Westside Comedy Theater is the main improv school on the Westside, opened in 2009 by the company Mission IMPROVable in an alley space between Third and Fourth Streets in Santa Monica. For actors who live near the coast, it is the practical alternative to driving to Hollywood three nights a week for comedy training.
Improv 101 is a six-week course of three-hour classes that ends in a class showcase, published at $365, and the ladder continues through 201, 301 and 401 at $370 to $395. Stand-up runs on the same six-week, $365 model. The lowest-risk way to try the room is the weekly improv drop-in, priced between about $17.50 and $33.48, and the theater takes $100 off a class if you sign up after attending one.
Most adult classes meet on weeknights at 7pm, and single class sessions are not sold. Kids and teens ages 10 to 16 train separately at The Sherry Theater in the NoHo Arts District on Monday evenings for $365. Parking is in the city structure on Fourth Street, free for the first 90 minutes.
Techniques taught
- Improv and sketch: Improvisation and sketch training: agreement, spontaneity, and ensemble play.
- Comedy technique: Craft-first comedy training: joke structure, sitcom rhythm, and comedic character work.
Class types
Enrollment and schedule
No audition is required. Open enrollment at Improv 101. Schedule: Rolling 6-week (101) and 8-week terms; most classes weeknights at 7pm; e.g. Improv 101 starts Tue Nov 3 and Wed Nov 4, 2026, 7-10pm. Duration: Improv 101 is 6 weeks of 3-hour classes.
Audit, trial, or intro class
Yes. Weekly improv drop-in class, $17.50-$33.48
Published pricing
| Program | Published price | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| Improv 101 (6 weeks, ends in a showcase) | $365 | source 路 2026-10-19 |
| Improv 201 / 301 / 401 | $395 / $395 / $370 | source 路 2026-10-19 |
| Weekly improv drop-in | $17.50-$33.48 | source 路 2026-10-19 |
| Stand-up (6 weeks) | $365 | source 路 2026-10-19 |
| WCT Kids, ages 10-16 (NoHo, Mondays) | $365 | source 路 2026-10-19 |
Prices are the school's own published rates on the dates shown. We never estimate prices. Always confirm before enrolling.
Practical notes
Parking: Santa Monica Parking Structure 1 (4th St between Wilshire and Arizona), first 90 minutes free
Location
Questions actors ask
Where is Westside Comedy Theater located?
What acting technique does Westside Comedy Theater teach?
Is Westside Comedy Theater suitable for beginners?
Can I audit or try a class at Westside Comedy Theater?
How much do classes at Westside Comedy Theater cost?
Does Westside Comedy Theater offer online classes?
Does Westside Comedy Theater teach children or teenagers?
Is admission to Westside Comedy Theater by audition?
Is parking available at Westside Comedy Theater?
When was this information last verified?
Sources and verification
- Westside Comedy Theater (official homepage), accessed 2026-10-19
- Westside Comedy Theater - Improv classes (official), accessed 2026-10-19
- Westside Comedy Theater - Stand-up (official), accessed 2026-10-19
- Westside Comedy Theater - Kids classes (official), accessed 2026-10-19
- Westside Comedy Theater - About (official), accessed 2026-10-19
- Westside Comedy Theater - FAQ (official), accessed 2026-10-19
Researched 2026-10-19, last verified 2026-10-19. Facts above come only from these sources. Anything we could not confirm is simply not shown. Report incorrect information or claim this listing if you represent the school.
Guides for choosing a school
- Acting for beginners: how to start
- How to choose an acting school in LA
- Types of acting classes, explained
- What acting classes cost in LA
Career resources for LA actors
Practical next-step guides from the LA Actor Guide.
- Actor headshots: the complete LA guide
- How auditions and casting work in LA
- Talent managers: what they do and when you need one
Nearby schools
The Actors Circle
Culver City workshop founded 2003 by Marcie Smolin teaching film and TV craft with improv as half the curriculum, in a positive-feedback-only room serving ages 5 through adults at published per-class rates.
Downtown Culver CityThe Actors' Gang
Tim Robbins' ensemble theatre in Culver City, offering adult workshops in its Commedia-rooted house Style, kids' Saturday classes and teen camps at the Ivy Substation, and free after-school programs across LA County.
Downtown Santa MonicaBaron Brown Studio
Meisner technique studio in downtown Santa Monica, established 1975 by Joanne Baron, teaching a traditional two-year sequence plus intensives, on-camera audition work, and master classes.
Related by technique
Hollywood9th Level Acting Studios
Small Hollywood on-camera studio run by working actor Alex Boling, built deliberately for new and nervous actors, with Thursday classes, a free audit, and published $200 monthly tuition.
Sherman OaksThe Acting Center
Sherman Oaks school founded 2006 teaching its own proprietary technique in a strictly no-criticism classroom, with published 2026 session dates and pricing for scene study, intensives, and improv.