Improv Classes in Raleigh at Leela Improv Theatre
Play. Connect. Create.
At Leela, improv is about more than comedy. It is about presence, creativity, and authentic human connection.
Our classes are designed for thoughtful adults who want to explore truthful artistic play, build confidence, and experience the joy of collaborative creativity in a welcoming, supportive environment.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.0 Rating on Google
Leela has trained over 18,000 improv students across 23 years in San Francisco and Raleigh.
Or try a Drop-In this week →
New students usually start with Improv 1 or Drop-In.
These are two welcoming entry points into the same Leela community.
🎓 Current or Returning Student?
If you’ve already taken classes with us, you can jump straight to:
🎭 New to Leela? Start Here.
Improv 1: Let’s Play! (6-Week Beginner Course)
Improv 1 is our signature introduction to improvisation and the best place for most students to begin.
This course helps you reconnect with spontaneity, quiet the inner critic, and develop the core skills that make improv joyful, collaborative, and meaningful.
Many students who consider themselves shy or introverted find this course deeply rewarding.
What You’ll Experience
- Trusting your instincts
- Listening and responding in the moment
- Building confidence in social and creative settings
- Creative problem solving and adaptability
- Ensemble collaboration
- Rediscovering the joy of play
“I was very nervous to try improv, but Jill creates a safe space where you can come out of your shell. I enjoyed getting to know my classmates so much that I signed up for the next level.”
— Yelp Reviewer
🎟 Prefer Flexibility?
Drop-In Improv Classes
Drop-in classes are a flexible way to experience Leela and meet our community.
Each session includes warm-ups, games, and scene work focused on connection, creativity, and playful exploration.
Drop-ins are perfect if you:
- Want to try improv for the first time
- Prefer flexible scheduling
- Want ongoing creative play between courses
- Are returning students who want additional practice
No experience is required. Everything we do is collaborative and ensemble-based.
❤️ Why Leela?
Leela combines professional improv training with a deeply supportive, human-centered learning environment.
Students come to have fun and meet new friends — and stay because they discover meaningful artistic growth, stronger communication skills, and a sense of creative belonging.
Classes are led by experienced Leela artists trained in ensemble-driven improvisation.
🌱The Leela Arc: From Play to Performance
Improv Curriculum
Leela training begins in community and grows into artistic craft, ensemble performance, and confident self-expression. Each level develops a different part of your Authentic Self.
Drop-In Improv Classes → Community, joy, and waking up your authentic self
Improv 1: Let’s Play! → Rediscover play, confidence, and creative freedom
Improv 2: Authentic Relationships → Build scenes through honest connection
Improv 3: Commitment To Craft → Develop creativity and artistic range
Improv 4: Top of Your Intelligence (Showcase) → Express truth through story
Improv 5a: Follow The Fear (Showcase) → Practice courage through vulnerability
Improv 5b: Group Mind (Showcase) → Strengthen ensemble awareness
Improv 5c: Form & Structure (Showcase) → Find inspiration through form
🎭 Performance & Real-World Skills
Beginning in Improv 4, students perform in supportive ensemble showcases. These performances create a fun dialogue with audiences and help normalize being seen in front of others.
Students often discover this process strengthens:
• Public speaking
• Presentations
• Leadership presence
• Communication confidence
And it often becomes something students genuinely look forward to doing.
Musical Improv Curriculum
Leela offers a parallel musical training path focused on discovering, strengthening, and sharing your voice through music.
Musical Improv Drop-In: Sound-Play Circle → Explore voice and rhythm in community
Musical Improv 1: Sound-Play → Develop musical confidence through play
Musical Improv 2: Crafting The Improvised Song → Strengthen voice through song-form
Musical Improv 3: Advanced Techniques (Showcase) → Share your voice through ensemble performance
What Students Consistently Experience at Leela
These are the kinds of experiences students report, again and again:
“I’ve taken a six-week class and attended drop-in classes, and each experience has been absolutely wonderful. Jill is an amazing instructor who makes everyone feel comfortable and really brings out creativity.”
— Paul Baxter
“Leela offers such a fun and supportive improv experience and community. Jill is a super inspiring teacher. Highly recommend trying a drop-in or Level 1 class — it just might change your life.”
— John McKinney
“The classes are always varied, fun, and engaging. Highly recommend Leela for anyone looking to explore creativity.”
— Yelp Reviewer
“Jill fosters a comfortable and inviting space for people from all walks of life. Her approach to improv is rooted in authenticity and personal truth.”
— Yelp Reviewer
Drop-in Improv Classes
Come play, bring a friend, and meet new ones in Leela’s weekly drop-in improv classes! In these on-going multi-level classes you’ll be introduced to Leela’s signature style of improvisation: joyful play, expressing your authentic self…
Musical Improv Drop-In: Sound-Play Circle
Improvised singing, add-a-part/change-a-part, call and response, a drum circle for singers, or simply vocal jamming – Leela’s Sound-Play Circle is all the good stuff. This welcoming musical improv drop-in class is open to everyone…
Improv 1: Let's Play!
In Leela’s signature level I improv class, you will experience the transformative nature of group play. Lessons are firmly rooted in technique and theory from Viola Spolin’s theater games, mindfulness, movement…
Improv 2: Authentic Relationships
The foundation of great improvisation is the two person scene. Both in life and improv, Leela believes authentic relationships are crucial to connected co-creation. Through acting exercises focused on emotional receptivity…
Improv 3: Commitment To Craft
Leela believes improvisors are artists and must train as such. This class provides you with a 6-week crash course on craft. You will learn to rely on your senses to create detailed space object environments, interesting characters…
Improv 4: Top Of Your Intelligence
Del Close, influential improv teacher and director, instructed legendary improvisors to “play to the top of your intelligence.” In keeping with this wisdom, Leela trains improvisers to practice specificity, connect patterns…
Improv 5a: Follow The Fear
Scared? Good, then sign up for this class! The minute we step out of our comfort zone, true learning begins. Stretch yourself in this class by getting individualized feedback on patterns in your play…
Improv 5b: Group Mind
How do a group of diverse individuals predict each other’s moves, seamlessly connect, and play effortlessly towards a common creation? How does that cozy feeling of “family” happen, and how do you sustain it? Group Mind…
Improv 5c: Form & Structure
Learn and perform long-form improvised theatre structures performed at various improv houses around the country. Focus will be placed on thematic forms, theatrical devices…
Musical Improv 1: Sound-Play
Explore the surprisingly accessible and freeing power of music making. While playing with breath, rhythm, and vocalization you will learn that improvising music is really not so far away…
Musical Improv 2: Crafting The Improvised Song
Techniques from Musical Improv I: Sound-Play! are refined and expanded as traditional song-forms and contemporary styles are explored. Students learn to sing songs on the spot through a thoughtful progression…
Musical Improv 3: Advanced Techniques
Explore a variety of musical styles and song types. Duets, trios, and larger ensembles are integrated into previous material from Musical Improv 1 and 2. Advanced songwriting techniques relevant to musical improv are covered…
Community, Corporate & Continued Growth
Many students continue their creative journey through:
• Advanced classes
• Performance opportunities
• Community jams
• Alumni learning spaces
Leela also works with companies and organizations for retreats, leadership training, and team-building workshops.
Leela is designed to be a creative home — not just a single class experience.
Location & Parking
Leela Improv Theatre
309 N Boylan Ave
Raleigh, NC 27603
• Free street parking available
• Please arrive 10 minutes early
Registration & Policies
When you register for a multi-week course, you reserve a seat in a small ensemble-based experience.
Ready to Play?
Start in community. Follow the path. Discover more of your authentic self.