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Groundlings
Groundlings in LA
Overview: The website, www.funnyordie.com (Funny or Die), streams some hilarious videos. You also have a chance to purchase a Funny or Die t-shirt. The website belongs to none other than Will Ferrell. You might recognize the name. He starred in hilarious movies like Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory.
Where did Will Ferrell, Pee Wee Herman, Kristen Wiig and John Lovitz either start out or hone their improvisational skills? All of these well-known comedian/actors started out at one of L.A.’s most famous comedy venues, Groundlings. The Groundlings is located on the corner of Melrose Ave and Poinsettia Pl and the formal Groundlings troupe or company was formed by Gary Austin in 1974.
The 99-seat theater features improvisational sketches and has a well-earned reputation, as the Groundling website states, as “The pipeline of comedy talent into current television programming.” Maya Rudolph, Chris Kattan of Saturday Night Live and Michael McDonald of Mad TV are among just a few names the Groundlings has nurtured. For those interested in performing and writing comedy, the Groundlings offers four levels of improvisational courses (Basic, Intermediate, Lab and Advanced). The Groundlings is highly praised by both customers and media companies seeking talented comedians and future mainstream actors.
Location: 7307 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Site: www.groundlings.com
Ph: (323) 934-4747
Hours: Wed – Thurs, 10am – 8pm. Fri, 10am – 10pm. Sat, 2:30pm – 10pm. Sun, 2pm – 7:30pm
Cost: Admittance to the Groundlings costs between $12 to $22 depending on the night of the week.
Parking: Metered parking spots along the streets. You can park in the residential areas but be careful of the “Permit Only” signs. A handicap placard allows you to park, regardless of the Permit Only restrictions.
Accessibility: The Groundlings is wheelchair accessible.
Getting There: www.metro.net, www.bigbluebus.com