Held2gether: Improv for Life

I was looking for improv in Long Beach and found Held2gether. Since then, I attended a free workshop and went to a show before signing up for Improv 1.
Since I have finished my first course with them, I feel confident saying that Held2gether really is for EVERYONE! The skills you learn in improv can be carried into all situations in life. My class was filled with people from busy corporate LA, students, librarians, and people who have studied with other improv companies.
Held2gether provides a welcoming, fun atmosphere for people, and you don’t have to have any previous skills to start playing! Held2gether teaches you the basics and lets you run with it. I think these classes are wonderful for people hoping to improve upon public speaking, LISTENING, and just being in the moment.
I have been able to take classes with Kendra and Darren, and they are both brilliant. They have a wonderful approach with ALL students, and I never found classes to be intimidating. I will say that they expect each student to COMMIT to the exercises we do — it makes it more fun!
Their shows are also hilarious! They have a free show at Hot Java in Long Beach — the last Saturday of every month. The troupe is hilarious and you can tell they love working together. Overall, this is an amazing school and everyone should give it a shot!

I have been taking classes for about 3 years with held2gether. I started with Sonjay and then leveled up to Darren’s classes.
If you have ever thought about doing improv, this is the school for you.
Classes are very positive! We always clap for each other support one another.
Classes are for everyone! I have classmates that work in law, medicine, are professionals. These classes are for anyone who wants to let out their inner kid and let loose.
No experience needed. I sound like an advertisement but I this is important. My friends tell me «oh im not an actor, I could never do that.» But these classes are for people just starting and people who have done it for years.
Give it a try! Show up for a free class and say «YES! AND»

I have attended a few of their shows, I am amazed at how inventive and funny this group can be on the fly. I have always been entertained and the time goes by quickly watching their shows, it leaves you wanting more.
Darren, Sonnjea and their wonderful crew are very talented, but whats even more amazing, they can show you the skills you need to be just as amazing. I have not taken one of their workshops yet, but it is very tempting. I can’t think of a more warm and caring group to bring out the best in you. If you have always wanted to learn how to think on your feet, be more confident and make some terrific friends, take one of their workshops or at the very least, catch one of their free shows, you will be glad you did.

We saw the crew tonight at Hot Java and they were at their best! We laughed until our sides hurt and had a great time. We’ll be at the next show for sure!

Darren and his improve troop are rocking. I had to pleasure of seeing them at the long beach playhouse last month and I was pleasantly surprised… go figure! They actually made me laugh! Which I have never done. Way to go Held2gether I’m definitely going to be checking them out again in the coming months at there free show at Hot Java.

If you need an evening to escape from reality, then locate one of Held2Gether’s improve events. You will certainly leave feeling uplifted and inspired when you leave.
Even better: attend one of Darren’s workshops and learn how to apply laughter to expand your own character. Laughter is an excellent form of healing yourself no matter what you are dealing with in your life.
Try it out and let me know!

We hired Darren Held to be the keynote speaker for the CSULB Counterparts Conference. He was Fantastic! There were 320 attendees and he did a great presentation that was funny, insightful and people were very happy to participate. He is a natural and was super easy to work with. Following the keynote and throughout the rest of the day I overheard people still using some of the catch phrases from the presentation. I highly recommend Held2gether if you want an educatioal and entertaining presenter.

Darren held a corporate workshop for the Aquarium of the Pacific, where I am employed. What a wonderful experience! Not only did the workshop help to grow my communication skills and personal confidence, but it offered an opportunity for my colleagues and I to get to know one another better and expand our abilities to work together more positively and harmoniously.
Prior to working with Darren I had never thought of improv as anything other than entertainment, but I now know that it can offer many personal and social benefits as well. The class was creative, super fun, and challenging.
In addition, Darren is a great guy who has a unique ability to put students at ease. While there is indeed a sense of discomfort in any good improv class, by the end of the series of classes, I think we all felt we had successfully moved outside our comfort zone and learned a lot about ourselves and each other.
I highly recommend contacting Held2gether and Darren for corporate as well as personal growth! Thanks, Darren!

So far, I’ve attended one class, which was not held in perfect conditions considering the construction within the building, but I’ve only noticed it during the breaks. Still, this is exactly something we’ve been looking for. Other improv training we’ve tried were either too impersonal or too serious. This one seems just right. We’re actually commuting all the way from DTLA, but it seems worth it. The instructor is friendly and patient. Highly recommended for all actors, those who wish to improve their creativity and people who just want to do something fun.

Not funny, but they put forth a great effort.

When I moved to Long Beach I attended one of Held2Gether’s Last Laught Saturday’s at Hot Java and, frankly, left there with my stomach hurting from all the laughter. A few weeks later I got enough nerve to take a half day Improv Workshop with Darren to get my feet wet in the world of improv. It was a blast!
I left there wanting more. In October 2012 I started taking Improv Classes with Held2Gether and never looked back! The instructors are supportive, knowledgable, and a lot of fun. Darren and Sonnjea do a great job of creating a family in each class.
In fact, through Held2Gether I made some pretty amazing friends from class. Being new to Long Beach it was a great way to meet some fun, creative, and super nice people! As well, many of the skills I’ve learned through taking improv with Darren and Sonnjea are easily applied to my daily professional life.
So, if you’re looking for an excuse to play each week, want to make new friends, or gain some valuable skills that translate into the professional environment I highly recommend checking out one of the Improv Classes offered by Held2Gether!

YEPPERS!
When I started taking Level 1 class about 2 years ago — I was just HOOKED IMMEDIATELY!
I felt like I had gone to heaven! I love taking «breaks from brutal reality» (just call me the «Escapist Queen») as much as I can — AND I LOVE to have FUN… so going to these classes felt like going to a blast party every week! And after about 2 years of classes — — I STILL feel that way! I was SO HAPPY to discover the other students who– looking like «ordinary drone workers» from the outside — quickly revealed their ‘inner’ child who is insane, clever, fun loving and exuberant. Finally! I had met other kindred alien life forms! I realized I had entered a Fabulous Mind Set taught in class.
I find these classes nurture an ‘interactive social creativity’ by teaching the group improv comedic «Tools and Rules’ — - where I learned to get «plugged in» to a collective «Improv Comedy Higher Consciousness’. Whew! See what I mean?
I’ve been an addict ever since day one– under the tutelage of «Darren» (whom I call the «Group Improv Guru») He is incredibly knowledgable, kind and has really HIGH ENERGY! He gives INDIVIDUAL quick critiques after each exercise vignette Unlike many instructors, Darren has the gift of positive feedback — he’s never a turn off to learning about yourself and your skill level. .I really got to learn how I ‘present’ and ‘communicate’ without getting all hung up and shut down.
I encourage ANYONE OF ANY AGE to take these classes. I am not a professional actor nor have I ever been interested in this type of performance work. And it doesn’t matter!
The classes are SHEER enjoyment, lots of laughter and learning AND its right here in Long Beach! And you meet the coolest people around!

Taking Improv classes with Darren and Sonnjea has and continues to be fun and funnier. They provide a positive, encouraging environment. You do not néed to be an actor. Try the 4 hour intro class and you will not be disappointed.
If your looking to just meet people and make friends the Improv shows are in Long Beach and have a great connection to the community.
I promise you will LOL the whole time. What is better than that?

I took a Saturday 6 week beginner improv class to improve my public speaking skills and also have fun and try something different. I had a fantastic experience! Sonnjea Blackwell was the course instructor and she was extremely supportive and encouraging on how she taught the class. The environment is safe and non-​intimidating, so being a newbie I felt comfortable practicing in front of strangers. I really recommend taking this class if you want to improve your professional communication skills and have a great time doing it!

I am not a professional actress/​performer and I am not planning to be one. I took this class to help my fear of public speaking. It was in between toastmasters and improv class and this sounded more fun! I was very intimidated walking into the first class because I was not professionally trained. However Darren (the instructor) was very welcoming and the attendees all came for different reasons and at different skill levels.
The exercises started out simple and doable for someone like myself who considers herself shy in large groups of people. Darren created a very supportive culture in class for learning, making mistakes and stepping outside comfort zones. I was truly surprised that by the end of the six week course I was performing spoken word about a item of clothing, singing pop songs. and making sounds to imitate a machine.
Take this class to get over stage fright, to improve your acting skills or just to have fun!

I’ve taken a 6-​week intro workshop and participated in a ½ day workshop. Both experiences have been amazing!
Darren and Sonnjea, the co-​instructors, are great instructors! They treat everyone the same, whether you’re a total newbie like me or a professional actor.
The thought of Improv can be very intimidating but the instructors’ approach make everything seem easy and fun.
In the 6– week intro workshop, you get to do a lot of activities and exercises that will teach you valuable tips to use on the stage. You also get really great feedback from the instructors and your fellow students. If you don’t have a lot of time but are interested in Improv, the ½ day workshop is right up your alley — but after that you’ll be left with wanting more.
I highly recommend Held2Gether. It’ll put you out of comfort zone in non-​scary way and you’ll be laughing your heart out.

I started taking Darren’s Level 2 class after going to Groundlings Basic. Living in Long Beach I wanted to keep playing but didn’t feel like driving up to WeHo to do improv.
What I discovered right off the bat is that everyone is very supportive! VERY! When you put yourself out there like that its really nice to be with a group you can trust because then everyone gets better. This is definitely the case here.
I also enjoyed the fact that each class is a challenge. Darren truly knows your strengths and weaknesses and helps you play better with each. You increase your strengths and bring up those weaknesses to make you a very well rounded improviser.
Now…lets just say you are on the fence about this. My recommendation is to commit to trying it out. Most people say «oh I could never do that» or «what will I use that for?» First, yes you can do that. Second, you can use this in life. Increased self confidence, better communication, learning teamwork, or even just a silly release to help deal with stress. All benefits of letting go and just improvising.
First step: get into a Level 1 class or take a weekend workshop (thats where I started which is a good way to see if this is your «thing») then just go for it!
Second step: become an Improv MASTER! Ok, maybe that was a big jump but you get it… See you in class!

I attended Darren’s Improv class through the City of Long Beach this summer. I can honestly say that it’s one of the best classes I’ve ever taken! (And with a PhD education under my belt I’ve taken a LOT of classes!)
Darren does an amazing job of making each member of the class feel safe and valued. We’re encouraged to take risks and are supported if we «mess up.» Darren is a fun instructor who has a great personality, a fantastic sense of humor, and a solid understanding of the elements of improv. Not only did I have fun, but I also left the class with a greater knowledge of improv, and increased self confidence (which is pretty hard to do since I already think I’m rockin’ awesome).
If you get a chance to see Held2Gether or to take one of Darren’s classes, do it. It’s a blast!

This is only a review of their free performance I attended at Hot Java some months ago – I’m not a student of the workshop.
The best way to describe this show would be something like Who’s LIne Is It Anyway, where the improv performers are given certain parameters (often supplied by the audience) to perform a skit. I was amazed at the performers’ abilities to think so quickly on their feet and at all the hilarious scenarios that ensued from the oftentimes ludicrous setup. Some of the performers were pros, and others weren’t, but I was able to find something to appreciate about all of them. The packed house also supplied a lot of energy to motivate the performers and the audience does almost become one of the cast members by the end of the show. The workshop’s instructor and emcee, Darren Held, keeps the show moving along nicely. The show, at over 2 hours and being FREE, is a great entertainment value. Certain situations can get a bit «adult» so I wouldn’t say it’s really kid-​friendly, fyi (maybe a PG-​13?). My friends and I had a blast and I look forward to the next time I get to see another show. Bravo, Held2gether!

What else can I say but… Darren’s Improv classes are life changing!!! Meet new great friends and celebrate all the little details of life while learning Improv comedy!!!
If you have ever thought you were funny or just love hearing people laugh at your jokes and sense of humor, I highly recommend these classes as a start to learning the basics and of course having a heck of a good time while learning.
Darren is a fantastic teacher! He is so nice, professional and creates an amazingly comfortable environment to grow in.