By Daily Press staff
The Westside Eclectic, L.A.’s hottest new comedy spot and creative community, located directly behind the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, offers a full calendar of shows and classes designed to inspire laughter and learning.
The Westside Eclectic, which recently launched an ad campaign on Comedy Central, features performers and teachers from the top comedy spots in Los Angeles including Improv Olympic, The Groundlings, Second City and The Comedy Store. In addition to bringing a much-needed infusion of live comedy shows to the westside, they also offer a full calendar of classes including improvisational comedy, stand-up, acting, voiceover, and even salsa dancing.
The Westside Eclectic was co-founded by husband and wife team Marc Campbell and Alison Wolk Campbell, who met at the UCLA Anderson School of Management while earning MBA degrees. Campbell, who was student body president at the business school and is currently a partner at Foundation Sports & Entertainment in El Segundo, studied improv at The UCB Theater in Manhattan with legendary improvisers Amy Poehler, Armando Diaz and Ali Farahnakian. He also is an original member of the ground-breaking improv group Neutrino. Wolk Campbell, a marketing executive, is the creative force behind the look and feel of The Westside Eclectic brand, as well as a student of improv herself.
The couple’s primary goal is to build a community of down-to-earth and creative people who want to explore new interests, meet new people, and most importantly, laugh more.
“Being comfortable in your own skin, not taking life too seriously, and having ‘play-time’ as an adult are all very important, and based on our own experiences, comedy shows and fun classes are a great way to help people down that path,” Campbell said.
The next round of classes at The Westside Eclectic begins in mid-March, and first-time students receive a 10 percent discount when they register online and enter promo code #1357. Additionally, there is a free improv workshop every Sunday afternoon. For more information about upcoming classes and shows, visit www.WestsideEclectic.com or call (310) 451-0850. A malleable feast: SMC presents ceramics display
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.