The Focus Theater

Opening (2016)

The Focus Theater opened in 2016 in the South Wedge neighborhood of Rochester, New York, programming improv, sketch, stand-up, and comedy writing instruction. Co-owner Austin Scott, a longtime Rochester improviser with more than fifteen years of experience, was among the company's founding figures.

Closure and Reopening

The theater closed around 2019 and ceased programming. In spring 2022 the company began offering classes again, and by fall 2022 the Focus had fully reopened at a new location in the Sibley Building, 260 East Main Street, Rochester, a space that nearly doubled its previous seating capacity to approximately 90 seats. The theater participated in the Rochester Fringe Festival following its reopening.

Training and Scholarship

The Focus operates a multi-level curriculum beginning with Improv 1 and extending through advanced performance tracks. The company includes a scholarship program and an accessible intake process for prospective students.

The Focus Theater programs long-form and short-form improv, sketch, stand-up, and comedy writing in Rochester's Sibley Building. Its structured multi-level curriculum and scholarship access reflect a commitment to expanding participation in Rochester's comedy community.