TODAY, 7/18 Saturday at 3pm, come to the Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street, and witness our former top students take stage. This is no class showcase. These “kids” are professional artists. Hosted by Steven Prestia of Huntington, LI, Steven started with our programs back in 2012. He now coruns our Long Island programs. You maybhave seen Steven taking stage at Long Island comedy clubs too. More recent grads turned pro include Monty, Niki, Saloni, Carolyn, and Luke.
I’ll be at the piano and hopping in for some bad dad jokes during World’s Worst. Laurice will be there too.
When we started EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH back in 2002, class and Comedy camp were NOT on the radar. Neither was Educational outreach at schools.We were just looking for a way to showcase our talents for casting directors. We wanted to be on TV and Broadway.
Along the way, folks found us. Our first paid gigs were from people seeing us on MySpace, or promoting our shows in Times Square. We were not advertising corporate events or school shows. They called and asked, DO YOU DO SHOWS FOR KIDS? COLLEGE? CORPORATE EVENTS?
I had NO IDEA what to charge, Insurance, what to pay, etc.
Then a few parents asked us to teach a class. “OKAY?”
Here’s the secret. I never took classes in improv comedy. I grew up playing jazz trumpet and piano. I am a college trained actor, singer, dancer that was doing regional theater and tours. I moved to NYC for Broadway and Opera.
But by 2005, we were supporting ourselves performing Improv Comedy, 4-8 shows/week off Broadway, performing at colleges, corporate events, and k12 schools. While 1000s performed showcases at the comedy “schools” we were paying the bills solely from Improv Comedy.
Being in the clubs led to me getting on TV. First MTV. Then Letterman. I booked a number of industrials. Then In 2008 I landed Jaime Baker as my manager which led to a few TV costars, commercials, etc.
When I started offering Classes in 2012, I was winging it. I was improvising. We just played games. I started including stand-up comedy because attendance was low. UM… How can I kill time with 2 kids here?
So when Judah took second in 2018 at Caroline’s on Broadway, I wasn’t shocked that Judah nailed it. I had no idea we were at any level where we could compete. I had NO IDEA what other schools were doing.
Parents at that show (I was busy performing) said they were so happy their kid studied with me.
Around this time, Steven, one of my first students, the original TEENTERN (#IYKYK) turned 18 and, along with Brandon Ford from one of my Queens High School programs, were my first students turned employees. They helped with summer classes and even appeared with the pros on stage Saturdays 3pm.
I went the next year and watched 8 of my students steal the show. They all killed it. Kenan Thompson second guessed Keith’s routine about Florida Man. I think SNL did a Florida Man sketch a few weeks later. I was in tears when I saw them talking to 12yo Carolyn and her mother. When the article came out a few days later “AMERICA’S FUNNIEST KID” I was floored.
Then COVID HITS. A week in Keith’s mom reaches out. “Can you meet with the kids on ZOOM? They are going nuts!”. ME: “What’s Zoom?” By May 2020 we had 35 kids on line from around the world, including China, Australia, and Europe. My forst book, IMPROV ON ZOOM was published in August after logging 4000+ hours of shows and classes.
In 2022, Saloni won the competition. (There was none 2020, 2021).
Now there have been at least 10 former students that have been paid to take stage with our professional casts. Now summer camp is completely run by former students. I drop by for a few Master classes. Then I let the counselors and campers execute my #1 rule HAVE FUN!
Today at 3pm will have me balling tears of pride and joy. You don’t want to miss this show. I want you there so bad, simply RSVP for FREE Tickets to today’s show. Email me for more information about classes, shows, private events and more. We daily work with corporate teams and student groups from around the world!
Pictured Below, Carolyn, Steven and Laurice with me at Mystic Seaport. Watching this show you would never guess this was Carolyn’s first road gig last Saturday. Her first gig away from the Broadway Comedy Club was as a pirate. Steven is an old pro at this point. Me, I’m just old! 😁
Walt Frasier
eightimprov@gmail.com
waltffrasier.net
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With over 30 years of experience in theater, comedy, and television, Walt Frasier is the Artistic Director of Improv Theater LLC, a leading edutainment center known for its high-impact comedy shows and workshops. His extensive career includes performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Walt has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains, Netflix’s Lilyhammer, and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band, in addition to numerous commercials, industrials, and live performances worldwide.
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