The people you’ll learn from.
Working performers, writers, and directors who actually live here - not gatekeepers passing through.
Every person on this page is someone you'll stand in a room with. They came up through the same kind of classes they now teach, on stages from Chicago to the Lower East Side, and decided to build something closer to home.
Benny Schecker
Benny is a writer, improviser, and producer who has been active in the NYC comedy scene for over a decade. He currently teaches sketch comedy at Paper Mill Playhouse and currently produces benefit shows for the nonprofit Grassroots Comedy.
Benny has worked in production for industry legends like The Jim Henson Company, Broadway Video and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was also a writer on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, sending material to and receiving feedback directly from Larry David and Jeff Schaffer.
Benny’s teaching style focuses on helping people drop self-consciousness and tap into a more natural, expressive version of themselves. His sessions are freeing, supportive, and built on the belief that anyone can be great at improv. Bring Benny a PB&J (low sugar jelly) and you’ve got a friend for life.
Fun fact: Benny famously produced the live stage reading of The Interview in protest of Sony’s decision to pull the film, a bold move that drew massive media attention from The New York Times, NPR, and Rolling Stone.