Hey folks,

I was in class (acting) today, and the professor suggested we take Improv courses because agents and casting directors find Improvisational skills to be more useful than any other sort of training. Is this true?

For instance, will taking courses at UCB or Groundlings hold more value than taking courses at strassberg or adler acting schools?

In all likelihood im going to end up doing both, but I just wanted to know what I should put more effort in to.

Commercial Agents and Commercial Casting directors LOVE improv. Most of the commercial audition demand the use of improv. I have yet to go to a commercial audition that asked me to bust out my Meisner, Straberg, or Adler.

Improv is also the best for becoming less nervous and self conscious and becoming more risk taking, imaginative, and present in acting.

This isn't an either/or situation. Improv training can be very valuable and I'm a big fan but it doesn't take the place of real acting classes.

i think improv helps with certain aspects of acting, but since it is improv, it's not totally the same as 'acting acting.'
At the same time, it's a great strength to have..