Jet City Improv

Founding (1992)

Cory Rouse founded Jet City Improv in Seattle, Washington in 1992. The company established itself as the primary dedicated improv venue in the Pacific Northwest, operating at a time when Seattle had no comparable long-running improv institution. Jet City built its audience through a mix of accessible short-form formats and developing long-form ensemble work.

Programming and Training

Jet City developed a substantial training program over the following decades, offering classes that trained many of Seattle's working improvisers. The company's house ensembles progressed from short-form audience games toward longer structured forms, and Jet City began presenting annual festivals and special events alongside its regular performance schedule.

Ongoing Operations

Jet City Improv continues to operate in Seattle, maintaining both its training curriculum and regular performance programming. It remains one of the longer-running independent improv companies in the American West.

Jet City Improv presents both short-form audience-interactive improv and long-form ensemble work. Its programming has evolved over three decades to include a range of formats, from competitive short-form games to Harold-style long-form sets. The training center offers structured tracks for beginner through advanced students, positioning the company as a developmental institution as well as a performing venue.