The Improv Shop

Founding (2009)

Kevin McKernan, a St. Louis native who trained at iO Chicago, placed his first Craigslist advertisement for an improv class in October 2009. Early sessions operated out of basements and bars. In 2010 Andy Sloey, also a St. Louis native with Chicago training, joined McKernan as co-founder and business partner, and the organization began presenting regular performances, including free long-form nights on alternating Thursdays.

First Venue and Growth

The company's early programming included shows above Tin Can Tavern at 1909 Locust Street. The Improv Shop grew steadily through the 2010s, building a five-level training curriculum and an expanding roster of performing teams. In 2017 the company purchased its current home at 3960 Chouteau Avenue in The Grove, providing dedicated performance and class space.

Fifteenth Anniversary (2024)

The Improv Shop celebrated fifteen years of operation in 2024 with a Made (Up) in St. Louis showcase at Delmar Hall, bringing together alumni and current company members. By its anniversary year the organization supported more than fifty active performing teams and approximately three hundred students in its class program.

The Improv Shop centers its programming on long-form improv in the Chicago lineage, with a five-level training curriculum that takes students from fundamentals through advanced ensemble work. Kevin McKernan's iO Chicago training informed the company's pedagogical approach and its commitment to sustained ensemble development in St. Louis.