The Westside Eclectic

04/29/2008 Posted by irenemarie1

I am currently taking the Level I improv class. My teacher, Dana, is awesome and inspirational. My classmates are a motley crew. Dana leads the way with her expertise and charm and we have so much fun learning the basics of improv. While fumbling and falling through the exercises, we grow more confident in our abilities to just let our imaginations go and work together in creating funny scenarios. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn how to loosen up.

Pros: Excellent teachers, non judgemental, inexpensive

Cons: None

03/27/2008 Posted by joeyolesk

Funny, my reviews here keep getting censored. Talk about a lack of transparency. It's not really a comedy club as it is more of social gathering for kids aged from 18-25... aspiring actors, comedians, community college students, and college drop-outs practicing their routines. 90% of the audiences were also actors/actresses and friends & family members. The remaining people were people like me who really looked out of place and actually paid $8-$10 for the night. I have no idea how they make money at a prime (e.g. expensive) location and my guess is that they don't. The atmosphere was very close knit and everyone knew everyone else, and these kids seemed to have a lot of fun performing and giving moral support to each other. Inside jokes were plenty, energy was extremely high, and they've put in a lot of time and efforts. Sadly, the bottom line is, unless you're their age group and know Joe, Bobby, and Momo or whoever they hung out with then you wouldn't get their half of their silly and stupid jokes. The bottom line is they've put in a lot of energy into acts that were SIMPLY NOT THAT FUNNY. Sure $8-10 isn't a lot of money but then again none of the shows there weren't that funny in the first place. If Seinfeld gets an A+, then the Westside Eclectic gets a D+, and maybe... maybe C- for trying so hard. PS. If you want to go a *real* professional comedy club and witness *real* humor, go to West Hollywood or Pasadena. They're not that professional because they're not. They're students. It's a great business model if you think about it: 1) Charge students to take the comedy class. 2) The students perform live and charge fees to suckers.

Pros: Cheap comedy.

Cons: Not that funny. The students also need to take racial/weight/looks sensitivity class as they make fun of audiences.

04/16/2007 Posted by pselmack

Me and some of my girlfriends stumbled upon this great little comedy theater in the alley a few months ago, and have been hooked ever since! The colorful chairs and brick wall and lights give it a fun feel, and the location on the 3rd street promenade makes it a GReat place to stop in after dinner. So many hilarious improv and stand-up shows and it's never more than 5 or 10 dollars. Highly recommended!

11/18/2005 Posted by rblank9

I took Westside Improv's level 1. I had a great time. Marc provides an exceptional learning environment and really has a way of making everyone feel comfortable with expressing themselves in the most outgoing of ways. It was as rewarding personally as it was entertaining. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their confidence, public speaking, or just seeking a fun way to spend a few hours each week.

11/16/2005 Posted by michaelangeleno

- Whatever your interest, a worthwhile and fun experience. Marc teaches Improv, it's obvious his craft is important to him and he knows how to teach it. What makes his class so valuable on many different levels - for those interested in performing or not - is the rich context that he is able to infuse into the class. My initial interest in Improv was as a tool for scene development - Marc's approach to Improv exceeded those expectations by not only stressing foundational skills but also creating an environment that fosters experimentation with universal tenets applicable inside and outside of the classroom/on and off the stage. In the end, I found myself fascinated by the process and looking forward to my next course!

Pros: class environment, teaching approach, time well-spent

Cons: class availability

11/14/2005 Posted by bastarrrdo

Marc's a great improv instructor and helps peel away everyone's inhibitions about being silly. I enjoyed the level 1 course very much and hope to take another.

11/12/2005 Posted by jsfogdall

Marc's improv class is a blast and he's an excellent teacher. Sometimes improv (like real life) can be uncomfortable and he provides encouragement and new ideas all the way through. If you are thinking about taking an improv class, this is the place to do it.

11/10/2005 Posted by rogerwolk

Marc's Improv Boot Camp was a random assembly of people of diverse backgrounds and ages. From the beginning, he helped us create an atmosphere where the students were not afraid to take chances performing with goofy dialogue that becomes very funny and entertaining. I is amazing how comedy can be a bonding experience. I recommend the class to anyone as a communication tool, especially in the business world, where people are often so competetive that they don't work well together.

11/08/2005 Posted by flobo

Marc's class is so much fun - those who might not be so accustomed to "performing" but who feel the pull to show off their inner comedian, this class is for you. Actually, it's really for everyone, because who doesn't need more poise, confidence and downright goofiness in their lives? (dontcha know being goofy contributes greatly to confidence and poise?) It's great that someone out there in the big diva-like L.A. has created a safe environment to play and enjoy being in-the-moment. Doing improv is like eating your green veggies. Marc's class is like spritzing some lemon on 'em.

Pros: FUN, easy-going vibe, practical life-skills

Cons: very far west

11/08/2005 Posted by marilynwolk

As a complete novice, I arrived fearful of making a fool of myself. Marc immediately put the class at ease with group exercises that had us laughing from beginning to end. He has an extremely organized plan and moves the class forward, while maintaining discipline. The one day class that I started with was enlightening and such fun. A group of strangers ended up exchanging email addresses-a level of trust was felt by all the participants. I will definitely take more classes here.