When most of us think of improvisational comedy, we think of hilarious performances by stars like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, and Steve Carell. But Improv Central, which will open its doors at 500 Central Avenue on Friday, September 12, is not a performance space. It is a community hub.
“My vision is to curate a supportive, in-person space where folks can return to engagement and connection in a world where we feel increasingly isolated and deeply fear being unprepared, imperfect, and incorrect,” says founder Claire Slattery. “We all live unscripted lives. Yet we do not have an easily accessible place to develop improvisational instincts for real-life moments at home, at work, and in our communities. At Improv Central, we don’t ready ourselves to get it right but rather to meet life’s unpredictable moments with greater confidence, creativity, and courage.”
The Grand Opening celebration starts Friday night, September 12, at 5:30 p.m., with pies and wine from Pizzeria Pappo, delicious popcorn from Peter’s Kettle Corn, beer from Cellarmaker, and more treats. Everything is free but limited, so RSVP online to secure your spot, and bring a dish to share. On Saturday, September 13, check out free sampler classes all day Saturday—space is limited so be sure to RSVP.
About the founder
Slattery is a native Alamedan who has returned 20 years after graduating from Alameda High School. She studied Drama and Communication at Stanford University, then worked as a professional actor, improviser, and teaching artist at such Bay Area theatrical mainstays as We Players, California Shakespeare Theater, and American Conservatory Theater.
Slattery later held business leadership positions with San Francisco’s premiere comedy and training organizations Killing My Lobster and Speechless, Inc. In the process, she shifted focus from performing to presentation coaching and facilitating, contracting with Google to train individuals and teams to give more effective and entertaining presentations on stage, in meetings, and online with improvisational tools and techniques. Immediately prior to founding Improv Central, Slattery brought her expertise to scale enterprise-level adult learning and development strategy at The Nature Conservancy.
More about Improv Central
Improv Central is located in a historic building that was formerly the South Pacific Coast Railroad’s 5th Street Station. With support from the City of Alameda’s Façade Grant Program, Improv Central has upgraded the building and breathed new life into a long-vacant storefront in Alameda’s West End.
A member-supported neighborhood business, Improv Central will offer a full program of classes, workshops, and events that fall into three focus categories: Connect (family play-based class), Craft (creativity workshop), and Career (speaking without the corporate cringe). For $39 per month, members can attend one class monthly and bring a friend for free. For $89 per month, members can join up to six classes monthly, bring a friend for free to each class, and book the Improv Central space twice a year for private events. For $139 per month, members have unlimited access to all programming including special workshops and four total yearly private event bookings. A two-week Newbie Pass is available for $29 and class bundles are also available for non-members. Membership sign-up is available online.
