A group of six people gathered around a man on his hands and knees on a wooden floor, with various surprised and animated expressions, indoors with yellow curtains and greenery in the background.
A group of six people joyfully dancing and laughing together in a room with wooden floors, a clock on the wall, and a green moss wall art. Four of them are standing while one is squatting, and they are all smiling and engaging in lively movement.

Welcome to
The Playful Stage

We are a Long Beach improv school where creativity meets personal growth. Our classes blend creative play, real connections, and bold self-expression, all in a supportive and inclusive space.

Whether you are new to improv, acting, or sketch comedy - or a seasoned performer, you'll find your voice, your confidence, and your community here.

The Playful Stage is a Black/Latinx/Queer-Owned
Small Business in Long Beach, CA

Upcoming Courses

Promotional poster for an improv class titled 'Improv for Personal Development' with a red 'Sold Out' stamp across the center. The background shows four people seated and engaging in a conversation, with two people pictured in the lower left corner—t
A group of people posing for a photo in a room with decorative green plant wall art behind them. The flyer advertises an eight-week improv course at The Playful Stage in Long Beach, starting April 13, 2026, on Mondays from 7 pm to 9:15 pm. It feature
Event poster for The Clap-In: Long Form Improv Performance Class, with a large red "Sold Out" stamp across a photo of people performing improv. The event runs Saturdays from April 18 to May 16, 2026, with a performance on May 30, 2026. Instructor Ric
A promotional poster for an improv class featuring a colorful illustration of four people acting in an energetic scene, with the title 'Dynamic Characters' at the top.
Flyer for Grounded Improv Performance Class at The Playful Stage. Features images of people acting on stage, instructor Richard J. Martinez, and details about classes on Thursdays from May 7 to June 11, 2026, and a performance on June 13, 2026. Venue
Poster for an experimental improv comedy class featuring three women performing on stage with a galaxy background. The poster includes details such as dates, times, registration cost, prerequisite, location, instructor's photo and name, and website.
Poster advertising a 6-week improv class titled Bold Improv, with a photo of two men practicing improv on a stage or studio set, one sitting and animatedly gesturing, and another standing and smiling in the background. The poster details weekly theme
Poster for an improv performance class called 'Improvised Dungeons & Dragons' at The Playful Stage, featuring a group of diverse people dressed as adventurers, with information about the class schedule, instructor Richard J. Martinez, registration fe

Upcoming Drop-Ins & Workshops

A promotional poster for a free improvisation class, showing five diverse people engaged in a playful activity indoors, with a wall clock and green artistic wall decor in the background.
Event poster for improvised medical narrative workshop featuring diverse healthcare professionals in front of Seattle skyline, with event details and instructor photo.
Event poster for 'Improvised Supernatural Narrative,' an improv drop-in in the style of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, sold out, scheduled for April 23, 2026, from 7pm to 9:15pm at The Playful Stage in Long Beach, California, with instructor Richard J. Ma
Flyer for an improv event titled "The Improvised Workplace," featuring a group of diverse people posing together. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 7 pm to 9:15 pm, at 4645 Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA. Attendance costs $35, wi
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Poster advertising a workshop titled 'Rehearsing Resistance: Disrupting Racism Through Improv,' featuring an image of a person with curly hair crossing their arms with hands up in front of their face. The poster includes details about the event, faci

Upcoming Live Shows:

Flyer for an improv student jam night called 'The Playground', featuring an image of a playground with slides and climbing equipment on a yellow background. The event is on Friday, April 24, 2026, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at 4651 E. Anaheim St., Long Bea
An illustrated poster for a comedic performance called 'Dim Sum Crazy Asians' features a playful depiction of a steaming bowl of dim sum with people's faces photoshopped onto the dishes. The event details mention a free AAPI Month Improv Show on Tues

Featured Filmed Performances:

Featured Blog Entries:

By Ali Kimmel (she/her)

By Ali Kimmel (she/her)

By Richard J. Martinez (he/him)

By Richard J. Martinez (he/him)

By Sonnjea Blackwell (she/her)

By Sonnjea Blackwell (she/her)

By Richard J. Martinez (he/him)

By Richard J. Martinez (he/him)

Newsletter:

A woman and a man are clasping hands, looking at each other in a wooden stage setting. The woman has red hair, a green t-shirt, dark jeans, and a watch. The man has curly dark hair, glasses, a maroon polo shirt, a gray zip-up hoodie, and black pants.
Group of diverse actors on stage, making expressive gestures and faces, dressed in colorful costumes, against a black background, suggesting a theatrical performance.
Four women, two sitting and two standing, are making puppets and watching a puppet show in a room decorated with a moss wall and a clock. There is a table with puppet supplies and a yellow curtain on the side.
Two people, a man and a woman, are laughing and holding hands, appearing to dance or play together indoors in front of a blue curtain, with a clock on the wall.