Curious Comedy Theater is a Portland, Oregon nonprofit improv and comedy venue founded in 2008 by Stacey Hallal, operating as Portland's first and only nonprofit dedicated to the art of comedy. Located at 5225 NE Martin Luther King Boulevard in Northeast Portland, the company runs a five-level training program alongside shows in improv, sketch, and stand-up, and operates the POW! literacy outreach program using improv games to teach reading and writing in schools.
History
Founding (2008)
Stacey Hallal founded Curious Comedy Theater in 2008 as a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, establishing the city's only comedy-focused nonprofit organization. The company located at 5225 NE Martin Luther King Boulevard in Northeast Portland, also operating the Curious Comedy Annex at 5229 NE MLK Boulevard.
POW! Literacy Program
Curious Comedy developed the POW! program, which uses improv games to teach reading and writing in Portland-area schools. The organization also runs community programs for seniors and underserved communities, extending its nonprofit mission beyond performance.
Programming and Training
Curious Comedy presents improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up through shows including Showdown and the All Jane Comedy Festival. Its five-level training center serves adult and youth students.
Artistic Identity
Curious Comedy Theater operates at the intersection of comedy performance and community service, combining a five-level training program and weekly shows with the POW! school literacy outreach program and services for seniors and underserved communities. Its nonprofit status positions it as Portland's comedy education institution.
People
Key Events
Curious Comedy Theater Founded in Portland
Stacey Hallal founded Curious Comedy Theater in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, as the city's first and only nonprofit dedicated to comedy, combining performance and literacy outreach programming.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Curious Comedy Theater. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/curious-comedy
The Improv Archive. "Curious Comedy Theater." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/curious-comedy.
The Improv Archive. "Curious Comedy Theater." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/curious-comedy. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.