KIDS & TEENS IMPROV CLASSES
Build more confident, connected students this school year.
After-school improv at Leela Improv Theatre in Raleigh for grades 3–12. Weekly, screen-free classes where kids and teens speak up, loosen up, and find their people in a joy-filled room.
Fall classes begin Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Space is limited to keep every class small and personal.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Backed by 23 years and 33,000+ students of adult improv training in San Francisco & Raleigh
First Class Promise
We want every student to find a place where they truly belong. If your child doesn’t look forward to coming back after their first class, email us within 24 hours and we’ll refund your first month’s tuition in full. New students only.
INSIDE A LEELA CLASS
What students actually do.
No scripts to memorize, no lines to get wrong. Just games, scenes, and the kind of play that makes the week better.
Every class starts on its feet. Students jump into warm-up games — quick, playful, low-pressure — that get everyone moving and comfortable before anyone’s asked to do anything bigger.
From there, the room builds toward scenes and group games, where students make up stories together on the spot. There’s no audience to please and no wrong answer — just students saying “yes” to each other’s ideas and discovering how good it feels to be listened to.
Everyone plays together.
They leave standing a little taller, a little braver, and usually still glowing from something that happened in class.
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
Three tracks. One community.
All classes meet weekly at Leela Improv Theatre, 309 N Boylan Ave, Raleigh — in the Glenwood South / North Boylan area.
PROGRAM | DAY & TIME | TUITION |
|---|---|---|
Elementary ImprovGrades 3–5 · 60 minImagine boldly. Build confidence through play. | Tuesdays · 4:00–5:00 PM | $145/month |
Middle School ImprovGrades 6–8 · 75 minFind your voice. Make real friends. | Tuesdays · 5:15–6:30 PM | $155/month |
High School ImprovGrades 9–12 · 90 minCreate fearlessly. Express your authentic self. | Wednesdays · 5:00–6:30 PM | $165/month |
Monthly enrollment · Join whenever space is available · 30-day notice to pause or cancel
A $55 annual family registration fee is due upon enrollment. Families with more than one child enrolled receive a 10% sibling discount on tuition.
Every student’s enrollment includes:
Weekly age-appropriate improv class
Small class sizes for personalized attention
A welcoming, beginner-friendly environment
Family showcase opportunities throughout the year
Miss a week? Students jump right back in — no make-ups needed, nothing to fall behind on
Month-to-month enrollment — stay because your student loves coming every week, not because you’re locked into a semester
Why parents trust Leela Improv Theatre
• 23+ years teaching improv in San Francisco & Raleigh
• 33,000+ students trained with the same approach
• Kids & Teens program led by Jill Eickmann, Leela’s Co‑Founder & Artistic Director (meet Jill →)
• Backed by our First Class Promise, so trying it feels safe
Anyone can say “improv builds confidence.” We’ve spent two decades proving it, and this is the same craft adapted for grades 3–12.
WHAT STUDENTS DISCOVER
Four things every student
deserves.
Confidence
Learning to speak up, take risks, and trust their own ideas.
Creativity
Thinking without fear. Imagination practiced and celebrated.
Connection
Making genuine friendships through shared creative play.
Joy
Play for its own sake. Laughter that belongs to them.
WHY PARENTS CHOOSE IMPROV
Not just another after-school activity.
While many after-school activities focus primarily on one skill, improv naturally develops communication, creativity, collaboration, confidence, and emotional resilience together — through joyful play.
Students practice all of these every single week, not in isolation, but together, in the context of real human connection.
Students leave class energized, making friends, thinking creatively, and becoming more comfortable expressing themselves in everyday life.
WHY FAMILIES STAY
A program worth coming back to.
Flexible month-to-month enrollment
No semester commitments. Students can join whenever space is available, and families can pause or cancel with 30 days’ notice.
No pressure. No competition.
We never use embarrassment, competition, or “gotcha” comedy as teaching tools. Students grow at their own pace, in a space that genuinely feels safe.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLASSROOM
Why it feels different?
Every class is small by design and taught by real theatre artists — working improvisers trained in the craft, not after-school staff filling a slot.
Classes stay small enough that no one hides in the back. Quieter students get drawn in, anyone who needs extra guidance gets it, and students get real coaching instead of just a turn in a big group.
It’s a classroom personal enough that every student is seen, known, and encouraged every single week.
23+
YEARS TEACHING IMPROV
2
Cities
33,000+
Students Taught
WHO LEADS YOUR CLASS
Every student deserves to feel seen.
At Leela, our teaching artists believe that every student has something unique to contribute. We create an environment where students feel safe to take creative risks, celebrate one another, and discover confidence through joyful play.
Our Kids & Teen program is led by Jill Eickmann, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Leela. Classes are kept small by design, so every student gets real attention and no one gets lost in the group.
Jill Eickmann · Co-Founder, Leela Improv Theatre
COMMON QUESTIONS
Answers for curious parents.
Don’t see your question here? Reach out to us — we’re happy to talk through whether Leela is the right fit for your child.
Does my child need theatre experience?
No. Our classes are completely beginner-friendly. Students don’t need acting, comedy, or performance experience of any kind.
What if my child is shy?
Shy students are especially welcome. The work begins with play, listening, and group support — not forced performance. Many of our most meaningful growth stories come from students who started out the quietest in the room.
My child has ADHD — would they enjoy improv?
Many students with ADHD enjoy the active, game-based format — classes keep moving, high energy is genuinely welcome, and there’s no sitting still required. That said, every child is different. Reach out to us if you’d like to talk it through before enrolling.
My child is on the autism spectrum — is this appropriate?
We welcome neurodivergent students and are experienced in supporting a range of learning styles. Please contact us to discuss your child’s specific needs — we’re happy to talk through whether it’s the right fit.
Can parents watch class?
We generally keep class space student-only so students feel free to take risks without performing for an audience. We do hold occasional open classes and end-of-session sharings where families are warmly invited.
What should students wear?
Comfortable clothes they can move in and closed-toe shoes or sneakers. No special equipment or materials are needed.
How does billing work?
Enrollment is month-to-month, with a $55 annual registration fee per family. Tuition is billed monthly, and you can pause or cancel with 30 days’ notice—no semester-long commitment required. Students can join whenever space is available. Families with more than one child enrolled receive a 10% sibling discount on tuition.
What happens if my child misses a class?
No problem. Because our classes build skills through ongoing play rather than a fixed curriculum, students simply rejoin their class the following week and pick up right where they left off. There’s nothing to make up and nothing to fall behind on.
Give your kid a place to play, belong, and grow.
Space is limited so each class stays personal and well-supported.