The Laughing Academy Offers Training, Entertainment and Workshops

The Laughing Academy, founded by former Second City actress, writer and performer, Kim Greene Hiller, celebrated the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar studio, located at 3230 Glenview Road, Glenview.

The Academy, first opened in 2011, offers classes on improvisation and other performance arts to students aged 2 to 102 as a means of teaching life skills, such as communication, team-building, social-emotional learning, confidence, active listening and more.

Hiller possesses a Master of Education degree and years of teaching experience in the arts and as a corporate trainer and a classroom teacher.

When first established, The Laughing Academy taught on location, ultimately teaching up to 546 children a week in various schools, as well as teaching adults and teens, on location in schools, offices, park districts, private properties and libraries.

“We are creating a collaborative creative center where all can learn from the performing arts and benefit from the positivity of laughter. The fact is, the very skills it takes to succeed on stage, also help us in all we do: teamwork, confidence, being fully present and tuned in, ready for surprises, trusting your own instincts and the resilience not to fear failure,” Kim Greene Hiller says.

The Laughing Academy’s Grand Opening on Thursday, August 15th was attended by hundreds of adults and children, including local performers, Second City members, and State Senator Laura fine. It featured free live entertainment (a family-friendly live improv performance happening every 15 minutes), games, and loads of laughter.

The Laughing Academy’s first workshops are two one-day special events August 26th and 27th. They will be a special opportunity when Emmy-nominated, Peabody award-winner Rich Talarico is offering two different one-day workshops for adults, one focused on writing and the other on improvisation. The regular schedule of classes from preschool to adult classes, begins the following week, September 3rd. Registration is active now and can be found at www.TheLaughingAcademy.com, for questions call 847-724-2787.

There will also be special performance events throughout the year as well as opportunities for corporate training sessions, team-building for sports teams and scout troupes, birthday party events, opportunities for private parties and more.

For more information or to plan a workshop or event, visit www.thelaughingacademy.com or call 847.724.2787.