The Groundlings School

The Groundlings School offers training in improv and sketch comedy. Classes are taught by teachers who have been trained in The Groundlings program, and the program is open to anyone. The school offers introductory one-day and workshop classes for those who are new to improv, including intro classes that do not require prior experience, and it offers Summer Teen Classes.

• Ages: 13–18 years old

The Groundlings has been an improvisation and sketch comedy theatre for over 50 years and was founded by Gary Austin in 1974 as a non-profit organization. The Groundlings is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is known as one of the leading improv training programs in the country, with new online classes posted every Monday and new free Core Track auditions posted every Tuesday at 1pm PST. The Main Company is limited to no more than 40 members at any time, and a “Groundling” is one of these 40 company members who write and perform in the theatre’s shows and teach classes at The Groundlings School. Each Main Company member has completed The Groundlings School training program and performed in the Sunday Company before being invited into the Main Company. The organization’s leadership team includes Managing Director Michael Churven, General Manager Sam Gooley, Education Director Allain Rochel, Assistant Education Director Colin Mackey, Technical Production Manager Joey Mackey, Business Manager Bobby Lunn, and Consultant Carrie Laferle Gergely.

Last updated June 30, 2026.