Bostonians have a reputation for being gruff and unapproachable. Even though most of us have soft, gooey centers under our surly exteriors (we promise), it’s hard to deny that, for those unfamiliar with our particular love language, we can be rather intimidating.
Because we’re so nice (soft and gooey, remember?), we’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re not going to meet people by standing on a street corner in the cold, drinking iced coffee, and wearing a Pats beanie. We’ve seen you out there. Put on a jacket before we have to take you to the hospital for frostbite.
We aren’t really supposed to tell you this, but upcoming studies from Harvard, MIT, and a bunch of other smart people say that nine out of every ten Bostonians have actually met their closest friends through improv classes! Again, the studies aren’t out yet, so you can’t fact-check us yet, but our sources say they’re publishing on May-vember thirty-ninth of twenty-twenty-something.
Luckily for you, sweet pilgrim, new sessions of Level One improv classes at the Improv Asylum start as soon as March 16, 2026!
A New Community—No Assembly Required!
It took hours to build all that Ikea furniture in your new apartment, but at the Improv Asylum, your new friend group comes pre-assembled. Our careful curation process consists of two simple questions: Are you interested in learning improv? And, will you commit to being at the Improv Asylum once a week at a specific time?
We find that people who answer these two questions in the same way already have two things in common, so we strategically place them in the same improv classes, which conveniently align with their preferred class times.
One of the reasons it’s so much easier to make friends as children is that you’re always in the same places at the same times with the same people. You have no choice but to socialize with them. Committing to routinely being at the same place with the same people, say, through improv lessons, can recreate this phenomenon for adults. All jokes aside (even though that’s our job), improv classes create a dedicated social environment for people who have at least one common interest—improv.
Facilitating Trust and Vulnerability
There’s a reason major companies, such as Google, Fidelity, and Mastercard, hire the Improv Asylum to lead improv-based team-building exercises. Improv demands trust, vulnerability, and collaboration. Coincidentally, these values underpin strong friendships.
That’s right, improv classes facilitate the hard work of interpersonal connection like a parent sneaking vegetables into their toddler’s spaghetti. You’ll be having so much fun that you probably won’t notice when you start bearing the darkest corners of your soul!
If you trust a fellow improviser to back you up on stage, chances are you trust them to be the Ben Affleck to your Matt Damon, or vice versa. How do you like them apples?
Find Your People
If you’re trying to make friends in Boston but struggling with New England social norms, discover a world where interpersonal connection is part of the lesson plan. The Improv Asylum’s Level One classes require no previous experience in improv or Boston! Think of it as an eight-week friendship trial.
View upcoming Level One sessions, starting as soon as March 16, and register now! Space is limited, so don’t delay.
