ve fallen for you.”
“Do you have a Band-Aid? I just scraped my knee falling for you.”
“Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only Ten I see.”
“Can you lend me a kiss? I promise I’ll give it back.”
FALL CLASSES 2023: Improv Comedy 4 Teens, Times Square NYC
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.
UPCOMING SESSIONS
FALL 2023 September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28 SHOWCASE 10/28 1pm
HOLIDAY STRETCH 2023/2024 November 4, 11, 18, December 2, 9, 16, January 6, 13, 20 SHOWCASE 1/20 1pm (NO CLASSES 11/25,12/23, 12/30)
WINTER 2024 January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24 March 2, 9, 16 SHOWCASE 3/16 1pm BONUS CLASS 3/23 12pm
SPRING 2024 April 13, 20, 27, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 SHOWCASE 5/30 1pm
BONUS CLASSES June Saturdays 12pm
COMEDY CAMP STARTS 6/29
VIDEOS from PAST SHOWCASES
TEACHER WALT FRASIER
Walt Frasier has been with EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH Improv Comedy since the beginning in 2002. In that time he has hosted over 5000 shows and workshops in Times Square and touring Nationwide. Now considered a specialist in corporate team building, Walter embraces Psychological Safety and tries to teach the world to smile. At every workshop, Walter gives his students homework “Now that you have taken my classes, you are now comics. It is your job to make the rest of the world smile. Don’t wait for the world to make you happy first. Wake every morning and force yourself to smile and see how your world changes.” He has run workshops for JP Morgan Chase, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Master Card, American Express, NYC Schools (DOE VENDOR), Microsoft/BING, Twitter, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Home Depot, Enrst & Young, GM, KRAFT, UBS, UNILEAVER and 100s more smaller/local firms as well as training corporate trainers. Other credits include TV (Letterman, Friends of the People, GMA, Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, Lilyhammer, WE, MTV, NICK and more) Musical Theater (Off-Broadway, International Touring, Regional), Opera and can often be found entertaining as Santa, The Blues Brothers or as Piano Singer.
It’s festival time on Arthur Ave, and the entire family is gathering for food, drink, music and murder. Join the cast of characters as everyone is a suspect and everyone is deputized to solve the mystery.
General Admission Tickets include assorted pies and antipasti from Funici A Pizza. Cash bar is open for beer, wine, cocktails, coffees and more.
The event officially starts at 7pm but come early and enjoy all the Arthur Avenue Retail Market and the entire neighborhood has to offer. In addition to the amazing restaurants, delis, stock up and wine, coffee, fresh pasta, antipasta, meats, cheeses, cigars, ceramics and so much more.
The New York Improv Theater is a one stop edutainment center for corporate team building, office / holiday parties and more. Our comedy shows and workshops deliver high impact results. Clients include Google, Mercedes Benz, META /Facebook, TikTok, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Twitter, Roblox, Rimowa, EI Digital, Accenture, Datadog HQ, Milbank, BING/Microsoft, Band of America – Merrill Lynch, Home Depot, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Coach, UBS, BDO, AMEX, Master Card, Macy’s, 360i, IBM, GM, Kraft, UNILEAVER, HBO, Prudential, Convene, Conference Board and many more…
Walt Frasier international credits include theater, comedy, music and TV (Blacklist, Billions, Blue Bloods, Letterman, HBO, MTV etc)
Spread much needed laughter while developing performing and valuable life skills:
Creative writing
Critical / out of the box thinking
Public Speaking
Listening, Focus
Self-Confidence
Self-Awareness
A must for performers, Improv develops skills for:
Acting
Original characters
Self Created Work
Directing
Get work performing/teaching Improvisation, Murder Mystery, Corporate Promotions/Events and more.
A must for corporate folks, Improv develops skills for:
Team Building
Leadership
Sales
Customer Service
The New York Improv Theater is a one stop edutainment center for corporate team building, office / holiday parties and more. Our comedy shows and workshops deliver high impact results. Clients include Google, Mercedes Benz, META /Facebook, TikTok, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture, Morgan Stanley, Twitter, Roblox, Rimowa, EI Digital, Accenture, Datadog HQ, Milbank, BING/Microsoft, Band of America – Merrill Lynch, Home Depot, Ernst & Young, Johnson & Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Coach, UBS, BDO, AMEX, Master Card, Macy’s, 360i, IBM, GM, Kraft, UNILEAVER, HBO, Prudential, Convene, Conference Board and many more…
Walt Frasier’s 25+ years professional international credits include theater, comedy, music and TV (Blacklist, Billions, Blue Bloods, Letterman, HBO, MTV etc)
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Regular participants will be invited to perform on monthly club showcases and when you are ready we also help develop original indy teams of your own.
FREE TICKETS TO SHOWS
Students are welcome anytime to our shows in Times Square at no charge. There is usually a drink minimum but the $5-25 tickets are free to our students, including shows by the professional troupe. .
FREE RESOURCES:
We have a few books now on Amazon, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Students can get free digital downloads in PDF form direct from us.
PROFESSIONAL COMPANY INTERNSHIPS
If you already have completed a full slate of classes with another school and are looking for performance opportunities to further your training and or eventually audition to be in our professional company, we offer a few internships every month. EMAIL us for more details. Interns get free access to classes and shows, understudy professionals and after a short interim period can get paid to work with professional troupe, eventually joining ranks eligible to perform on paid gigs and paid teaching positions.
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