Pack Theater (LA)

The Pack Theater was founded in 2016 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, emerging at a pivotal moment in LA's improv landscape when the closure of UCB's original Sunset Boulevard theater and ongoing changes at other venues left a gap in the market for affordable, community-driven improv training. Founded by Miles Stroth and a group of veteran LA improvisers, The Pack was built on the belief that quality comedy training should be accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Los Angeles's diversity. The theater quickly established itself at its Hollywood location, offering classes and shows in a welcoming space that prioritized emerging voices and underrepresented perspectives in comedy. Within its first few years, The Pack attracted instructors and performers from some of LA's most respected comedy institutions, including alumni of UCB, Groundlings, Second City, and iO who were drawn to the theater's grassroots energy and mission-driven approach. The Pack's rapid growth coincided with a broader shift in LA's comedy scene toward more diverse, community-oriented spaces, and the theater became a beneficiary and driver of that cultural change.

In 2025, The Pack Theater has grown into one of the most vibrant independent comedy venues in Los Angeles, offering a comprehensive training program alongside a packed performance schedule that features improv, sketch, stand-up, variety shows, and experimental comedy. What distinguishes The Pack from LA's more established improv institutions is its breadth of programming — while the Groundlings focuses primarily on sketch-improv and character work, and UCB centers on long-form game-based improv, The Pack offers training across multiple comedy disciplines including improv, sketch writing, stand-up, character development, TV writing, and solo performance. The theater's instructors are working LA comedians, writers, and performers with credits on shows like Saturday Night Live, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, Netflix, and HBO — bringing current industry experience directly into the classroom. The Pack has also built a reputation as a launching pad for diverse talent, with a conscious commitment to creating shows and classes that reflect the full spectrum of LA's comedy community. The theater's intimate performance space hosts shows most nights of the week, creating a constant flow of live comedy that students can attend, learn from, and eventually perform in.

Getting started at The Pack Theater is straightforward — beginners enroll in the Improv 101 class, which requires no prior experience and is open to anyone age 18 or older. Registration is handled online through the theater's website, with new class sessions beginning approximately every six weeks. The core improv curriculum runs four to five levels, progressing from fundamentals (yes-and, agreement, listening, scene building) through advanced long-form techniques including Harold, Armando, and other formats. Each level consists of six to eight weekly sessions of approximately three hours each. In addition to the improv track, The Pack offers separate class tracks in sketch writing, stand-up comedy, character work, TV writing, and solo show creation — making it possible for students to pursue multiple disciplines simultaneously. The theater also offers intensive workshops, drop-in jams, and special topic classes taught by guest instructors. Class sizes are typically capped at 14 to 16 students, ensuring personalized attention and ample stage time for each participant.

The training experience at The Pack emphasizes authenticity, play, and the development of each performer's unique comedic voice rather than adherence to a single improv methodology. Instructors draw from multiple traditions — UCB's game-based approach, iO's pattern-focused long-form, Groundlings' character work, and Second City's sketch-improv hybrid — blending these influences into a flexible, student-centered pedagogy. Classes are structured around a mix of exercises, scene work, instructor feedback, and performance, with a strong emphasis on getting students on their feet and performing from the very first session. One of The Pack's most valued features is its showcase system — students at intermediate and advanced levels perform in class showcases on the theater's stage, gaining real performance experience in front of live audiences. After completing the advanced levels, performers can audition for Pack house teams, which rehearse weekly and perform on a regular schedule alongside independent teams and guest performers. The theater also provides opportunities for students to pitch and produce their own shows, sketch revues, and solo performances, making it one of the few LA venues where emerging comedians can develop and stage original work.

The Pack Theater attracts a notably diverse student body that reflects Los Angeles's multicultural demographics more accurately than many other improv institutions in the city. Students range from aspiring TV comedy writers and actors seeking improv training to supplement their on-camera skills, to hobbyists looking for a creative outlet and community. The Pack has been particularly successful at attracting performers of color, LGBTQ+ comedians, and other underrepresented groups who may have felt unwelcome or unseen at larger, more established institutions. Instructors include comedy professionals with credits on Saturday Night Live, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, Netflix, Funny or Die, and late-night television — performers and writers who bring current industry insights to their teaching. While The Pack is too young to have the deep alumni network of the Groundlings or UCB, its graduates have already begun appearing in writers' rooms, on streaming platforms, and in the LA stand-up and sketch scenes. The theater's community-first approach has created a loyal following of performers who return to take classes, attend shows, and perform long after completing the core curriculum.

Classes at The Pack Theater cost approximately $275 to $325 per level in 2025, placing it in the affordable-to-mid-range tier of LA improv training options. Each level provides six to eight sessions of roughly three hours each, meaning students receive 18 to 24 hours of instruction per level — solid value for the price. The complete improv track (four to five levels) runs approximately $1,100 to $1,625 total, which is significantly less than completing the Groundlings program or the full UCB curriculum in LA. Sketch writing, stand-up, and specialty classes are priced similarly, typically $275 to $350 per course. Drop-in jams and workshops are available for $10 to $25, providing an affordable way to get additional practice and stage time. The Pack periodically offers scholarship opportunities, particularly for performers from underrepresented communities, and has run sliding-scale pricing experiments to increase accessibility. There are no hidden fees or mandatory show tickets — the class price covers all instruction and showcase performances.

The Pack Theater is an excellent choice for LA-based performers who want comprehensive comedy training across multiple disciplines in an affordable, inclusive, and community-oriented environment. It is particularly well-suited for performers of color, LGBTQ+ comedians, and anyone who has felt unwelcome or invisible at larger improv institutions and wants a space where diverse perspectives are actively celebrated. Aspiring TV comedy writers who want to develop both performance and writing skills simultaneously will find The Pack's multi-discipline curriculum especially valuable. If you are a complete beginner intimidated by the reputations of the Groundlings or UCB, The Pack provides an equally solid foundation in a less pressured atmosphere. However, if your primary goal is the brand recognition and industry pipeline that comes with elite programs like the Groundlings Main Company or UCB's advanced study, you may want to pursue those institutions for their specific career advantages. For most LA performers, the smartest approach is to train at The Pack alongside or before enrolling at a more established institution, as the skills and community you build will enhance whatever training you do elsewhere.

Take classes across multiple disciplines at The Pack — doing improv and sketch writing simultaneously will make you a stronger, more versatile performer and is the fastest way to develop the combined skill set that TV comedy rooms value most. Attend Pack shows regularly, especially the indie team and variety shows, to study different performance styles and to become a familiar face in the community — LA comedy is a relationship business, and showing up consistently matters. If The Pack offers a scholarship or sliding-scale option when you enroll, ask about it — the theater is genuinely committed to making training accessible and will work with students facing financial constraints. Pitch a show or form an indie team at The Pack as soon as you feel ready — the theater's openness to emerging voices means you can get stage time producing your own work much sooner than at other LA venues, and having a regular show is the best way to build an audience and attract industry attention. Connect with your Pack instructors outside of class through their own shows, social media, and industry events — these working professionals can become mentors, collaborators, and advocates for your career in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.