COMEDY HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION created and funded Laugh It Out NYC (LIONYC), an educational pilot program that teaches the art of communication by bringing improvisational comedy classes into the New York Public Schools. Our professional improvisation trainers and celebrity guests work with students from 6th through 12th grade on listening, speaking, memory and critical thinking skills. Students who completed the class have shown remarkable strides in articulation, increased self-confidence and engagement.

BENEFITS FOR THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY, BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASS ROOM. The success of the program has led to the development of an accredited class and professional development workshops with teachers, so even those students who do not take the class can benefit from the skills learned through improvisation. Teachers who had students from the improv class in other subjects noted the improved focus, greater articulation and observations, constructively shared, that benefit the whole class.

IMPROVISATION EXERCISES TEACH STUDENTS TO LISTEN AND OBSERVE, AND TO COMMUNICATE IN A CLEAR AND POSITIVE MANNER through verbal and non-verbal expression. They learn to think on their feet and outside of the box. The improved memory, creativity and processing speed in turn help to improve academic performance in more structured settings.