IMPROV 4 KIDS / TEENS

PROVIDING EDUTAINMENT for K12 SCHOOLS, CAMPS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS SINCE 2003 – NYC DOE VENDOR, BOCES, NJ SCHOOLS, CT SCHOOLSRS – BOCES

• STUDENT GROUPS at PUBLIC SHOWS
• CLASSES for KIDS & TEENS
• K-12 FIELD TRIPS
• ASSEMBLIES at SCHOOLS & CAMPS
• AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Improv 4 Kids / Improv 4 Teens performs for 300+ K-12 / family audiences every year via student group travel, field trips and/or traveling to schools, camps, community centers, private events. EMAIL US about your needs for group sales, private events, classes and more. 

Our mission is to deliver high quality cultural arts programming while teaching valuable life skills – creativity (story telling, critical thinking), community (team, listening, respect, eye contact) and leadership (public speaking, self confidence).

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WHAT WILL A SHOW FOR K12 STUDENTS LOOK LIKE?

The #1 question teachers and PTA/PTO parents have for us is, What exactly is this show about? What can we expect?

That is a tough question to answer. It’s an improv show. We don’t know what the show will be about. However, here is a basic framework of what you can expect when you bring your student group to our Times Square Theater or bring this show to your school for an assembly.

Over 5000 k12 shows performed since 2003  hosting field trips in Times Square and touring schools, camps and community centers nationwide.

EMAIL us to get info on booking a field trip or school assembly, group sales at public shows in Times Square, Classes and more. Also great for fundraisers, private events ( Birthday Parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Teen Nights etc). 

Below is a typical 45-60 minute show line up. Actual games may shift slightly show to show as per stage, audience ages, sound set up, timing etc. We have 100s of games to draw from but in general we focus on interactive and musical forms with overall High energy and uptempo performance.

Add a workshop to elevate educational value 10 fold. We also have professional development, residncies and more.

INTRODUCTION TO IMPROV COMEDY

First 5 minutes MC warms up the crowd while introducing improv and the rest of the cast and suggestions for the first song. MC steps forward before each game to set up games in similar fashion. Every audience is different. In some cases, with younger audiences (as seen below) we even include a section in teaching how to watch live theater and music. The opening 5 minutes sets the tone for the entire show. For older crowds, the MC sounds more like an MTC VJ. More Rock n Roll. Getting the audience ready to play along with the professionals. (VIDEOs 2020 field trip for 1st graders at hour Times Square location- The Broadway Comedy Club, ). Videos and photos below demonstrate shows for a variety of audiences – kids, teens and public shows for all ages. 

 

Madrigals

Most shows start with an improvised Madrigal – an A Capella song style. Each performer is given a headline (pop culture, sports,, everyday happening at school etc). After headlines are sung, they are woven together. A pseudo fugue is created. This game introduces out players individual personalities and teaches the audience how to participate in giving suggestions.  (VIDEOs 2020 field trip at the Broadway Comedy Club, followed by 2013 show at the Gerald Opera House, Weyawega, WI.)

 

Sound Effects

Two audience volunteers on stage provide sound effects to support scene performed
Irish Jig – players create an original bouncy folk song. (VIDEO – 2020 field trip at the Broadway Comedy Club; 2012 Public show for an diverse family audience at the Broadway Comedy Club Times Square NYC – We never post videos of kids at schools and camps).

Irish Jig

Singers work together to create original song in the classic folk song style. Audience encouraged to sing along on the chorus.

Human Mad Libs / Columns

Four audience players are invited on stage to provide missing words and phrases to help actors complete a scene. 

SING IT

The cast creates an original mini mock Broadway style musical created based on a single word. 

Freeze Frame

(AKA Human Slide Show) 5-15 students (as per stage space) plus a teacher or two strike a series of poses. Our team narrates as a historical slide show presentation. We usually don’t take videos of this game – does not translate well – however, this is one of the most memorable games of every show. 

The Blues

We close rocking out, singing the blues. We encourage the whole audience to sing and clap along once we establish the chorus.

 

Q&A

When time permits we love to include a question and answer session. All of our performers are professionals and can discuss the career as well as how we get through an improv comedy show without a script. We tie in themes of team & respect, listening, public speaking etc

WORKSHOPS

Workshops enhance the educational experience 10 fold. A must for any performer, sure, but Improv delivers many life lessons and skills everyone should partake.

Playing Improv games teaches what 1000s of books and lecture merely inspire and discuss. Creativity, Critical thinking, Listening, Focus, Empathy, public speaking and self confidence. We use the same games with corporate groups to teach tea,. leadership, sales and service. 

Great for a quick follow up to show, or engage a full residency programs.  We also have powerful professional development  sessions teachers.

 

 

LIVE FROM TIMES SQUARE

STUDENT GROUPS at PUBLIC SHOWS

We have weekly shows in Times Square. With enough notice we add shows to our public calendar for group needs. These programs are perfect for student travel groups from around the world plus local theater, scouts and family groups. We also work with a number Student Travel Tour Bookers (SYTA etc).

Regularly Priced Tickets are $25 plus a required beverage minimum , Discount rates are as follows.

SATURDAYS/SUNDAYS 3pm $15pp SHOW ONLY
MONDAYS-THURSDAYS 7pm $20pp SHOW ONLY
NO ADDITIONAL PURCHASE REQUIRED
We include a complimentary bottle of water

Food & beverage available for purchase

Combining two of New York City’s greatest resources, our most popular package – especially for smaller groups – includes a delivery from the best pizza in Midtown Manhattan. For day time events (Before 5pm Daily) we will add a FREE 45-minute workshop before/after the show. For 7pm shows add $5/student for workshop. We will add a daytime PRIVATE program
Monday-Friday (usually 10am-1pm) starting at $750 / 30 guests .

CLASSES for KIDS & TEENS

We have been offering shows & workshops for schools and camps since 2003. In 2011 we launched our public class program. Now we offer 8-week sessions every Winter, Spring and Fall plus Summer Camps.

CLICK HERE for calendar of public classes in Manhattan
CLICK HERE for more info about our Summer Camp

If current session has already started register to drop in a single class
CLICK HERE. We can prorate the remainder of the classes if you wish to sign up for the full session.

Book a PRIVATE class/workshop for your student group start at $300. Improv workshops are a must for any performing arts program. These sessions also resemble our corporate work where we use Improv to teach team, management, sales & service. It is our mission to teach teens and younger groups valuable skills that are being used in the work force today.

K-12 FIELD TRIPS

For a student aged 5-17, comedy clubs are cool. While it is far less expensive per student to bring our shows to your school, our NYC shows have a much higher impact. We host groups almost daily> Many schools and camps are now with us for ten or more years.

Our signature field trip program includes a 60-minute show, Q&A and a mini workshop element (2-3 group games that introduce basic concepts and skills) and extra time for lunch.

2019 RATES
$15/student
$600 FLAT for up to 50 students, $12/additional student
$1200 FLAT up to 140 students (max capacity of our main stage)
$1500 FLAT up to 200 students (TWO concurrent shows)

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES & CAMP SHOWS

In general we host more teen groups at the club and travel to more K-8 schools for assemblies, however we present both for all grades K-12.

Our shows at schools usually run 45-minutes (due to school scheduling) but we are happy to offer a 60-minute program. In most schools we perform two to three show/day to bring the program to all the students.

At your school we do not have formal limits to audience size. We are more limited by sound. If your auditorium has wireless lapel or head mount microphones, fill up the largest theater you have. Without wearable sound help, we recommend limiting audiences to 300 or less where we only need 2-4 hand-held microphones – mostly for EmCee and audience volunteer needs.

The show is virtually the same as our club counterpart. We can turn any space into a performance venue. This show has played Broadway style theaters, small NYC living rooms, and every thing in between. We don’t necessarily need a stage. We have performed on the lawns of summer camps. Often we are on the floor of a gym. We love cafetoriums. We will work with you. We prefer to use on campus sound (that is designed for the space) or we can provide.

2019 NON PROFIT TOURING RATES 
– Additional Travel Costs may apply for schools beyond NJ, NY, CT
– Discounts available for NYC Schools/Camps for daytime events
$800 ONE SHOW ($600 for NYC Schools)
$1200 TWO SHOW BACK TO BACK
$2000 ONE DAY RESIDENCY*
$7500 ONE WEEK RESIDENCY*
*A day can be up to FOUR 45-60 minute shows and/or workshops and can be split between TWO schools. So up to 20 sessions/10 schools/week. Let us tour the entire district OR bring our workshops to every student in one school.
– For each “session” FOUR teaching artists can host up to 300 students for a show, 100 students for a workshop

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

When we work with teachers, our Improv workshops and shows serve multiple purposes.

1. Corporate-Style Team Building – we provide a chance for teachers to laugh together. We bring the team together
2. Teacher Training – teachers are the managers of their class room. They are also performers, having to hold attention for their students. Becoming more confident public speakers, armed with some humor saves a lot of headaches (dealing with unfocused disruptive individuals) and creates a far better experience for all students. Studies ay John Hopkins have proven that humor in the class room raises test scores.
3. We teach teachers how to use Improv in the classroom to train students to be better students. We demand respect and focus, but to we teach student what that means, or how to over come focus issues. We have taught aspergers and ADHD students to over come their issues so they can participate and focus. We even had one student in our public classes with a horrible stutter. He was brilliant. After learning to slow down, breathe, focus and annunciate, he stole the shows.

We have shows & workshops for your PD session. In a growing number of schools we offer a residency, labeled as a PD exercise. Our teachers work with your teachers, demonstrating how to play these games. The students get to do our workshop, PD money pays for it, and we have trained the entire school in valuable communication skills. When the administration embraces the techniques at well, the game is changed.