The Ruby LA

The Ruby LA was born in April 2018 from the rebranding of the Nerdist School, when the theater's leadership team — Jen Curran, Lindsey Barrow, and Randy Thompson — chose to create a new identity built on principles of intersectional feminism, inclusion, and artistic independence. The Nerdist School had occupied the space at 7518 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood since 2015 under the banner of Chris Hardwick's Nerdist brand, but when Hardwick separated from the brand in February 2018 and subsequent abuse allegations created further distance, the teaching staff seized the opportunity to build something new that reflected their own values. The Ruby LA launched with a 12-hour comedy festival called 'The Ruby Assembly' on April 7, 2018, signaling a deliberate break from the past and a commitment to creating one of the most inclusive comedy spaces in Los Angeles. The rebranding was explicitly framed in the context of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, with the founders stating that The Ruby would be a space where diverse voices are not just welcome but centered. The theater retained the same Hollywood location and much of the same teaching staff, but the mission, values, and creative direction were fundamentally transformed. Over the following years, The Ruby carved out a distinctive niche in LA's competitive comedy landscape as a theater that combines quality training with a genuine commitment to social consciousness and artistic originality.

In 2025, The Ruby LA operates from its Hollywood location at 7518 Sunset Boulevard, offering a comprehensive improv training program alongside a performance calendar that features house teams, independent shows, and special events. What distinguishes The Ruby from other LA improv institutions is its teaching philosophy, which the theater describes as 'acting based and emotionally driven' — emphasizing authenticity, connectivity, narrative, tone, and musicality rather than the joke-first or game-first approaches common at other schools. This methodology produces performers who bring depth and emotional truth to their improv, creating work that resonates on a human level rather than relying on cleverness or shock value. The Ruby's feminist founding principles continue to shape the organization's culture, creating an environment where women, non-binary performers, and other historically marginalized groups occupy positions of leadership and creative influence. The theater's ADA-compliant classrooms reflect a practical commitment to accessibility that extends beyond rhetoric. However, prospective students should note that The Ruby's class schedule has experienced some variability — checking the website for current offerings before planning enrollment is advisable, as the schedule can fluctuate between terms.

Getting started at The Ruby LA begins with Level 0, the introductory improv class that requires no prior experience and provides a foundation in the theater's acting-based approach to improvisation. Registration is handled through the theater's website, with class sessions running on an ongoing basis when available. The core improv curriculum consists of five levels (0 through 4), with each level running eight weekly sessions that build progressively on the skills introduced in the previous level. Level 0 introduces the fundamentals of scene work through an acting lens — listening, emotional availability, and authentic response. Levels 1 and 2 deepen scene work technique, character development, and the ability to sustain narrative. Levels 3 and 4 advance into complex long-form structures, ensemble dynamics, and the integration of all skills into polished, show-ready performance. For students who want an accelerated path, The Ruby offers 'The Whole Gem' — an intensive program that condenses the entire curriculum into eight weeks, allowing students to complete the full training track in a fraction of the usual time. The traditional track takes approximately 32 weeks (eight months) to complete at a steady pace.

The training experience at The Ruby LA is shaped by its acting-based philosophy, which means classes feel more like an advanced acting studio than a typical comedy class. Students are trained to approach every scene from a place of emotional truth — to listen genuinely, respond authentically, and allow their characters to be changed by what happens in the moment, rather than steering scenes toward jokes or predetermined outcomes. This approach draws on acting techniques and principles that are familiar to trained actors but less common in improv training, where the emphasis is often on comedic game, pattern recognition, or format mastery. The result is performers who create improv that has the emotional depth and narrative coherence of scripted work while maintaining the spontaneity and surprise that makes improv unique. Instructors at The Ruby are working LA comedians and actors who embody this philosophy in their own work, and many bring credits from television, film, and national comedy stages. The theater's house team system gives graduates a pathway to regular performance, and students who complete the program are eligible to audition for house teams that rehearse and perform on a weekly schedule. The Ruby also encourages students to develop and produce their own shows and projects, supporting emerging creators with stage time and production resources.

The Ruby LA attracts performers who are drawn to its specific combination of artistic depth, social consciousness, and inclusive community — students who choose The Ruby over LA's more established institutions often do so because they want a training environment that aligns with their personal values as well as their artistic goals. The theater has been particularly successful at creating a welcoming space for women, non-binary performers, LGBTQ+ comedians, and performers of color who want to train in an environment where their perspectives are centered rather than marginalized. The acting-based curriculum also attracts trained actors who want to add improv skills without abandoning the emotional truth and craft they have developed through traditional acting training. While The Ruby's relatively young history (founded 2018) means it has not yet built the deep alumni network of institutions like the Groundlings or UCB, its graduates are active in the LA comedy and entertainment scene, and the theater's reputation for producing emotionally intelligent, authentic performers is growing. The Ruby's connection to the broader LA comedy ecosystem — through its instructors' industry credits and its participation in the city's festival and showcase circuit — provides students with exposure to professional opportunities.

Classes at The Ruby LA cost approximately $350 per level in 2025, with each level consisting of eight weekly sessions. The complete five-level curriculum (Levels 0 through 4) represents a total investment of approximately $1,750, which places The Ruby in the mid-to-upper range of LA improv training options — more affordable than completing the Groundlings program but comparable to the full UCB curriculum. The Whole Gem intensive, which condenses the entire program into eight weeks, is also priced at approximately $350, representing extraordinary value for students who can commit to the accelerated schedule. The Ruby's no-refund policy means students receive class credits valid for two years if they need to cancel, rather than monetary refunds — an important detail to be aware of before enrolling. There are no additional performance fees or mandatory ticket purchases for students who advance to house teams. The theater periodically offers promotional pricing or payment plan options, and prospective students should check the website for current deals. Compared to other LA comedy schools, The Ruby's pricing is competitive for the quality and depth of instruction offered, though the variable class schedule means students should confirm availability before planning their training timeline.

The Ruby LA is the ideal choice for performers who want improv training grounded in acting craft and emotional authenticity, delivered in an environment that genuinely centers inclusion and diverse perspectives. Trained actors who want to develop improv skills without abandoning their acting foundation will find The Ruby's methodology uniquely compatible with their existing training. If you are drawn to comedy that moves audiences emotionally as well as making them laugh — improv that tells stories, creates real characters, and touches on genuine human experience — The Ruby's approach will align with your artistic sensibility. However, if your primary goal is maximizing industry brand recognition on your resume, the Groundlings or UCB will serve that specific purpose more effectively. If you need a highly consistent, predictable class schedule, check The Ruby's current offerings carefully before enrolling. For performers who have completed the Whole Gem intensive and want to continue developing, The Ruby's house team system provides a pathway, but supplementing with training at other LA institutions will give you the broadest possible skill set. The Ruby works best as part of a multi-school LA training strategy — combine its emotional depth with game-based training at UCB and character work at the Groundlings for the most comprehensive comedy education available.

If your schedule allows, strongly consider the Whole Gem intensive over the traditional 32-week track — the immersive, compressed format creates deeper ensemble bonds and faster skill development, and the pricing is identical to a single regular level. Before enrolling in any class, check The Ruby's website for the most current schedule and availability — class offerings can vary between terms, and planning ahead will prevent disappointment. Approach the acting-based methodology with openness even if it feels different from what you expected from an improv class — the emphasis on emotional truth and genuine listening will transform your work in ways that benefit every area of your performing career, not just improv. Attend The Ruby's shows and showcase performances to see how advanced students and house team members apply the theater's philosophy on stage — understanding what excellent Ruby-trained improv looks like will give you a concrete target for your own development. Cross-train at other LA improv schools simultaneously — the combination of The Ruby's emotional depth with UCB's game awareness or the Groundlings' character sharpness will make you a remarkably versatile performer who stands out in audition rooms and writers' rooms alike.