The school is absolutely fantastic! The instructors are incredibly talented, supportive, and genuinely invested in helping students improve. Andy, the owner, is very well connected in the comedy industry, approachable, and truly cares about his students' success. One of the things I appreciated most was the opportunity to perform in the graduation show. Industry professionals attend these events, and I was fortunate enough to book another show as a result. I highly recommend this school to anyone interested in stand-up comedy. read more

For those who don't, Manhattan Comedy School is the place to learn how to be your internal comedian! I have taken 4 classes over all and I must say it's was worth every penny! It has changed my life for the better read more

Great opportunity to see budding comedians! Went to the graduating improv class presentations! Excellent talent! read more

I so recommend this school. I took a class with Calise Hawkins and am amazed as she's not only a great performer but also a great teacher. Her ability to be so attentive to each student is really incredible and I expect it will be the same with other teachers. I'll get back to you as I am going to be a repeat student for sure. I don't know where this will lead but I've also seen the benefits in my day job and just my over all attitude. I was no curmudgeon but I am considerably happier and less things bother you when you can joke about it. read more

Came for the class, staying for how they treat people. I bought a stand-up bootcamp with Gibran Saleem in fall 2024, got sick, and had to drop out after a couple of sessions. Reached out in summer 2026 -- almost two years later -- and Andy just said yes and got me into Gibran's next Level 1 cohort (Pearl Studios, 500 8th Ave; graduation show at Gotham Comedy Club). Small classes, honest feedback, real stage time. If you've been "thinking about" trying stand-up for years, this is the low-risk way in. read more

I've really enjoyed every class I've taken here. The teachers are great and have a lot of experience.

I recently completed my second class at Manhattan Comedy School, and both experiences were fantastic. Kate Rigg is a wonderful teacher who tailors her feedback to the individual strengths of each student. As someone who's relatively new to stand-up, I appreciated the homework assignments with prompts to write a joke about a specific topic or personal jokes using a specific formula. It's one thing to work on material, but it's important to learn how joke structures work, and Kate covered a lot of ground there. It was also nice to feel supported in an LGBTQ+ class, where I could work on queer material without fear of judgment. I felt similarly supported in the Women's Only class. Manhattan Comedy School is the only place I know that offers identity-tailored classes, and I've heard good things about the other classes and teachers as well. I'm also thrilled that after starting this adventure less than a year ago, I've performed at both Gotham Comedy Club and New York Comedy Club and received professional video of my sets, another perk of taking classes at MCS. I highly recommend MCS to anyone curious about trying comedy and looking for a safe and encouraging place to start! read more

The MCS is a wonderful experience. The teachers are wonderful. I am a senior citizen the experience gave me a new lease on life.

Edward Sarfaty is a gem!! His comedy classes are super fun, and he comes up with really creative and cool interactive assignments. I took three classes with him. The stand-up class twice, and also the late night comedy writing. I loved them each for different reasons. The latter was awesome for folks who are looking to move into the writing segment of the industry. Edward had interesting guests from the industry and also really fun and creative exercises for us to teach us how to write a monologue for late night, turn interviews with people into comedy bits, or take a news item and turn it into a source of levity. His stand-up class was also uniquely helpful for me to take both my writing and performance to the next level. On a personal note, Edward's one of the kindest, most down to earth, human beings. But he can also be hard on students when necessary-- in the best kind of way. He was once really frank with me in class, when he felt disappointed in me for dialing it in. And the experience was so helpful and really motivated me. He cares deeply about the creative journey of each of his students in a really authentic way. Overall, his classes helped me push through a creative block, and move onto the next level of my own comedy journey!!! read more

Manhattan Comedy School - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Just finished Manhattan Comedy School's Stand-up (Level 1) class with comedian Karen Bergreen. A fantastic teacher. The class itself really was a transformational experience for me. I learned the techniques of joke writing that I had never stopped to think about before (tags, callbacks, misdirection, etc.). I met a great collection of new friends. And I learned some deep truths about myself that gave me a new freedom to be funny. First thing I did after our graduation performance at Gotham Comedy Club was sign up for another MCS stand-up class. Looking forward to learning more and becoming a sharper, more skilled performer. read more

Over the summer I took my first stand up comedy class with Karen Bergreen. I am a stand up newbie. Karen created a comfortable and safe space to try new jokes. The class was very inclusive and supportive from start to finish. The class ended with a graduation show at Gotham Comedy Club. It was very cool to perform in a real club. I'd highly recommend it anyone who loves comedy and wants to give it a try. I felt Manhattan Comedy School was very thoughtful regarding Covid19 and I appreciate the precautions in place. read more

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Before joining, My mom said I wasn't funny. After completing the course, she still said I wasn't funny. But I got to meet a bunch of other non talented people with the same dream and one year later we're still pursuing this goal of making people laugh. For my graduation show Jim Gaffigan stopped by and performed a set for the crowd. It was unreal sharing the stage with one of the comedy greats. Karen Bergreen was my instructor and she did the best she could. If you're thinking about a career in comedy or just want to meet new friends, take this course. It's great networking, read more

This was a fantastic experience. I always thought I had a knack for standup, and Karen & Andy's class really brought out that ability in me. Had a great time at the graduation show and left with an awesome, well-made video. My friends were so impressed! :) read more

I took Karen Bergreen's comedy class, it was the first time they did an all-womens class. It was spectacular. What a warm, silly, hilarious environment to start my career in comedy. Karen led us all to become more of our funny selves. Great way to meet people and start out writing and performing standup! read more

The women's class with Karen Bergreen was an excellent experience all around. The class was supportive but also tough, in a good way. It gently forced me to become a "real comedian" - by that I meant by the end of the 6 weeks I felt confident enough to be funny and authentic on stage and have an enjoyable experience doing it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to develop a community of supportive and motivated artists - something not easy to come by! A big thanks to Karen and also Andy, the owner of Gotham Comedy Club, for setting up this experience for me. read more

An excellent first step into stand up comedy. I received a lot of feedback that I was able to use to build confidence. I learned a great deal under Karen Bergreen and continue to use the advice she has given me. They also provide lots of information and opportunities even long after finishing my course. read more

I took a stand up comedy class at Manhattan Comedy School and LOVED it! Not only the class was super helpful in crafting my material but I also met like-minded people, who became my new circle of friends. It's hard to believe that in 6 weeks each of us went from total beginner to standing at the Gotham Comedy Club stage in front of full audience. Thank you, MCS :) read more

Since I started doing stand-up in my forties, I needed all the help I could get, and studying at the Manhattan Comedy School was the best decision ever. The class provided a safe space to workshop material, and helped me ease into the open mic circuit--confident that I had the basics to build upon and knowing what to expect "out there." The classes are taught by renowned comedy pros Andy Engel and Karen Bergreen, and are attended by a diverse group of students from all backgrounds and ethnicities. Not only did I learn the technical aspects of comedy writing and performance, I also received practical advice for navigating this very competitive industry--what to watch out for, what not to do. And because Andy and Karen are industry pros, whenever I meet bookers and mention that I had studied with them, I seem to get an immediate vote of confidence. Also very helpful: You can use the high-quality recording of your graduation set to shop your material around, book shows, and share on social. You will definitely get your money's worth. Highly recommend! read more

Great way to get started in stand up, even if you don't want to pursue that as a career. About 20 people get together every week in a supportive environment. Everybody gets better with instruction practice. Plus you get a graduation show at a real club and a tape of your act. read more

I took level 1 and level 2 with Cory Kahaney. She's a legit, national touring headliner comedian that I myself had seen before. Also, during our class, she actually had a spot on Craig Furgeson. The class is what you make of it. I met a lot of great friends, I got picked up by Innovative Artists, I've opened for one of my absolute favorite comics (Colin Kane) in 4 different cities, and I've gotten cast in Gurl.com's 'Ask A Naked Guy'. People tell me that when they find out that I've only been doing comedy for about 6 months, they can't believe it because I come off like I've been doing it longer. I attribute that to getting a crash course from Manhattan Comedy School. PS - Ask Andy Engel to do his Mike Tyson voice. He's ridiculous. read more

Ever since I was a young lad getting laughs from my family over dinner, I've thought of myself as (somewhat) of a comedian. Many years later, I decided to pursue stand-up as a hobby to complement my day job in strategic consulting. One late Saturday night, while deep in an internet hole, I came across the Manhattan Comedy School, and plunged in, signing up for a Level 1 class with Karen Bergreen. Her credentials and online videos seemed legit, so I went notebook in hand to the first class. Karen created a comfortable atmosphere for novice joke writers to get up and tell their brand of insight to others, and then elicited feedback from the class to help students hone their craft. Her strengths were in taking specific feedback and expanding it to benefit many classmates, and also in encouraging students to email her their WIP sets for tweaks and recommendations before putting it on the mic. After the 6 week course, we performed 5 minutes of our 'greatest hits' on stage at the Gotham Comedy Club in front of friends and family. Having enjoyed my first, I signed up for Level 2 with Cory Kahaney, another seasoned veteran. Cory has a different style. She's sarcastic, almost caustic. (It's just an act- she's really nice in person). I noticed there were a lot of repeat students in Cory's class, and she works closely with people to 'toughen them up' for the realities of being on stage and on the road. I've benefits from both teachers and luckily took their classes in an order corresponding to what I needed at the time. If you're interested in seeing me perform sometimes, hit me up privately. read more

The class is very informative. If your a complete novice at comedy. You get out of it what you put into it. But all and all it was a get experience having a graduation show with Louis CK popping up to do a set was amazing. Here's the link to my comedy performance http://youtu.be/zvWynCqDSmk read more

I'm an tech entrepreneur and do a lot of pitches to investors. So I took this class as a fun way to develop my presentation skills. Cory Kahaney, my instructor was so helpful with her insights on how to improve my jokes that I'm actually thinking of doing comedy for a career. Here's the link to my comedy performance after the level one class: http://youtu.be/Hdaf8_PFsTc. The fellow students in the class were also a huge source of fun and extremely generous in offering good comedy ideas. Andy Engel who runs Manhattan Comedy School gave me countless opportunities to perform and improve my comedy skills at Gotham and a few other open mics. Andy is well connected is very generous with introductions to other comedians, casting agents and producers. read more

I highly recommend the Manhattan Comedy School. If you ever thought about doing stand-up this course really helps you find your voice and refine your material. They offer friendly, supportive, constructive feedback. Graduation is show at the Gotham Comedy Club which is a really nice venue. I really felt that the school prepared me for the show and set me up for success. I highly recommend taking the course. read more

Had an amazing experience taking classes with both Karen and Ross. The classes were centrally located, entertaining, and I even got a great group of like minded comedy friends out of it. I took the Level 1 class with Karen and she was encouraging, attendant, and insanely funny! I loved taking the class with her and the graduation show was amazing. Highly recommend taking the level 1 class if you're looking to do some standup comedy, for whatever reason! read more

I cant say enough nice things about my experience with the Manhattan Comedy school. If you are looking to get your feet wet in the stand up comedy world I would strongly consider taking a course with them first. Our teacher gave us all the basics we needed to succeed, created a fun and stress free space to get started and best of all she was incredibly funny! What I didnt expect was once you take a class here you become part of a bigger comedy community. With offers to free shows and industry nights you really jump feet first into the NYC comedy scene. If you are interested in giving stand up a shot, give them a call -you will not be dissapointed! read more

Manhattan Comedy School is a great experience. The classes are a fun mix of fledgling comedians and regular people who just need to appear less doofussy when they have to give a presentation at work. The instructors are all comedians themselves, so they're a blast to work with. They not only guide you into finding your voice, but you learn to feel at home in front of a crowd. It's the ideal launching pad whether you want to look good on Kimmel or in the courtroom. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Karen Bergreen's Level 1 stand-up comedy class. Karen is a wonderful teacher - she's smart and fun and encouraging and enthusiastic. This was the first comedy class that I have ever taken and I felt very supported. The class was 17 students of all ages and backgrounds and orientations, and we all bonded. Graduation night at the Gotham on 9/6/17 was a blast! I highly recommend h Karen's class. read more

Level 1 with Karen Bergreen and Level 2 with Cory Kahaney. Great experiences both times. They helped me to find my voice and start developing a comedic persona. They give great feedback so take it to heart. You have to work to incorporate it and practice what you have learned at open mics! I find people who don't like the class or who quit doing comedy generally don't understand that it takes a LOT of hard work and you don't become great overnight. The teachers won't write your jokes for you. You have to bring it during class and they will coach you on your material. This helps you become the comedian you ARE! Not the one you saw on TV. Or the one someone else thinks you should be. Another thing I really like about the teachers is they always encourage you to get onstage without drinking. They really care about their students and want us to learn from the drug addiction and alcohol abuse in previous comedy eras. The end product is a quality video of your polished performance. It's like a roller coaster ride. You will be all nerves before you get on that stage but it's a high to hear the laughter and once you get off, you will want to do it again... and again. Andy Engel is the school manager. He always shares internship opportunities with students. This is totally separate from the class. But if you help out, you learn more about industry, meet more fellow comedians, and usually have fun! If you don't help out, that's OK too! It's just an opportunity to do another comedy-related thing. Same goes for Andy's New Talent shows. Andy runs a new talent show almost every week. Sometimes scouts and industry people attend. Sometimes a famous comedian will drop in and headline. Sometimes they don't. But if you want to get stage time and a new, high quality video - Michael Codispotti makes a great audition tape! You just have to bring your friends and your jokes! If you prefer open mics to bringer shows, Andy also hosts and open mic on Mondays. If you want to check out the scene before the class, Andy hosts comedy workshops about once a month. read more

ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS IVE MADE. It was so much fun, you can apply this skills to so many other parts of life and you meet such great people. Karen Bergeen is such an excellent instructor. No matter what your level or style is she finds different ways to work with each student. The six weeks of classes gave you a great preparation for your graduation show at an actual well-known comedy club, which is a total blast. All your classmates and friends come out to support you. If you are even in the slightest considering taking comedy classes DO IT!!! read more

I have taken two (about to take my third) classes at Manhattan Comedy School. The instructors are real-life comics who come with a wealth of experience, knowledge and advice. If you want to get on stage quickly and embark on the comedy adventure, and get some tips so you know what you're doing, TAKE A CLASS! It was the best thing I did toward taking the stand-up comedy plunge. read more

I attended Manhattan Comedy School from late December of 2010 to February of 2011. I had a phenomenal experience and would recommend it to anyone who has EVER thought about doing stand-up. Karen Bergreen ran a class that allowed you to find your individual voice while giving you the right amount of guidance and feedback to make your 5-minute set work on stage. I don't have plans to become a professional but I am so glad I got the chance to perform on stage at a famous NYC club (Gotham). I have been invited back twice since my graduation show (02/23/11) and Andy runs great new talent shows that give you the confidence to get up and perform. Wether it is on your bucket list or you want to start on your path to be a professional I don't think you could pick a better place to start your journey. read more

Manhattan Comedy School was instrumental in developing my stand-up career. My instructor was awesome, helping me cut the fat of my jokes and keep it to a tight five minutes. I've stayed in contact with my instructor and Andy Engel, the school's founder, and continue to receive their support and feedback. Most recently, I auditioned for Gotham Comedy Club's AXS TV Live. If you're considering comedy, Manhattan Comedy School is your best starting point! read more

I took levels 1 and 2 at Manhattan Comedy School. A school can't make you funny, but MCS can help you: stay diligent with your writing, perform consistently, edit faster and better; hone in your persona, and get your stage time on some pretty epic stages. As a result of taking classes here, I was able to perform at Gotham Comedy Club at shows with Seinfeld, Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan, Sherri Shepard, Judah Friedlander, Jeff Dye, and more. Brian Regan saw one of my sets and gave me some pretty sweet accolades after. I would have never gotten this stuff on my own, so early on in my career. MCS has definitely give my career a jump start I would not have had otherwise. read more

Great place to workout material in a supportive environment facilitated by working comedians. Karen was especially generous with her time, reviewing work even outside of class. The New Talent Showcases they offer are also great opportunities to perform on the main stage at one of the best clubs in NYC (Gotham Comedy Club). read more

I have known Andy Engel for a while now and I must say Manhattan Comedy School is the place to be. While hooking me up with great teachers Andy sure knows his job. I have met many professional comedians and learned so much. I also got free DVD's of myself performing. Not only that, but Andy keeps me abreast of all that is going on in the "Comedy World". If you're looking to be a comedian or just act like one, Manhattan Comedy School is the place for you. Each time I take a class from Andy I get renewed strength and confidence and more minutes of material! read more

I was thrilled with Andy Engel's comedy class. For years I've wanted to try my hand at standup. I have to say there was no better place for me to have given it a shot than with Andy. Considering I had no experience, Andy made me feel like an aspiring comedian from day 1. From the basics of joke-writing, to the more nuanced aspects of persona, stage presence, and delivery, Andy made it all very easy to grasp. I would highly recommend this class for anyone who has considered being a comedian or just the life of their own party. read more

I had a great experience at the Manhattan Comedy School. Not only did this class help me find my voice in comedy, but it gave me confidence in both my writing and my overall stage presence. My actual classmates were welcoming and supportive, as I find, most people in comedy are. Karen in awesome and hilarious, but the class is what you make of it. The more prepared you are for class and the more work you put into it, the better the Graduation show will be. Do the class. You'll be a better person because of it. read more

Manhattan Comedy School is the best in the city. The instructors are supportive and pros. You meet great people, who support you and become your friends. You learn how to get started. And you get to perform at a great comedy club, Gotham. It has it all. I am a lawyer and whether you are looking to become a full time comedian or just help with your public speaking and writing this school is tops. read more