Classes – Washington DC Maryland Virginia Improv Comedy

Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Schools Tour 2024 2025 Improv 4 Kids Assemblies

More than just much needed laughter, Improv 4 Kids has been delivering powerful message of community, literacy and leadership to k12 schools since 2003.

School Assemblies present original skits and songs improvised based on audience suggestions and participation. The comedy is great story telling through collaboration, including many students in the team effort. Workshop further the educational value, instilling SEL (Social Emotional Learning) as simply playing these games develops creativity, critical thinking, self confidence, self awareness, listening, focus, and public speaking. We also provide residencies and professional development programming.

William H. Farquhar Middle School, Olney MD “It is often a challenge for a Cultural Arts Chairperson to find performers who are professional and innovative. I have had the pleasure of coordinating performances of Improv for Kids for our Elementary (Cloverly) and Middle schools over the past three years. The actors are skilled,engaging, highly energetic, and extremely creative. Even students that were reluctant to volunteer to participate in assemblies were eager to join in the performances. Also, it is rare to get a group that plays so well to all ages, hence their success at both the Elementary School and Middle School levels. I look forward to bringing Improv for Comedy backsoon. – Betsy Sirk Cultural Arts Chairperson
Germantown Central School, NY I’ve never dealt with such easygoing performers. I have been in charge of programming at our school and local library for 5 yrs or so and have met countless performance companies. MOST of the time, I spend the majority of my time making sure the performers are happy (the stage is to their liking, lighting is sufficient, they are feeling properly pampered, on an on). So, I must say, dealing with a friendly theater company is a pleasure! I must have asked the guys 5x at least if there was ANYTHING I could do for them, and all I got was a No thank you, we’re fine. WOW. Everyone thought it was the best assembly we’ve ever had and for a small school we do a lot of assemblies. Many teachers and staff are talking about going down to see the show in NYC. – Tara Cort, PTA
Pearl River Middle School “I just wanted to thank you and the rest of the cast for a wonderful show. Thank you for being so accommodating, particularly since we were early. The kids truly had an amazing time (despite the inability of the group to think of any interests beyond X-Box)! It is the mark of a truly successful trip when even the teachers are in a good mood on the bus ride home. Generally, students love field trips up until we get there, at which time they list all of the reasons the trip is “boring.” This time, the students were too busy enjoying themselves to talk to each other at all. On the way home, they could not stop talking about how much fun they had and could not wait to get back to school to brag about it to the students that did not attend. You have a great cast and clearly love what you are doing. Thanks again and I hope to see you all again next year!” – Stephanie Pollack
Regarding Professional Development Sessions: “OMG! Still Lmao! Our May 10th staff retreat at the St. Ignatius Retreat House was great. The PDHP staff really enjoyed the troupe. Just what we needed to de-stress from the school year. The 4 young men you sent are Excellent!” THANKS! Rose & Jill
Evening Performance at Long Lots ES, Westport CT “Thank you for your incredible performance tonight. The kids LOVED it and all the parents thought it was very funny, engaging imaginative and energetic!! You are very adept at keeping the pace perfect and the kids completely immersed. That’s major talent! Your team was also wonderful. Can’t thank you enough for helping to create a very memorable evening for the kids (5th Grade Party). Best of luck in all your endeavors here in Westport and everywhere!” – PTA President
Workshops at RP Conner ES “The Festival went great and as always your teachers did a fabulous job!” 5th year in arow we sent teachers for annual enrichment day for students!
Coolidge School, NJ“Thanks for a totally terrific day. The kids could not stop talking about how great you were…and the assembly was perfect.”
Edith L Slocum Elementary School “I am writing to recommend to you the IMPROV4KIDS comedy troupe for school performances. I have been teaching for over thirty years and have seen hundreds of assembly programs. This group of family-friendly comedians performs regularly at the Times Square Performing Arts Center (formerly The Laugh Factory) and offers an improv experience unlike any I’ve seen. The audience members, both children and adults, are completely engaged in the slap-happy hysteria offered by these innovative actors. Their various skits and games are performed using many volunteers from the crowd, and truly allow the participants to discover their inner most comedic talents. The show is a laugh ‘til you cry experience. This performance encourages children to explore their creativity and to use their vivid imaginations to the extreme! During the course of the show, the audience members may hear an interview with an author of a new book, or witness pictures from an historic event such as Washington crossing the Delaware. The latest performance I’ve seen was something new and different for IMPROV4KIDS; a scripted performance of “Shout It Out, NO!” which was an anti-drug, alcohol and cigarette show, written by one of the cast and performed by four members of the troupe. The entire school population, grades K-5 thoroughly enjoyed the songs, skits and stories performed that day, and actively participated through song and audience participation.I am delighted to have seen this group’s work and I recommend them to you without reservation. – Sincerely, Eileen Benedict, Music Teacher

2024 2025 rates

$1200 for two back to back shows
$2000 per day of shows / workshops can be split between two neighboring schools
$8000 per week of shows / workshops can be split by a district. We work ages 5 and up. Workshops recommended for grades 3 and up.
EMAIL for more information.

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In the past 22 years we have performers at Holton Arms, Really, Cloverly, Farquar MS, Candlewood, Clarksburg, Fallsmead, Westbrook, Bethesda, Wyngate, Forest Knolls, DuFief, Laytonsville, Shady Grove MS, Cub Run Elementary School, Cherry Run Elementary School, Centreville Elementary School, Cedar Lane School, Cardinal Forest Elementary School, Braddock Elementary School, Belle View Elementary School, Beech Tree Elementary School,Bailey’s Elementary School and so many more… Plus libraries, Wolf Trap and more.

ALSO Many Middle Schools and High Schools join us in Times Square NYC when traveling to New York!

K12 SCHOOLS: Improv Comedy Shows, Workshops, Residencies & Professional Development

Since 2004, the cast of Improv 4 Kids has been delivering shows to Montgomery and Fairfax County Schools as well as touring schools, camps, community centers and family events throughout the DMV!

We are back showcasing for Montgomery County School this fall for the first time since 2019. Book your day of shows and / or workshops early!

WHY IMPROV?

Improv comedy is far more than just laughs. It’s a dynamic platform for nurturing essential life skills:

Creativity: Improv demands spontaneous thinking and generating ideas on the spot.
Critical Thinking: Performers analyze situations and respond rapidly.
Public Speaking: Improv builds confidence in expressing oneself in front of an audience.
Listening & Focus: Successful improv relies on active listening and staying present in the moment.
Self-Confidence: Stepping outside comfort zones and embracing the unexpected boosts self-esteem.
Self-Awareness: Improv encourages understanding one’s emotions and reactions.
Collaboration: Improv teaches teamwork and the importance of building on each other’s ideas.

Shows, Workshops and More

Improv Comedy Shows: Engaging performances where students witness the magic of improv firsthand. The shows are interactive, often involving volunteers from the audience, making the experience even more memorable. Our team of 3-4 players delivers original skits and songs improvised based on audience suggestions and participation. Usually great for you to 200 students in one seating. Up to 1000 with proper pro sound (wireless body mics, and PA designed for space). We can usually present up to four shows in one school day.
Improv Workshops: These hands-on sessions dive deeper into improv techniques. Students participate in games and exercises that challenge them to think creatively, listen attentively, and work collaboratively. Usually we can work with you to 100 students per session, with 3-4 teaching artists.
Residencies: Our teachers move in for the week for a series of shows and workshops (can be split between district schools) OR we present a weekly class program in school or after school building towards a performance showcase, basically recreating our famous programs from the Times Square NYC comedy school.
Professional Development: Why should the kids have all the fun? We combine our educational outreach with corporate team building. Great for team building, leadership, sales and customer service skills, and at any giving time, teachers have to be all of the above.

Improv IS social emotional learning! Building self-confidence and communication skills leads to better students, community and leaders!

BOOK EARLY AND SAVE!

Book now for fall schools assemblies and save $100/show. Usually $800 for one show, $1200 for two, $2000/day. Book before Labor Day for ANY day 2024,2025 school year date, pay just $700/show, $1000 for 2 shows back to back (or show/workshop combo, $1600 for a day of shows and/or workshops.

DISTRICT BOOKING: Book a week of shows and workshops, up to twenty 45-60 minute sessions, 3-4 teachings artists, up to 10 different schools (1/2 day, 2 shows or show/workshop combo at each) just $8000.

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Artistic Director, Walt Frasier

Walter’s Rule #1: HAVE FUN but never at another’s expense!”

This Gaithersburg, Maryland native has 30 years of professional credits in international theater (Off-Broadway, regional, touring), TV, Film, commercials, music and comedy. Walt Frasier has been seen in costar roles on NBC’S BLACKLIST, SHOWTIME’S BILLIONS, USA’S ROYAL PAINS, CBS’S BLUE BLOODS, and NETFLIX’S LILYHAMMER, NICK’S NAKED BROTHERS BAND. Walter got his TV/FILM/ON SCREEN start doing commercials and sketch comedy bits on Late Nite with David Letterman, MTV’s STANKERVISON, and more recently TruTVs Friends of the People and HBO’S Pause with Sam Jay. Walter’s first professional job was a five month run of Pirates of Penzance at The West End Dinner Theatre (Alexandria, Virginia).

20+ YEARS IN COMEDY

Walt Frasier co-created the show EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH in the later days of 2002. By 2003, the troupe played it’s first college gig at University of Maryland, College Park, toured it’s first school district in Farmington, CT and made it’s corporate gig debut near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. By 2005, the troupe was performing 10-20 shows/weeks including daily gigs and an off-Broadway run in Times Square NYC, and long runs at The NY Improv, Laugh Factory, and since 2011 at the Broadway Comedy Club. In addition to performing Improv Comedy, Frasier served as MC, Pianist, and casting director for as many as four companies at a time touring schools and events.

EDUCATOR

Walt Frasier is a busy teaching artist, from directing Broadway shows at high schools and middle schools to teaching improv to executive teams and leaders at major Fortune 500 companies. In the mid to late 1990s Frasier directed shiws like Fiddler on the Roof, Much Ado About Nothing and Bye Bye Birdie at Montgomery County High Schools. After moving to New York, he continued as a school show director. (Also music director in a few schools, as he started college life as Trumpet/Piano player music major). Since 2003, Frasier has been leading Improv workshops at schools. In 2009, Frasier served as Director of Education for the Comedy Hall of Fame. He opened his Times Square Comedy School in 2011. In 2019 his student Carolyn White was named funniest kid in America by Keenan Thompson. In 2022, his student Saloni Singh followed in Carolyn’s foot steps. Meanwhile, his student Myra Beji appeared on Disney Plus, in The Quest. And if you do not know Sway Bhatia yet, you will. Now starring in Disney’s Zombies, Sway had a major role on Mighty Ducks series, and a series regular on HBOs Succession in addition to numerous other credits.

CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING & ENTERTAINMENT

Walt Frasier lead his first corporate team building workshop in 2003. But it wasn’t until 2015, when Frasier absorbed the findings of Project Aristotle (Google 4 year study into successful teams) that he truly became a corporate team building specialist. 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… (NYC DOE VENDORS).

Walter also leads improv comedy shows, murder mystery shows, trivia nights, and more.

Author

In 2004, a panelist for Montgomery County Schools Arts in Education auditions suggested Frasier should write a book. Frasier used the 2020 quarentine times to finally fulfill this prophecy. Frasier now has books on Improv, Stand Up and Sketch Comedy designed as text books for k12 schools. QUIT YOUR DAY JOB is Frasier’s road map to be a working artist. And ALIENS, WITCHES AND GHOSTS OH MY is Walter’s first fictional work.

Education

Frasier attended Germantown & Laytonsville Elementary Schools, Gaithersburg Junior and Senior High Schools (Senior Class President 1990), Montgomery College and Catholic University. Additionally, Amalfi Opera Festival, New York Opera Forum, Crittenden Opera Studio, HB Studios, Broadway Dance Center and numerous private coaches in DC, NYC and Italy.

DMV Community Involvement

Before college, Frasier was a musician, active in school and community bands (Browningsville, Montgomery Village, Yellow Springs, Pit Orchestra for various community theater s – Damascus, Rockville etc). After turning to theater and opera at Montgomery Colllege, he continued community involvement, now on stage, at the Victorian Lyric Opera (Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe), Frederick Players (Fiddler on the Roof), and Metro Players (A Man for all Season, as Henry VIII, Georgetown). As a singer he worked at The Cathedral of Saint Matthew (Dupont Circle), The Basilica (Catholic University), Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist (American University Campus), and Holy Trinity (Georgetown) as well as numerous local churches. His first professional theater job was a five month run of Pirates of Penzance at The West End Dinner Theater (Alexandia, VA) and before moving to New York, directed a few shows at Richard Montgomery High School and consulted for shows at Gaithersburg High School.