History of Improvisation
A documented timeline of key milestones in the history of improvisational theatre, from Viola Spolin's theatre games to the long-form revolution.
Ancient and Medieval Roots
-500–1499The performance traditions of ancient Greece and medieval Europe that established the conditions for improvisational theatre: the parabasis of Old Comedy, the Vice figure of English morality plays, and the physical clowning of court jesters, all built around the unscripted exchange between performer and audience.
Aristophanes and the Parabasis: The First Direct Address to an Audience
Aristophanes staged his comedies at the Festival of Dionysus in Athens from the 420s BCE, establishing two structural conventions central to improvisational performance. The parabasis had the chorus step outside the drama to address the audience directly on topical matters, shifting with each performance. The agon staged a formal debate between opposing characters played to comic resolution. James Agee later traced physical comedy's lineage in an unbroken line back to ancient Greece.
The Vice Figure in English Morality Plays: Licensed Improvisation in Medieval Theatre
In English morality plays of the late medieval period, the Vice figure was the longest role in the play, reserved for lead actors given explicit license to interact with the audience and improvise. Scholar F. H. Mares first documented this improvisatory license in 1958. The Vice was a comedian and figure of disorder who departed from scripted material to draw audiences into the action, a direct precursor to the Elizabethan clowns and the commedia tradition.
The Early Modern Age
1500–1799The period in which scenario-based improvisation was codified as a professional performance form. Commedia dell'arte emerged in northern Italy around 1545, spread across Europe, and planted the structural DNA of stock characters, outline scenarios, and improvised dialogue that the Compass Players would deliberately revive four centuries later.
Commedia dell'arte Emerges in Northern Italy
Professional commedia dell'arte troupes first performed in northern Italy around 1545, building performances from canovacci: scenario outlines specifying structure but leaving all dialogue to be invented in the moment. Stock characters including Arlecchino, Pantalone, and Il Dottore allowed ensembles to adapt to different audiences and venues. The Compass Players in Chicago consciously revived this format four centuries later, describing their scenario plays as loosely based on the old commedia dell'arte format.
Commedia dell'arte Reaches the French Court; the Form Spreads Across Europe
Italian commedia troupes, including the Gelosi, performed at the French court from the early 1570s. The Gelosi played at the wedding of Henri III in Venice in 1574 and were subsequently invited to Paris to perform before Catherine de Medici. Their performances introduced French audiences to the scenario format and improvised stock characters, influencing Moliere and establishing the international spread of the form that persisted through English pantomime into the Victorian era.
Will Kemp and Robert Armin: Shakespeare's Improvisational Clowns
Will Kemp and Robert Armin were the principal comic actors of the Lord Chamberlain's Men from 1594, the first named English stage performers documented for building their craft around improvised audience interaction. Kemp, known for departures from scripted material, left the company in 1599. Armin replaced him with a more character-based approach. Stephen Wisker's analysis traces how their contrasting styles anticipate the tension between physical chaos and character-grounded play that defines the long-form improv tradition.
John Rich Establishes the English Harlequinade at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre
John Rich developed the English pantomime harlequinade at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre from 1717, performing the Harlequin character himself under the name Lun. The form was a comic afterpiece built around physical improvisation and comic business inherited from commedia dell'arte. A Cultural History of Comedy in the Age of Empire traces how pantomime routines developed in this tradition were later adapted by vaudeville and silent-film comedians, creating a direct lineage to practitioners who preceded Chicago improvisation.
The Victorian Stage and Variety Era
1800–1919The century in which popular entertainment industrialized. Music hall in Britain and vaudeville in America created the commercial infrastructure and performance culture, including direct audience address, topical material revised nightly, and ensemble physical comedy, that trained the generation who would found modern American improvisation.
Joseph Grimaldi Performs as Clown in Harlequin and Asmodeus at Covent Garden
Joseph Grimaldi performed as Clown in Harlequin and Asmodeus, or Cupid on Crutches at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden on December 26, 1810. Grimaldi transformed the Clown from a secondary figure into the central comic presence of English pantomime, inventing physical business in performance and building material across a season through audience response. His influence was direct: the knockabout and slapstick of pantomime trained the vaudeville and silent-film comedians who immediately preceded the Chicago improvisational tradition.
Music Hall Emerges in England as the First Commercial Venue Built Around Audience Rapport
Dedicated music hall venues appeared across England from the early 1850s, creating the first commercial performance format structured around direct, responsive engagement with audiences. Bessie Bellwood's documented response to a hostile crowd, in which she improvised a verbal battle until the heckler lay gasping, is the clearest pre-Spolin example of performer-audience improvisation in the record. A Cultural History of Comedy in the Age of Empire traces how music hall's conversational performance mode preceded Viola Spolin's theater games.
Tony Pastor Establishes Polite Vaudeville; the American Variety Circuit Takes Shape
Tony Pastor's transformation of saloon variety entertainment into polite vaudeville from the early 1870s established the American commercial performance infrastructure that trained the generation before Chicago's improvisational tradition. Chicago Comedy documents the operating principle: vaudeville was a perfect stage for well-timed performance, but radio required quick, improvisational bits that could be changed at a moment's notice. The rail network made Chicago the booking hub for touring vaudeville acts, and the city's audiences became the training ground for its improvisational sensibility.
Bert Williams and George Walker Perform Together in Vaudeville
Bert Williams and George Walker performed together in vaudeville and musical comedies from 1893 until Walker's decline in 1909. Williams developed a performance style rooted in understatement and real-time audience reading, determining what the material could carry from moment to moment. Accounts survive of African American audiences laughing at material that white spectators did not understand. Williams later joined the Ziegfeld Follies as the first Black headliner in an otherwise all-white Broadway production.
Buster Keaton Debuts in Vaudeville as "The Human Mop" with The Three Keatons
Buster Keaton joined his family's vaudeville act at approximately three years old, documented in billing as Buster Keaton, the Human Mop, from 1902. A Cultural History of Comedy in the Age of Empire notes that vaudeville's influence is evident in Keaton's expressive deadpan, comedic timing, and insistence on performing stunts himself in a single take: a translation of the live performer's relationship with physical risk into film comedy.
Marx Brothers Move to Chicago and Learn Chicago-Style Improvisation
Minnie Marx moved her four sons from New York to Chicago in 1910 to exploit the city's position as hub of the national vaudeville booking circuit. In Chicago, the brothers transformed from a singing act into a comedy troupe. Chicago Comedy records that the Marx Brothers were not much for script or plot, learning to improvise during their shows and sometimes wandering out into the audience. Minnie moved them to New York in 1920, taking Chicago's improvisational approach to Broadway.
Charlie Chaplin at Essanay Studios, Chicago: "His Improvisation Skills Were Unparalleled"
Charlie Chaplin joined the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company in Chicago in 1914, producing films at two to five per week, a pace that required constant improvisation. Chicago Comedy records that most of these movies were improvised, with no time to rehearse while filming so frequently. The same source states that Chaplin's improvisation skills were unparalleled, and he was a comedian like no one had ever seen. Chaplin left Essanay in 1915 having codified a physical improvisational vocabulary for mass audiences.
Jack Benny Discovers Comedy Through Improvised Military Entertainment
During his service in the United States Navy in 1918, Jack Benny was performing as a musician in military variety shows when unscripted departures from his violin performance revealed his comic instincts. Chicago Comedy documents the moment: playing his violin, he improvised his way around it and had the troops laughing, and from then on the violin stayed but was mostly used as a comedy prop. Benny became one of the defining figures of American radio and television comedy.
The American Foundations
1920–1954The foundational period when Viola Spolin, Neva Boyd, and early theater educators developed the techniques that would become modern improvisational theater.
Neva Boyd Establishes Hull House Game Program
Sociologist and educator Neva Boyd establishes a game and recreation program at Hull House, the Chicago settlement house co-founded by Jane Addams. Boyd uses games and group activities as tools for community development and social integration among immigrant populations. Her approach, which emphasizes spontaneous play and ensemble cooperation, directly influences a young social worker named Viola Spolin, who studies with Boyd and absorbs her philosophy of learning through play.
Viola Spolin Develops Her Theater Games System
Working at the Recreation Training School in Chicago, Viola Spolin begins developing the system of theater exercises and games she will later codify into her influential textbook. Drawing on Neva Boyd's use of play as a pedagogical tool, Spolin designs games that teach theater fundamentals through intuition and immediate experience rather than analysis or imitation. Her games emphasize point of concentration, side-coaching, and the principle that all people are capable of improvising when given the right conditions.
Playwrights Theatre Club Founded at the University of Chicago
Paul Sills, David Shepherd, and Eugene Troobnick founded the Playwrights Theatre Club at the University of Chicago on June 23, 1953. The company operated as a classical repertory theatre in the Reynolds Club Theatre on campus, presenting European drama including Brecht, Molière, and Shakespeare to an audience of students and faculty. In two seasons it presented approximately thirty productions and assembled the ensemble that would go on to found the Compass Players in 1955.
Playwrights Theatre Club Closes Following Building-Code Violations
The Playwrights Theatre Club was shut down in 1955 following building-code violations after two seasons of classical repertory work at the University of Chicago. The closure brought the company's programme to an abrupt end, but the ensemble it had assembled immediately reorganized around David Shepherd's plan for an improvisational company. The Compass Players opened weeks later, in July 1955, at 1152 E. 55th Street in Hyde Park.
The Compass Players
1955–1958The Compass Players at the University of Chicago became the first professional improvisational theater company in North America, launching careers and establishing a model for ensemble comedy.
Mike Nichols and Elaine May Join the Compass Players
Mike Nichols and Elaine May begin performing together with the Compass Players, developing the improvisational partnership that makes them one of the most celebrated comedy duos of the twentieth century. Their scenes demonstrate a new level of psychological sophistication in improvised performance, drawing on character, subtext, and the unspoken tensions between people. Their work with the Compass sets the standard for character-based improv comedy.
Compass Players Founded in Chicago, Becoming the First Professional Improvisational Theatre in the United States
David Shepherd and Paul Sills founded the Compass Players in July 1955 at the Compass Tavern at 1152 E. 55th Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighbourhood. The company was the first professional improvisational theatre in the United States, developing the scenario format and audience-suggestion methods that became the foundation of American improv. Its opening ensemble included Roger Bowen, Andrew Duncan, Elaine May, and Barbara Harris, with Mike Nichols and Shelley Berman joining shortly after.
The Compass Players Conclude Their Final Season and Close in Chicago
The Compass Players close after a brief but transformative run. The company's dissolution scatters its alumni across the country, particularly to New York, where they carry the practices and spirit of ensemble improvisation into new contexts. The Compass's approach to character-based, narrative improvisation becomes the template from which The Second City and dozens of subsequent companies take their cue.
Compass Players Open at the Crystal Palace in St. Louis
Theodore J. Flicker directed a St. Louis branch of the Compass Players at the Crystal Palace cabaret in 1957, assembling an ensemble that included Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Del Close. The engagement consolidated the improvisational methods developed in Chicago before the Compass Players concluded their work in 1958.
Compass Players Dissolves, Its Ensemble Dispersing to Found The Second City and Nichols and May
The Compass Players ceased operations by 1958, ending approximately three years of improvisational performance in Chicago and St. Louis. Mike Nichols and Elaine May formed their duo and moved to New York City, performing material developed during their Compass years. Paul Sills, Bernie Sahlins, and Howard Alk founded The Second City in Chicago in December 1959, carrying the Compass's improvisational methods into a durable institutional form.
Dudley Riggs Establishes the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis
Dudley Riggs, a fifth-generation circus aerialist, established the Instant Theatre Company and settled permanently in Minneapolis in 1958. In 1961, the company was renamed the Brave New Workshop — a reference to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World — and moved to 2605 Hennepin Avenue, which became its home for four decades. The company went on to produce nearly 400 original satirical revues.
Theatre Machine Founded by Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone founded Theatre Machine in 1967 with Ben Benison, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Richard Morgan, and Anthony Trent, establishing Britain's first pure improvisational theatre troupe.
Theatre Machine Begins European Tour
Theatre Machine began touring across Europe in 1968, performing improvisation exercises under the labels of 'classes' and 'lectures' to circumvent British censorship laws still in force under the Lord Chamberlain.
The Rise of The Second City
1959–1972The Second City opens in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood and quickly becomes a major cultural institution, launching television careers and shaping American comedy.
The Second City Opens Its Doors at 1340 North Wells Street in Chicago
On December 16, The Second City opened at 1340 North Wells Street in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, founded by Paul Sills, Howard Alk, and Bernie Sahlins. Named after a pair of New Yorker magazine articles satirizing Chicago, the theater staged a revue format alternating scripted sketch material with improvised scenes driven by audience suggestion. The Second City established the model of ensemble comedy built on improvisation that would define American comedy for decades.
Mike Nichols and Elaine May Open on Broadway
"An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May" opens on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre, running for 306 performances. The show demonstrates that improvisational comedy can reach mainstream audiences without sacrificing sophistication or intelligence. The Broadway success brings unprecedented national attention to the Chicago improv tradition and introduces character-driven, psychologically grounded improvised comedy to the American theatrical mainstream.
The Premise Opens in Greenwich Village, Bringing Compass Players' Improv Tradition to New York
Theodore J. Flicker, a former Compass Players member, opened The Premise on 22 November 1960 in a basement venue on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Billed as presenting 'the newest form of dramatic entertainment: Improvisational Theatre,' the cabaret ran for approximately 1,249 performances and assembled a cast including Buck Henry, George Segal, Thomas Aldredge, Joan Darling, and James Frawley before closing in 1962.
The Second City Makes Its Broadway Debut
In 1961, The Second City sent a cast to Broadway for "From the Second City," earning Tony Award nominations for Severn Darden and Barbara Harris, with Alan Arkin appearing in the cast. The Broadway run established The Second City as a nationally visible institution rather than simply a Chicago experimental theatre. The production brought the company's satirical revue format to its highest-profile New York engagement and confirmed its place at the centre of American comedy.
The Committee Opens in San Francisco's North Beach
Alan Myerson and Jessica Myerson, both Second City alumni, opened The Committee on 10 April 1963 at 622 Broadway in San Francisco's North Beach neighbourhood. Named as a reference to the House Un-American Activities Committee, the company presented politically satirical improvisation and ran for nine years before disbanding in 1972, when three successor companies formed: The Pitchel Players, The Wing, and Improvisation Inc.
Viola Spolin Publishes "Improvisation for the Theater"
Northwestern University Press publishes "Improvisation for the Theater" by Viola Spolin, providing the first comprehensive written framework for theater games as a pedagogical and artistic practice. The book's 220 exercises, organized around principles of intuition, ensemble, and point of concentration, give theater educators a structured vocabulary for teaching improvisation. The book becomes a foundational text for theater programs worldwide and establishes improvisation as a legitimate theatrical discipline.
Del Close Joins The Second City as Director
Del Close begins his tenure as director and teacher at The Second City, where he develops a more experimental and ensemble-focused approach to improvisational theater. Close becomes one of the most influential teachers in improv history, working with performers who go on to become foundational figures in American comedy. His emphasis on commitment, truth, and the power of the ensemble over individual stardom shapes an entire generation of improvisers.
The Second City Moves to 1616 North Wells Street, Its Permanent Chicago Home
In 1967, The Second City moved from its previous Wells Street addresses to 1616 North Wells Street in Chicago's Old Town neighbourhood, the facility it has occupied ever since. The 1616 Wells Street building expanded the company's capacity and gave it a permanent institutional home. The same year, Del Close joined the company as director, beginning a teaching relationship with Second City ensembles that would define the rehearsal culture of Chicago comedy for the following three decades.
Josephine Forsberg Founds the Players Workshop, Chicago's First Independent Improv School
Josephine Forsberg founded the Players Workshop in 1971, establishing the first independent school of improvisational theatre in Chicago. Forsberg had been a student of Viola Spolin and a teacher at The Second City since 1959, and the Players Workshop carried Spolin's theatre games methods into a formal curriculum designed to prepare students for Second City auditions. The school operated in close proximity to The Second City and was commonly referred to as the Players Workshop of the Second City.
David Shepherd Creates the Improvisation Olympics in New York City
David Shepherd, co-founder of the Compass Players, created the Improvisation Olympics NYC in 1972 at the Space for Innovative Development in New York City, with Howard Jerome Gomberg. Teams competed before live audiences using Viola Spolin's Theater Games as the competitive framework. The short-lived format closed around 1973 but was the direct genealogical precursor to iO Theater: Shepherd later brought the format to Chicago, co-founding the Improv Olympic with Charna Halpern in 1981.
Mainstream Expansion
1973–1984Improv expands beyond Chicago as Keith Johnstone introduces Theatresports in Canada, ImprovOlympic pioneers long-form, and improv comedy scenes emerge in cities worldwide.
The Second City Opens Its First Permanent Canadian Company in Toronto
The Second City opens its first permanent Canadian location in Toronto, Ontario, establishing what becomes one of the most successful and talent-rich improv training programs in the world. The Toronto company develops its own distinct voice within the Second City tradition, producing alumni who define Canadian and American comedy for decades. The opening marks the beginning of The Second City's expansion beyond its Chicago origins.
The Second City Toronto Opens
Bernard Sahlins and Joyce Sloane opened The Second City Toronto in 1973, extending the Chicago company's franchise to Canada for the first time.
Andrew Alexander Revives Second City Toronto
Andrew Alexander acquired the rights to operate The Second City in Canada for $1 in early 1974, borrowed $7,000, and reopened the company at the Old Firehall at 110 Lombard Street — beginning the era that produced SCTV and launched dozens of major comedy careers.
Gary Austin Founds The Groundlings in Los Angeles
Gary Austin, a veteran of San Francisco's The Committee, formally established The Groundlings as a theatre company in January 1974 in Los Angeles, assembling approximately fifty founding members and naming the company after the standing-audience groundlings of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The company went on to develop the West Coast's most influential character-based improv and sketch methodology.
SCTV Premieres from Second City Toronto
Andrew Alexander and Len Stuart launched SCTV in 1976 as the first production of The Second City Entertainment Company, drawing its cast largely from the Toronto stage. The groundbreaking sketch series ran until 1984.
Second City Television Premieres in Canada
Second City Television, known as SCTV, premiered in 1976 in Canada, produced by The Second City Toronto and Andrew Alexander. The sketch comedy series featured ensemble members including John Candy, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and Catherine O'Hara across its eight-year run. SCTV was broadcast nationally in Canada and syndicated in the United States, earning numerous Emmy Awards and establishing Second City alumni as defining voices in North American television comedy.
Loose Moose Theatre Company Founded in Calgary
Keith Johnstone founds Loose Moose Theatre Company in Calgary, Alberta, creating the institutional home for his developing system of improvisational theater. Loose Moose becomes the birthplace of Theatresports and a laboratory for Johnstone's ongoing experiments with narrative, status, and spontaneity. The company's work, grounded in Johnstone's distinctive pedagogy, influences improvisers throughout Canada and internationally.
Keith Johnstone Introduces Theatresports
Keith Johnstone introduces the Theatresports format at Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary, creating a competitive framework in which two or more teams of improvisers perform scenes scored by judges. The format combines the spirit of athletic competition with improvisational aesthetics, creating immediate stakes and audience engagement. Theatresports spreads rapidly across Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and eventually worldwide, becoming one of the most widely performed improv formats in history.
Canadian Improv Games Founded in Ottawa
In 1977, Jamie Wyllie and Howard Jerome founded the Canadian Improv Games in Ottawa, Ontario, establishing an annual competitive improvisation tournament for high school students. Wyllie's troupe Stage Fright organized the first matches among eight Ottawa high schools, adapting competitive formats accessible to students encountering improv for the first time. The competition grew to fourteen regional programmes across Canada, with a national final held annually at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Chicago City Limits Founded by Second City Alumni in Chicago
A group of performers who had trained under Del Close at Second City's workshop programme founded Chicago City Limits in Chicago in 1977. The founding company included George Todisco, Linda Gelman, Bill McLaughlin, Carol Schindler, Paul Zuckerman, Rick Crom, and Christopher Oyen. The company relocated to New York City in 1979 and went on to become one of the city's longest-running improv companies.
Loose Moose Theatre Company Founded in Calgary
Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonken co-founded Loose Moose Theatre Company in Calgary in 1977, creating the home where Johnstone would develop Theatresports and other foundational improv formats.
Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation Holds Its First Match in Montreal
On October 21, 1977, Robert Gravel and Yvon Leduc organised the first Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation match at the Maison de Beaujeu in Montreal, Quebec. The format placed improvisers on a stage marked like a hockey rink, with referees, penalties, and crowd scoring drawn from professional hockey's visual language. The debut match established a competitive improvisation format that became the dominant form of competitive improv in francophone culture worldwide.
Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation Founded in Montreal
Robert Gravel and Yvon Leduc performed the first match d'improvisation on October 21, 1977, at midnight at the Maison Beaujeu in Montreal, inaugurating the LNI and the hockey-inspired competitive improv format they had invented.
"Something Wonderful Right Away" Published
Jeffrey Sweet publishes "Something Wonderful Right Away," an oral history of The Second City and The Compass Players assembled from interviews with alumni including Shelley Berman, Barbara Harris, Bill Murray, and dozens of others. The book provides the first comprehensive document of the Chicago improvisation tradition, preserving firsthand accounts of the creative processes, personalities, and experiences that shaped American comedy. It becomes an essential primary source for understanding the history of improvisational theater.
Keith Johnstone Publishes "Impro"
Methuen publishes "Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre" by Keith Johnstone, one of the most widely read and influential books in the history of improvisational theater. Drawing on his experience as a playwright, director, and teacher, Johnstone develops original theories of status, spontaneity, narrative, and mask that provide an alternative vocabulary for understanding and teaching improvised performance. The book's directness, humor, and practical insight make it essential reading for improvisers, actors, and educators worldwide.
The Groundlings Opens Its Melrose Avenue Theatre After Four Years of Renovation
The Groundlings opened its permanent home at 7307 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in April 1979, after four years of renovation complicated by building codes and parking restrictions. The 99-seat theatre established the venue that has anchored the company's operations ever since.
Vancouver TheatreSports League Founded
Keith Johnstone's 1980 Vancouver workshop catalyzed the formation of the Vancouver TheatreSports League, formally incorporated as a BC Society in 1981 and home to Colin Mochrie among its inaugural performers.
Charna Halpern and Del Close Co-Found ImprovOlympic as a Long-Form Venue in Chicago
Charna Halpern and Del Close found ImprovOlympic in Chicago, creating the institution that develops and champions long-form improvisational theater. The company becomes the home of the Harold, a long-form structure Del Close develops as an alternative to the short scene-based improv of The Second City. ImprovOlympic's training program, emphasizing group mind, ensemble commitment, and narrative coherence over individual performance, trains thousands of improvisers who shape comedy in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and beyond.
Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation Conducts Its First International Tour to France
In 1981, the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation conducted its first international tour with performances in France, introducing the hockey-rink format of competitive improvisation to francophone European audiences. The tour established the LNI's international identity and planted the seeds of the format's adoption by French-language leagues in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The French tour was among the first instances of a North American competitive improvisation format being exported to European theatre communities.
Theatresports Comes to Edmonton via Theatre Network
Theatre Network Artistic Director Stephen Heatley invited Keith Johnstone to Edmonton in 1981, making Theatre Network the third company in the world to regularly produce Theatresports and beginning the Edmonton improv tradition that would become Rapid Fire Theatre.
Theatresports Toronto Founded at Harbourfront
The company began as Theatresports Toronto in 1982, presenting weekly improvisational comedy at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, establishing what would become Bad Dog Theatre Company.
Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation Appears at the Festival d'Avignon
In 1982, the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation appeared at the Festival d'Avignon, one of the most prestigious theatre festivals in the world, performing improvisation matches before French and international audiences. The Avignon appearance brought the LNI's format to a curatorial audience that had championed experimental and avant-garde theatre across Europe since 1947. The festival engagement accelerated the spread of the improvisation match format through French-language theatre communities in Europe.
The Second City e.t.c. Stage Opens in Chicago
In September 1982, The Second City opened the e.t.c. Theatre adjacent to its Mainstage at 1616 North Wells Street. The 196-seat second stage gave the company a dedicated venue for developing new ensembles between the Training Center and the Mainstage, deepening the institutional pipeline for talent development. The e.t.c. has produced continuous revue programming since its opening and has been recognized independently by Chicago theatre critics.
La Soiree de l'Impro Premieres on Radio-Quebec Television
On December 20, 1982, the sixth-season final of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation aired on Radio-Quebec, inaugurating a televised series called La Soiree de l'Impro. Broadcasts reached audiences across Quebec and drove adoption of the improvisation match format in schools and community leagues throughout the province. The program ran through 1988 and positioned the LNI as a mainstream cultural institution rather than an experimental theatre form.
ComedySportz Founded in Milwaukee by Dick Chudnow
In September 1984, Dick Chudnow founded ComedySportz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Karen Kolberg, Bob Orvis, and other local performers. Chudnow adapted Keith Johnstone's Theatresports competitive format with a deliberately family-inclusive content policy, enabling performances at schools and corporate events alongside public theatres. The franchise expanded to Madison, Wisconsin in 1985 and to Los Angeles in 1988, eventually growing to more than twenty cities across the United States.
ComedySportz San Jose Founded
Jeff Kramer founded ComedySportz San Jose in September 1987, premiering at the Bold Knight restaurant with players recruited from San Jose State and Santa Clara University, establishing Silicon Valley's first sustained improv comedy show.
Rapid Fire Theatre Formed as Independent Company
In 1988 the Edmonton improv performers who had been working under Theatre Network formed Rapid Fire Theatre as their own independent company, with Jack Smith as first Artistic Director.
ComedySportz Houston Founded
Dianah Dulany founded ComedySportz Houston on November 8, 1990, at the River Cafe in Montrose, bringing competitive short-form improv to Houston.
The Long-Form Revolution
1985–1999The Harold format proliferates through Del Close's teaching at iO, the Upright Citizens Brigade emerges in New York, and long-form improv becomes the dominant mode of artistic improv performance.
ImprovBoston Founded in Boston/Cambridge
Ellen Holbrook assembled Boston improvisers for a Boston improv competition at Reilly's Beef and Pub in 1982, leading to the co-founding of ImprovBoston with Nicholas Emanuel and Katy Bolger in 1983. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1984 and based in Cambridge, ImprovBoston became the primary improv and comedy institution in the Boston area for more than four decades.
Seattle Theatresports League Formed as the First US Theatresports Organisation
Three Seattle improv groups merged in 1983 to form the Seattle Theatresports League, the first organisation in the United States to perform Keith Johnstone's Theatresports format. The company incorporated as a nonprofit, later renamed Unexpected Productions in 1988, and established a permanent home at the Market Theater in Pike Place Market in 1991.
ComedySportz Milwaukee Founded
Dick Chudnow, Karen Kolberg, Bob Orvis, and Brian Green founded ComedySportz Milwaukee in September 1984, presenting the first show at Kalt's Green Room. Chudnow adapted Keith Johnstone's Theatresports competitive format into a sports-themed improv structure, launching what became the CSz Worldwide franchise network.
The Second City Opens Its Training Centre in Chicago
The Second City opened its Training Centre in Chicago in 1985 under founding director Martin de Maat, creating a formal school separate from the mainstage company. The Training Centre expanded to Toronto and additional cities and became one of the largest comedy schools in the world by enrolment. The curriculum institutionalised the pedagogical methods developed through decades of Second City productions, drawing students who went on to careers in television, film, and live performance.
ComedySportz Opens Its First Franchise in Madison, Wisconsin
In 1985, ComedySportz expanded from Milwaukee to Madison, Wisconsin, opening its first franchise outside the founding city one year after the organisation was established. The Madison expansion validated the franchising model that would drive ComedySportz growth across the United States and proved that the family-inclusive competitive format could sustain permanent operations in markets beyond Milwaukee. The rapid expansion to a second city set the template for the franchise system developed through the World Comedy League.
Theatresports Begins in Sydney at Belvoir Street Theatre
Sydney Theatresports Inc. launched Theatresports performances at Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills in 1985, establishing the first dedicated improvisational theatre company in Australia.
Comedy Store Players Give First Performance in London
Kit Hollerbach, Dave Cohen, Neil Mullarkey, and Mike Myers gave the Comedy Store Players' first performance on October 27, 1985 at the Comedy Store in Leicester Square, London.
Washington Improv Theater Founded in Washington DC by Carole Douglis
Carole Douglis founded Washington Improv Theater in Washington DC in 1986. The original company performed through 1992 and then disbanded. Douglis revived WIT on 27 November 1998 as a consensus-based collective, launching performances in the basement of Universalist National Memorial Church and re-establishing WIT as Washington DC's primary improv training and performance organisation.
BATS Improv Founded in San Francisco After a Sold-Out Theatresports Performance
On 10 November 1986, a sold-out Theatresports performance at the Zephyr Theater in San Francisco drew audience members who joined the original performers to form Bay Area Theatresports (BATS Improv). Co-founded by William Hall, Rebecca Stockley, and Dan O'Connor, BATS Improv became the largest improv theatre and school in Northern California.
ComedySportz Chicago Opens as One of the First Franchises Outside Milwaukee
ComedySportz Chicago opened in 1987 as part of the national expansion of Dick Chudnow's ComedySportz franchise network, which had been founded in Milwaukee in 1984. The Chicago franchise brought the family-friendly competitive short-form format to a city already home to The Second City and ImprovOlympic, establishing a distinct short-form presence in the market.
Groundlings East Opens in New York City, Bringing Groundlings Curriculum to the East Coast
In 1987, Hilaury Stern and other members of The Groundlings in Los Angeles established 'Groundlings East' in New York City, the first New York outpost for the Groundlings' character-based improv methodology. In 1988 the company became independent and renamed itself Gotham City Improv, operating a training curriculum and performance programme on the Lower East Side until its closure approximately 2015.
Mick Napier Founds Metraform, the Company That Becomes The Annoyance Theatre
Mick Napier founded Metraform in Chicago on October 10, 1987, with the premiere of Splatter Theatre at the Cabaret Metro. The company renamed itself The Annoyance in 1989 upon renting its first dedicated space in the Ann Sather dining hall on Belmont, establishing Chicago's first improvisational theatre devoted to creating original full-length plays and musicals.
ComedySportz Opens Its First West Coast Franchise in Los Angeles
In 1988, ComedySportz expanded to Los Angeles under James Thomas Bailey, establishing its first West Coast franchise and first presence outside the Midwest. The Los Angeles operation brought the family-friendly competitive short-form format to one of the largest entertainment markets in North America. The LA franchise demonstrated that ComedySportz could sustain permanent operations in competitive entertainment cities and helped anchor the organisation's expansion beyond its regional Wisconsin origins.
Canadian Improv Games Establishes National Tournament at the National Arts Centre
In 1988, the Canadian Improv Games established a partnership that brought the annual national tournament to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The NAC’s Babs Asper Theatre became the venue for the national finals, giving student performers their first experience on a fully professional stage. The partnership elevated the competition’s national profile and gave the Canadian Improv Games an institutional home it has maintained ever since.
ComedySportz Hosts Its First National Tournament in Milwaukee
In 1988, Dick Chudnow organized the inaugural Comedy League of America National Tournament in Milwaukee, bringing together ten teams from ComedySportz franchises across the United States. The tournament established what would become the annual ComedySportz World Championship, a multi-day competitive event featuring elimination-bracket matches. The first tournament demonstrated that the franchise model could generate a national competitive community and that ComedySportz’s family-friendly format could sustain interstate rivalry.
Los Angeles Theatresports Founded, Bringing Keith Johnstone's Format to LA
Dan O'Connor, Ellen Idelson, and Forest Brakeman co-founded Los Angeles Theatresports in 1988 as a licensed Theatresports company in the tradition of Keith Johnstone. O'Connor was also a co-founder of BATS Improv in San Francisco. The company later developed its 'UnScripted' literary long-form format and rebranded publicly as Impro Theatre.
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Premieres in the UK
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" premieres on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, hosted by Clive Anderson with a rotating cast of improvisers. The show brings short-form improvisational games to a prime-time television audience for the first time, popularizing formats such as Props, Scenes from a Hat, and Film Dub. The UK series runs until 1998 and spawns an American adaptation that introduces improv comedy to a global mainstream audience.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Troupe Forms in Chicago
The Upright Citizens Brigade troupe formed in Chicago around 1990, when Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh began working together after training at ImprovOlympic under Del Close and Charna Halpern. Adam McKay, Horatio Sanz, and Neil Flynn also worked with the group in its early years. The four founding members developed a distinct anarchic performance style rooted in long-form improv that distinguished them from their contemporaries in the Chicago scene.
SAK Comedy Lab Founded in Orlando
Don Ferguson, Julie Barr, and Rod Friedman founded SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida in 1991. The company established itself as the primary improv venue in Central Florida and developed the long-running competitive show "Duel of Fools."
Die-Nasty Founded in Edmonton
Dana Andersen, Mark Meer, David Belke, and other founding members launched Die-Nasty in Edmonton in 1991, presenting a live improvised soap opera format that evolved from an earlier show called Soap on the Rocks.
WNEP Theater Founded in Chicago as Experimental Fringe Company
Don Hall, Joe Janes, and Jeff Hoover, all graduates of the Second City Training Center, founded WNEP Theater in Chicago in 1992. The name stood for 'Works No One Else Produces,' and the founding company, Level 6, launched simultaneously with an improv show at Shay's Bar and a scripted production. WNEP went on to operate as one of Chicago's most experimental fringe companies, mixing improvisation, sketch, one-acts, game shows, musicals, and performance art.
Jet City Improv Founded in Seattle
Cory Rouse founded Jet City Improv in Seattle, Washington in 1992, establishing the Pacific Northwest's primary dedicated improv venue. The company built a training program and performance schedule that sustained it as the region's leading improv institution for over three decades.
ComedySportz Philadelphia Founded
ComedySportz Philadelphia launched in 1992 as an early CSz Worldwide franchise expansion, establishing competitive short-form improv in the Philadelphia market at The Adrienne Theater on Sansom Street. The company became Philadelphia's longest-running comedy entertainment brand and subsequently founded the Philadelphia School of Improv.
Theatre 99 Founded in Charleston
Tommy Brunett, Timmy Sherrill, and Brandy Sullivan founded Theatre 99 in Charleston, South Carolina in 1993 at 99 Spring Street, establishing one of the Southeast's primary improv venues. The company has operated continuously for over thirty years.
City Theater Company Founded in Wilmington
City Theater Company was founded in Wilmington, Delaware in 1993, establishing the state's primary intimate black box performing arts venue. The company developed Fearless Improv as its dedicated improv ensemble and entered a partnership with The Delaware Contemporary in September 2021.
ComedySportz San Antonio Established
ComedySportz San Antonio was established in 1993 as a CSz Worldwide franchise, bringing competitive short-form improv to the San Antonio market. The franchise operates at the Little Improv Theatre venue at 11950 Starcrest Dr, presenting weekly Friday and Saturday shows.
ComedySportz Indianapolis Founded
Ed Trout, Mia Lee Roberts, Lynn Burger, and Dave Ruark founded ComedySportz Indianapolis in February 1993, launching the CSz Worldwide franchise in Indiana. The founders had encountered the ComedySportz format during a Chicago visit while performing as the Below the Belt ensemble. The company claims to be Indianapolis's longest-running comedy show.
ComedySportz Portland Founded
Ruth Jenkins and Patrick Short founded ComedySportz Portland and opened publicly on April 16, 1993, establishing what became one of America's most consistent improv institutions. The company has performed over 5,400 ComedySportz shows without missing a single weekend since May 1993.
The Second City Opens Its Detroit Company, Its Third North American Stage
The Second City opened its Detroit company in 1993, its first North American expansion beyond Chicago and Toronto. The Detroit location produced original revues and a training program, developing local talent in the Midwest. The Detroit company operated for sixteen years, making it the company's longest-running outpost outside its two founding cities before its closure in 2009.
YTV Begins National Television Coverage of the Canadian Improv Games
During the 1990s, YTV, a Canadian cable television network, began providing hour-long live coverage of the Canadian Improv Games national tournament. The broadcasts transformed a regionally distributed theatre festival into a nationally visible program, allowing students across the country to see peers competing at the National Arts Centre. The television presence established improvisation as a recognized youth performing arts activity in Canada and drove significant growth in regional participation.
The Off Broadway Theatre Opens in Salt Lake City
The Off Broadway Theatre opened in Salt Lake City in 1994, hosting both original scripted productions and live improv comedy including the first performances of Quick Wits Comedy.
Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre Founded in New Jersey
Laura Ekstrand and Janet Sales co-founded Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre in 1994 in New Jersey, a scripted repertory company that later added improv programming and rebranded as Vivid Stage in 2021.
Instant Theatre Company Founded in Vancouver
Instant Theatre Company was founded in Vancouver in 1993 or 1994, beginning in Gastown and establishing long-form improv as a complement to the city's existing Theatresports tradition.
Charna Halpern and Del Close Publish "Truth in Comedy"
In 1994, Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim “Howard” Johnson published “Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation,” the first book to systematically document the Harold long-form structure and the teaching principles underlying iO Theater. The book articulated the Harold’s architecture, the concept of group mind, and the principle of total acceptance through agreement, making the form accessible to practitioners and teachers outside iO for the first time.
Whole World Improv Theatre Gives First Performance
Whole World Improv Theatre performed its first public show in September 1994 before an audience of twenty-five at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Georgia, under the direction of founder David Webster.
Quick Wits Comedy Founded in Utah
Bob Bedore and Rob Bogue gave the first Quick Wits Comedy performance on October 8, 1994, at The Off Broadway Theatre in Salt Lake City, establishing the founding institution of Utah's improv community.
ImprovOlympic Moves to Its First Permanent Chicago Home on Clark Street
In 1995, ImprovOlympic moved to its first permanent Chicago home at 3541 North Clark Street in Wrigleyville, ending more than a decade of renting performance space at changing addresses. The Clark Street building housed two performance spaces, the downstairs Cabaret and the upstairs theatre later named the Del Close Theater after his death in 1999, and gave the organisation institutional stability to expand its house team system and training programme.
Whole World Improv Theatre Opens Spring Street Venue
In June 1995, David Webster and Jennifer Horne opened Whole World Improv Theatre's permanent home at 1216 Spring Street NW in Midtown Atlanta, funded by their honeymoon savings.
Dad's Garage Opens in Atlanta with 'Fun with Science'
Nine Florida State University graduates co-founded Dad's Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta, presenting their first show, 'Fun with Science,' on 23 June 1995. The founding group chose Atlanta in anticipation of the economic activity around the 1996 Summer Olympics.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Troupe Relocates from Chicago to New York
In 1996, the Upright Citizens Brigade troupe relocated from Chicago to New York City, performing at venues including KGB Bar while developing the pitch that led to their Comedy Central television deal. The move positioned the group at the center of the New York alternative comedy scene and set the groundwork for the permanent Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre they would open three years later.
ComedySportz Richmond Founded
ComedySportz Richmond was founded in 1996 as a CSz Worldwide franchise in Richmond, Virginia, establishing one of the Southeast's longest-running improv institutions. The nonprofit organization operated continuously through multiple venue relocations over more than 25 years.
Staircase Improv Founded in Hamilton, Ontario
Hugh MacLeod and Kathy Garneau founded Staircase Improv in Hamilton, Ontario in 1996, renovating the former 1914 Dundurn Station power substation into a community improv venue without government or corporate support.
Impro Melbourne Founded as Theatresports Melbourne
Russell Fletcher and Christine Keogh founded the company in 1996 as Theatresports Melbourne, establishing Melbourne's first Keith Johnstone-format improv company of the modern era.
Robert Gravel, Co-Founder of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation, Dies
Robert Gravel, who co-founded the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation with Yvon Leduc in 1977, died in 1996. Gravel was an actor, director, and playwright associated with the Nouveau Theatre Experimental in Montreal who brought to the LNI a commitment to the format as genuine theatrical investigation. His death removed the co-founder most closely associated with the organization's theatrical ambitions and posed the institutional challenge of sustaining a format so deeply shaped by its founding personalities.
ImprovOlympic West Opens in Hollywood, Bringing the Harold to Los Angeles
ImprovOlympic West opened in Hollywood in 1997, Los Angeles, extending the iO brand to the West Coast and bringing the Harold tradition and Del Close's pedagogical legacy to a new city. iO West provides training and performance opportunities for Los Angeles-based improvisers and becomes an important venue for the city's growing improv scene. The opening represents the first major expansion of an established Chicago improv institution into the Los Angeles market.
The Playground Theater Founded in Chicago as a Non-Profit Improv Co-Op
A collective of Chicago improvisers founded the Playground Theater in 1997 as a non-profit co-operative governed by its member ensembles. Distinct from The Second City and iO in its governance model, the Playground gave performing companies collective control over programming and institutional decisions. The theatre operated itinerantly for its first two years before establishing a permanent space on Lincoln Avenue in 1999.
iO West Opens in Hollywood as the Los Angeles Satellite of iO Theater
Paul Vaillancourt, a Chicago-trained improviser, founded iO West in 1997 with institutional backing from Charna Halpern, bringing the Harold-based long-form curriculum of iO Chicago to Los Angeles. The theatre launched at the Stella Adler Theater on Hollywood Blvd and later settled at the Palmer Building at 6366 Hollywood Blvd in 2000.
Four Day Weekend Founded in Fort Worth
David Ahearn, Frank Ford, and David Wilk founded Four Day Weekend in Fort Worth, Texas in 1997, establishing one of the Southwest's primary long-form improv companies. The company built a permanent venue on Houston Street and developed a national reputation for corporate entertainment programming.
Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation Partners with the Festival Just for Laughs
In 1998, the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation entered a partnership with the Festival Just for Laughs in Montreal and returned to television through associated broadcasting arrangements. The Just for Laughs partnership brought the LNI's format before international comedy industry audiences and connected the French-language competitive improv tradition to the English-language comedy festival circuit operating out of the same city. The partnership represented the LNI's first sustained engagement with the English-language comedy industry.
ComedySportz St. Louis Founded
ComedySportz St. Louis launched in fall 1998 at Union Station under Eric Karwisch and Clancy Hathaway, drawing its founding ensemble from existing St. Louis improv groups. The franchise navigated organizational disruptions in 1999-2000 before stabilizing as a continuous CSz Worldwide franchise in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Improv Asylum Opens in Boston
Paul D'Amato, Norm Laviolette, and Chet Harding opened Improv Asylum at 216 Hanover St in Boston's North End in May 1998, after their previous performance home converted its space to music. Securing a $75,000 SBA loan, they built what became New England's premier comedy institution, performing over 7,500 shows for more than 2 million audience members over 27 years.
Keith Johnstone Establishes the International Theatresports Institute
On May 23, 1998, Keith Johnstone formalized the international licensing of his competitive formats by establishing the International Theatresports Institute. The ITI grants performance rights for Theatresports, Maestro Impro (also known as Micetro), and Gorilla Theatre, and distributes official format guides co-authored by Johnstone with Patti Stiles and Shawn Kinley. The institute provided a legal and pedagogical framework for the hundreds of organisations worldwide that perform Theatresports under licence.
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" US Version Premieres
The American adaptation of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" premieres on ABC, hosted by Drew Carey with a core ensemble including Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady. The show runs for eight seasons and brings short-form improv games to millions of American viewers, creating widespread public awareness of improvisational comedy as a performance art. "Whose Line" introduces many Americans to improv for the first time and inspires a generation of performers to study the form.
Upright Citizens Brigade Television Series Premieres on Comedy Central
On August 19, 1998, the Upright Citizens Brigade television series premiered on Comedy Central, featuring sketch comedy developed by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh. The program ran three seasons through 2000 and introduced the group's anarchic, anti-authoritarian comedy to a national American audience. Its success raised the troupe's profile and accelerated the opening of their permanent New York theatre six months later.
The Second City Opens a Hollywood Company in Los Angeles
The Second City opened a Hollywood company in Los Angeles in 1999, establishing its first West Coast presence. The Hollywood location produced original satirical revues and offered training programs in the Los Angeles market, bringing the Second City format to the city most closely associated with the television and film careers of Second City alumni. The Hollywood company operated until 2004.
The Hideout Theatre Opens on Congress Avenue in Austin
Sean Hill and Shana Merlin co-founded The Hideout Theatre in Austin, Texas in 1999, opening at 617 Congress Avenue in a building that had previously housed a pawn shop. The theatre operated at that address for more than twenty-five years as Austin's primary dedicated improv venue.
Just The Funny Founded in Miami
Nine veteran improv performers founded Just The Funny in Miami, Florida in January 1999, presenting their first show at the Absinthe House Cinematheque on March 5, 1999. The company grew through several venue relocations before establishing its permanent home at 3119 Coral Way and founding the Miami Improv Festival.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Opens in Chelsea, Bringing the Harold to New York
Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh opened the UCB Theatre on 4 February 1999 at 161 West 22nd Street in Chelsea, New York City. Centred on the Harold and a structured training curriculum, UCB became the most influential improv training institution in New York over the following two decades.
Del Close Dies in Chicago, Leaving a Transformed Improvisational Art Form
Del Close died on March 4 in Chicago, leaving behind a legacy that defined an era of American improvisational theater. Close trained hundreds of performers who went on to careers in comedy, television, and film, and his development of the Harold as a long-form structure transformed the practice of improvised performance. He is remembered for his uncompromising commitment to improvisation as a serious art form and for everything he built at ImprovOlympic.
The First Del Close Marathon Held in New York
The inaugural Del Close Marathon was held in New York City, organized by the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre as a tribute to Del Close. The marathon ran continuously for more than 50 hours and featured dozens of improv teams performing back-to-back, establishing an annual tradition that became one of the most significant events in the improv calendar. The DCM grew to include hundreds of teams and thousands of performances, drawing improvisers from around the world.
Keith Johnstone Publishes "Impro for Storytellers"
Keith Johnstone publishes "Impro for Storytellers," a comprehensive follow-up to his landmark "Impro" that expands his theories of narrative, status, and spontaneity with additional exercises, games, and insights from decades of teaching and directing. The book addresses the specific challenges of sustained narrative in improvisation, offering tools for developing longer and more structured improvisational pieces. It becomes an important companion to "Impro" for practitioners working in longer forms.
The Impatients rebrands as the Impatient Theatre Co.
In June 2003, after the original ensemble dissolved due to artistic differences, the company was rebranded as the Impatient Theatre Co. and launched a formal six-level training curriculum in longform improv and the Harold. Several founding members continued with the company, including Sean Tabares, Ted Hallett, and Rebecca Dreiling.
The Digital Age
2000–2012Applied improvisation gains recognition as a professional discipline, new training programs emerge globally, and digital media begins to reshape how improv reaches audiences.
International Theatresports Institute Founded by Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone founded the International Theatresports Institute on May 23, 1998 in Calgary, creating the worldwide licensing and community organization for his Theatresports, Maestro Impro, and Gorilla Theatre formats.
Vancouver International Improv Festival Launches
Instant Theatre Company launched the Vancouver International Improv Festival in 1999, establishing one of North America's longest-running dedicated improv festivals.
Tatiana Maslany Performs with General Fools
Tatiana Maslany performed and toured with General Fools Improvisational Theatre for approximately seven years in her early career, becoming a certified improv instructor through the company before her screen career began.
Tickle Me Pickle Founded in Richmond, BC
Jon Lee-Son founded Tickle Me Pickle Theatre Sports Improv Society in Richmond, British Columbia in 1999, creating the first organized improv troupe in the city and the predecessor organization to Richmond Improv Theatre Society.
ComedySportz Utah Founded in Provo
Tonia and Curt Doussett founded ComedySportz Utah in March 1999 in Provo, acquiring the Utah franchise rights to the competitive short-form improv format; the company later rebranded as ComedyBox Utah.
National Comedy Theatre Founded in San Diego
Gary Kramer founded National Comedy Theatre in October 1999 at 3717 India Street in San Diego's Mission Hills neighborhood, beginning what would become the longest-running show in San Diego history.
Comedy League of America Reorganized as World Comedy League Incorporated
In 2000, the Comedy League of America, the organizational structure that had governed ComedySportz franchising since the founding in 1984, was reorganized into the World Comedy League Incorporated. The restructuring formalized the governance framework under which all ComedySportz franchises now operate, providing clearer licensing terms, shared curriculum standards, and administrative infrastructure for a network that had grown to encompass dozens of independently owned companies across the United States and the United Kingdom. The new name acknowledged the format's international reach.
KC Improv Company Founded
KC Improv Company was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 2000, initially performing corporate and private shows before launching weekly public performances on January 1, 2012. The company grew to 25+ professional performers and four shows per week at its Westport location.
Planet Ant Theatre Launches Improv Colony
In 2000 Joshua Funk, Nancy Hayden, and Margaret Edwartowski co-founded the Improv Colony at Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck, launching Improv Mondays, Detroit's longest-running improv show.
Scared Scriptless Founded in Anchorage
Jason Martin, Tom Atkins, and Joan Cullins founded Scared Scriptless in 2000 at Side Street Espresso in Anchorage, Alaska, establishing the state's first professional short-form improv troupe.
Impro Australia Formed After Sydney Theatresports Inc. Liquidation
Following the liquidation of Sydney Theatresports Inc. in the late 1990s, a group of key players formed Impro Australia as a not-for-profit company, continuing the tradition of Theatresports in Sydney.
Charlotte Comedy Theater Founded
Keli Semelsberger, who trained in Chicago under Del Close, Charna Halpern, Mick Napier, Susan Messing, and Amy Poehler, founded Charlotte Comedy Theater in 2001 as Charlotte's first dedicated improv theatre. The company became a founding member of the VAPA Center and was recognized as one of the Top 50 Comedy Clubs in the US in 2016.
ComedySportz Manchester Founded
Brainne Edge founded ComedySportz Manchester in 2001, launching the UK's only ComedySportz franchise with a first charity performance intended as a one-off event.
The Second City Las Vegas Opens at the Flamingo
The Second City Las Vegas opened at Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre inside the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel in March 2001, establishing a Second City revue residency on the Las Vegas Strip.
Kevin Patrick Robbins Founds the Impatients in Toronto
In June 2001, Kevin Patrick Robbins founded The Impatients, a longform improv ensemble of twelve performers, in Toronto. The company introduced the Harold to Toronto audiences through its weekly show The Impatients: Uncaged and launched the Toronto version of the Cage Match that October.
Impatient Theatre Co. Produces the Inaugural Toronto International Improv Festival
In 2001, Impatient Productions produced the first Toronto Improv Festival, establishing what would become an annual gathering that brought guest performers from television and film to the city's long-form improv community. The festival continued every August for the duration of the company's operation and was one of the few recurring international improv festivals in Canada.
Charlie Todd Founds Improv Everywhere in New York City
In August 2001, Charlie Todd founded Improv Everywhere in New York City after improvising a bar scenario in which he impersonated musician Ben Folds for an enthusiastic crowd. Todd formalised the approach into an ongoing project with a stated mission of creating scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Improv Everywhere's missions involve coordinated groups acting in real-world settings without prior audience knowledge, distinguishing the form from stage performance improv.
The Applied Improvisation Network Is Founded to Connect Global Practitioners
The Applied Improvisation Network (AIN) is founded to support practitioners who use improv techniques in business, education, therapy, and community development. The organization creates a global community of practice for applied improv, offering a platform for sharing research, methods, and experiences among practitioners across disciplines. AIN's annual conference and online resources help establish applied improvisation as a recognized professional field distinct from entertainment-focused performance improv.
Holly Mandel Founds Improvolution, New York's First Female-Founded Improv School
Holly Mandel, a former Groundlings Main Company member and instructor, founded Improvolution in New York City in 2002, opening at 115 Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village. It was the first improv school in New York City to be founded, owned, and operated by a woman, and brought the Groundlings' character-based curriculum to the New York market as an alternative to the Harold-focused training at UCB.
Recycled Minds Comedy Founded in Boise
Sean Hancock founded Recycled Minds Comedy in Boise, Idaho in 2002 as the Treasure Valley's first weekly improv and sketch comedy show. After training at UCB and The Groundlings and performing at iO West, Hancock relaunched the organization in 2011 as a partnership with Heath Harmison.
The Second City Cleveland Opens at Playhouse Square
The Second City Cleveland opened in 2002 at the 14th Street Theatre in Playhouse Square, bringing a Second City sketch franchise to Cleveland in partnership with the arts complex.
Improv Everywhere Stages the First No Pants Subway Ride
On January 5, 2002, Charlie Todd and seven friends staged the first No Pants Subway Ride for Improv Everywhere, riding the New York City subway without trousers while behaving as if nothing were unusual. The annual event grew from seven participants to thousands and expanded to cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. No Pants Subway Ride became Improv Everywhere's most replicated mission and one of the most recognised pieces of participatory public performance worldwide.
Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed Troupe Founded in Tucson
Donnie Cianciotto founded Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed in May 2002, Tucson's first professional short-form improv group, which later became Unscrewed Theater.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's Original New York Venue Closes
On November 18, 2002, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre closed its original New York City location at 161 West 22nd Street in Chelsea due to fire code violations, ending the four-year run of its founding venue. The company reopened on April 1, 2003, at 307 West 26th Street, in a former venue called the Maverick that seated 150. The compressed closure and reopening maintained the organization's continuous New York presence through the interruption.
The PIT Opens in Chelsea as New York's Populist Multi-Discipline Comedy Venue
Ali Reza Farahnakian opened The People's Improv Theater (The PIT) on 6 December 2002 at 154 West 29th Street in Chelsea, New York City. Presenting improv, sketch, stand-up, and storytelling under one roof at accessible prices, The PIT positioned itself as a neighbourhood comedy venue and training centre distinct from the Harold-focused institutional programmes.
Applied Improvisation Network Holds First European Conference in Berlin
Following its 2002 San Diego founding conference, the Applied Improvisation Network held an early World Conference in Berlin, marking the network's first major engagement with the European practitioner community. The Berlin gathering brought together trainers and coaches from German-speaking organizational development contexts alongside international delegates, establishing the AIN's presence in a region where applied improv had taken root through connections to Johnstone's Theatresports tradition and the German-speaking business coaching community.
The Players Workshop Closes After Thirty-Two Years as Chicago's Primary Improv Training School
The Players Workshop closed in the early 2000s as Josephine Forsberg retired and competition from The Second City Training Center and iO Theater's school grew to a scale the independent school could not match. The closure ended more than three decades of training that had prepared the majority of Second City performers from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s, including Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Castellaneta, and Bob Odenkirk.
WNEP Theater Closes After Illinois Revenue Department Shutdown and Lease Loss
In 2003, the Illinois Department of Revenue shut down WNEP Theater in a licensing violation sweep. The company simultaneously lost its 3209 N. Halsted Street lease following a dispute with board members and landlords, ending WNEP's eleven-year run as a venue-holding organisation in Chicago.
CIC Theater Established in Chicago as Long-Form Improv Non-Profit
CIC Theater was established in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit comedy theater and training centre at 1422 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago, dedicated to the long-form improvisation tradition. The theatre provided a training curriculum and performance programme outside the institutional systems of iO and The Second City.
Comedy XPeriment Founded in Des Moines
Mr. V Van Haecke founded Comedy XPeriment in Des Moines, Iowa in 2003, establishing central Iowa's first dedicated long-running improv ensemble. The troupe grew to perform at Stoner Theater within Des Moines Performing Arts and for corporate clients throughout the region.
DSI Comedy Theater Founded in Chapel Hill
Zach Ward founded DSI Comedy Theater in 2003 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after studying improv in Chicago, establishing the Triangle's primary improv venue and training center.
On the Fly Impro Founded in Adelaide
On the Fly Impro was founded in Adelaide, South Australia in 2003, establishing a dedicated home for Keith Johnstone-format improvisation and original improv training in the state.
ImproNOW! Established as South Australia's Theatresports Licensee
ImproNOW! became the International Theatresports Institute licensee for South Australia in 2003, positioning it as the state's sole authorised Theatresports company.
Lila Theatre Founded in San Francisco
Jill Mueller and Christopher Eickmann founded Lila Theatre in February 2003 in San Francisco, a long-form improv company that renamed to Leela Improv Theatre in 2010.
Company Renamed Bad Dog Theatre Company
On May 1, 2003, the company was renamed Bad Dog Theatre Company under co-artistic directors Kerry Griffin, Marcel St. Pierre, and workshop director Ralph MacLeod, opening its first dedicated space at 138 Danforth Avenue.
Kevin Patrick Robbins Serves as the First Artistic Director of Improvisation at Staircase Theatre
During 2004 Kevin Patrick Robbins briefly served as the first Artistic Director of Improvisation at Hamilton's Staircase Theatre. The short appointment extended his teaching and directing work into another Southern Ontario venue during the period when ITC was consolidating its Toronto base.
The Second City Hollywood Company Closes After Five Years of Operation
The Second City Hollywood company closed in 2004 after approximately five years of operation, ending the company's first Los Angeles venture. The closure reflected the challenges of establishing a permanent improv and sketch institution in a market dominated by stand-up comedy clubs and entertainment industry short-term opportunities. Alumni of the Hollywood company continued to work in Los Angeles television and film.
Improv Little Rock Founded
Brett Ihler and Clayton Aronowitz founded Improv Little Rock in approximately 2003-2004, establishing Arkansas's first continuous improv performance organization. The group developed a weekly Wednesday night show format that has run continuously for over twenty years.
Stranger Than Fiction Improv Founded in Portsmouth
Stranger Than Fiction Improv was founded in spring 2004 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, establishing the state's first and longest-running professional improv troupe.
Baltimore Improv Group Founded
Mike Subelsky founded Baltimore Improv Group in 2004, creating one of Baltimore's first organizations dedicated to improv comedy performance and training.
ImproMafia Founded in Brisbane
Wade Robinson and Luke Rimmelzwaan founded ImproMafia in Brisbane in 2004, establishing the city's first and longest-running dedicated improvisation company.
The Maydays Founded in Brighton
John Cremer founded The Maydays in Brighton in 2004, with Rebecca MacMillan teaching the company's first beginners course and creating the first improv comedy course offered in Brighton.
Off the Cuff Comedy Launches in Cedar City
Off the Cuff Comedy gave its first performance in January 2004 at the Grind Coffeehouse in Cedar City, Utah, establishing Southern Utah's first and longest-running improv theatre.
Mick Napier Publishes "Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out"
Heinemann publishes "Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out" by Mick Napier, offering a contrarian take on established improv conventions. Napier argues that many standard rules taught in improv training, such as "never say no," are oversimplifications that can limit performers rather than free them. The book provides an alternative framework grounded in character, specificity, and personal accountability, and becomes an influential counterweight to more prescriptive approaches to improv education.
The Basement Theatre Founded in Atlanta
JStar founded The Basement Theatre in April 2004 in the basement of a Buckhead office building at 175 West Wieuca Road NE, Atlanta, establishing the neighborhood's only dedicated improv venue and training program.
Improv Everywhere Stages the First MP3 Experiment in New York City
In 2004, Charlie Todd and Tyler Walker developed and staged the first MP3 Experiment, in which participants downloaded an audio file, synchronized their devices at a designated time, and followed instructions through their earphones. The format created coordinated group behavior visible to uninitiated bystanders with no visible organizational infrastructure. The MP3 Experiment became one of Improv Everywhere’s signature recurring formats, run in at least ten iterations through the 2010s and accommodating hundreds of participants per event.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Opens Its Los Angeles Venue in Hollywood
In 2005, the Upright Citizens Brigade opened its Los Angeles operation at 5919 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, extending the UCB training and performance model to the West Coast. The Franklin Avenue venue offered shows and a training centre, establishing UCB's presence in the entertainment industry's primary market. The Los Angeles operation became one of the most prominent improv institutions in the city and a major employer of UCB-trained performers in the television and film industry.
The Second City Opens Hollywood Training Centre at 6560 Hollywood Blvd
The Second City opened a training centre at 6560 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, in 2005, expanding its geographic footprint to the West Coast. The Hollywood location operated as a training-focused satellite rather than a full resident producing company, offering courses across improv, sketch, musical comedy, writing, and stand-up in a 49-seat theatre.
Loose Moose Moves to Crossroads Market
Loose Moose Theatre moved to its current home at 1235 26th Avenue Southeast in Calgary's Crossroads Market in 2005.
Impro ACT Founded in Canberra
Nick Byrne and PJ Williams founded Impro ACT in Canberra in 2005, launching both a multi-level training program and the inaugural Canberra Impro Theatre Challenge (later named Improvention).
The Second City Begins Its Norwegian Cruise Line Partnership
In 2005, The Second City expanded its reach onto Norwegian Cruise Line ships, taking revue comedy, improv shows, and passenger workshops onto the high seas. The partnership became a notable offstage employment pipeline for performers and a visible example of improv comedy being adapted for cruise entertainment.
Magnet Theater Founded in New York City by Chicago-Trained Improvisers
Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, and Shannon Manning, all trained under Del Close at iO Theater in Chicago, founded Magnet Theater in March 2005 at 254 West 29th Street in Chelsea, New York City. The theatre established a full long-form training curriculum and performance programme, with a particular emphasis on musical improvisation that made it the acknowledged New York centre for that form.
Patricia Ryan Madson Publishes “Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up”
Bell Tower published “Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up” by Patricia Ryan Madson, bringing improv principles to a general audience interested in spontaneous living. Madson distilled her decades of teaching improvisation at Stanford University into thirteen maxims for engaging fully with life, framing improv not as performance technique but as a philosophy for daily living. The book became one of the most widely read introductions to improv philosophy for non-performers.
Jackrabbit Slim becomes the Impatient Theatre Co.'s first Harold team
In June 2005, students from the Impatient Theatre Co.'s inaugural class cohort formed Jackrabbit Slim, the company's first Harold team. The team had learned and performed the Harold format without having seen a live professional performance of the form, marking the success of the Impatient Theatre Co.'s approach to curriculum-based Harold training in Toronto.
Contemporary Theater Company Founded in Wakefield
A group of young local artists founded Contemporary Theater Company as The Courthouse Summer Theater Company in June 2005 in Wakefield, Rhode Island, to restore live theatre to southern Rhode Island.
ImprovOlympic Changes Its Name to iO Theatre Following a Trademark Dispute
After years of operating under the ImprovOlympic name, the theater officially becomes iO Theatre following a dispute with the International Olympic Committee over the use of "Olympic" in the name. The renaming marks a transition in the theater's identity as it continues to evolve as Chicago's premier long-form improv institution. Despite the name change, iO maintains the tradition and pedagogical approach that Del Close and Charna Halpern established at its founding.
Philly Improv Theater Founded and Launched at Philadelphia Improv Festival
Greg Maughan, Bobbi Block, Matt Holmes, and Alexis Simpson co-founded Philly Improv Theater as a nonprofit in October 2005, publicly launching the organisation at the First Annual Philadelphia Improv Festival on 4 November 2005. PHIT became the primary improv training and performance organisation in Philadelphia.
Impatient Theatre Co. opens its first dedicated training centre
On November 1, 2005, the Impatient Theatre Co. opened its first dedicated training centre at Wellington Street West and Spadina Avenue in Toronto. The studio established the Impatient Theatre Co. as a fixed institution in the city's improv community and initiated a period of rapid enrolment growth that led the company to relocate to a larger space at Queen Street West and Roncesvalles within two years.
iO South Opens in Raleigh
iO South opened in 2006 as a joint venture between iO Chicago and ComedyWorx of Raleigh, establishing iO's third training center and the only iO franchise in the Southeast.
Hoopla Impro Founded in Balham, London
Steve Roe and Edgar Fernando founded Hoopla Impro in January 2006 as a free weekly workshop at The Bedford in Balham, South London, which grew by word of mouth into the UK's largest improv training company.
Miles Stroth Founds the Miles Stroth Workshop in Los Angeles
Miles Stroth, a former student of Del Close who had taught at iO West, founded the Miles Stroth Workshop in Los Angeles in 2007. The organisation began as a teaching enterprise and grew into a performing venue; it rebranded as The Pack Theater in 2015 with five named co-founders.
ColdTowne Theater Founded in Austin
Brian Lazzaro and Mary Borsellino founded ColdTowne Theater in Austin, Texas in 2007, establishing a community-focused long-form improv and sketch comedy venue in the East Austin arts district.
The Box Performance Space Opens in Albuquerque
The Box Performance Space opened in 2007 in downtown Albuquerque, establishing the only dedicated improv theatre in New Mexico.
Die-Nasty Reaches 500th Episode
On February 12, 2007, the Government of Alberta recognized Die-Nasty as the company performed its 500th episode, marking one of the longest-running improvised serial works in North American comedy.
Howdy Stranger Founded in New Jersey
Ryan Huban founded Howdy Stranger in northern New Jersey in 2008, building an improv troupe and training organization that grew to train thousands of students and win the NYC Tournament of Improvisers in 2019. The organization performs regularly at HACPAC and venues across New Jersey.
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.
Impro Montréal Founded in Montreal
Vinny François founded Impro Montréal in Montreal in 2008, creating a bilingual improv school and performance venue on boulevard Saint-Laurent in the Plateau neighbourhood.
The Maydays Begin Komedia Brighton Residency
From 2008, The Maydays began a monthly residency at Komedia Brighton and sent members to train at iO Theater and the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, establishing the company as England's long-form improv vanguard.
No Pants Subway Ride Expands Internationally for the First Time
In January 2008, the No Pants Subway Ride was replicated internationally for the first time, with nine cities staging simultaneous pantless subway rides alongside New York’s event. New York’s participation reached approximately 900 riders that year, a tenfold increase from the previous year. The international expansion transformed a local New York recurring prank into a globally coordinated public performance event that by 2012 operated in 59 cities across 27 countries.
Improv Everywhere Stages Frozen Grand Central in New York
On January 31, 2008, 207 participants in an Improv Everywhere mission simultaneously froze in place for five minutes inside New York City's Grand Central Terminal. Video of the Frozen Grand Central mission spread rapidly online and accumulated more than thirty-five million views, making it one of the most-watched viral videos of 2008. The mission demonstrated the documentary potential of public performance art and significantly expanded Improv Everywhere's international following.
Carolina Improv Company Founded in Myrtle Beach
Gina Trimarco founded Carolina Improv Company in September 2008 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bringing Chicago-trained short-form improv and professional training to the South Carolina coast.
Go Comedy! Improv Theater Founded in Ferndale
Pj Jacokes, Chris DiAngelo, Tommy LeRoy, and Gerald Knight founded Go Comedy! Improv Theater in November 2008 in downtown Ferndale, Michigan, establishing the primary professional improv venue in Metro Detroit.
The Second City Detroit Company Closes After Sixteen Years
The Second City Detroit company closed in 2009 after sixteen years of operation, a consequence of the city's severe economic decline during the 2008 financial crisis. Detroit was among the American cities hardest affected by the recession, and the closure ended one of the few institutionally supported comedy venues in the Great Lakes region. The Detroit company had been the company's most durable regional outpost after Chicago and Toronto.
HUGE Theater Founded in Minneapolis
Jill Bernard founded HUGE Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2009, establishing the Twin Cities' first dedicated long-form improv venue. The company grew to include house ensembles, a training program, and the annual HUGE Improv Festival.
Spontaneous Combustion Atlanta Improv Festival Launched
JStar and Becky Brett Caldwell launched Spontaneous Combustion Atlanta in 2009, an annual international improv festival hosted at The Basement Theatre that drew groups and instructors from across the United States and Canada.
OKC Improv Founded in Oklahoma City
OKC Improv was founded in 2009 in Oklahoma City, establishing the Plaza District venue that would become Oklahoma's primary improv showcase and teaching institution.
Santa Fe Improv Founded
Ben Taxy founded Santa Fe Improv in 2009 as New Mexico's dedicated long-form improv organization, which later incorporated as a nonprofit in 2019 and opened a permanent theater space in 2020.
The Nursery Theatre Founded in London
Jules Munns, Judith Amsenga, Heather Urquhart, and Robin Steegman founded The Nursery Theatre in 2009 as a UK arts educational charity promoting improv participation.
Sea Tea Improv Founded in Hartford
Six co-founders launched Sea Tea Improv on April 1, 2009, in Hartford, Connecticut, establishing what would grow into the state's largest professional comedy company.
Richmond Comedy Coalition Founded
Matt Newman, Katie Holcomb, and David Pijor founded the Richmond Comedy Coalition in June 2009, presenting their first show at Art6 Gallery after Richmond's ComedySportz franchise closed. The organization opened a permanent venue at 8 W Broad St in 2013 and restructured as Broad Street Comedy, Inc. (501(c)(3)) in 2014.
The Improv Shop Founded in St. Louis
Kevin McKernan placed the first advertisement for The Improv Shop in October 2009, and Andy Sloey joined as co-founder in 2010, establishing St. Louis's primary long-form improv training institution.
TBC Improv Founded in Edinburgh
Lauren Berning, Fernando Fresquez, and Sacha Timaeus founded TBC Improv with their first show at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar on December 10, 2009, establishing Edinburgh's first dedicated improv organisation.
OTRimprov Founded in Cincinnati
OTRimprov was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2010 as a long-form improv collective, initially performing in Know Theatre's "Little Big Night" series before formalizing an independent producing partnership at Know Theatre Underground in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
Steel City Improv Theater Founded in Pittsburgh
Justin Zell and Kasey Daley founded Steel City Improv Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2010 after a decade in New York City's improv scene, teaching long-form improv in Lawrenceville before opening their first dedicated theater in East Deutschtown in 2011 and relocating to Shadyside in 2014.
Salt City Improv Theatre Founded in Syracuse
Salt City Improv Theatre was founded in 2010 in Syracuse, New York, establishing a comedy venue and training program at Shoppingtown Mall in DeWitt.
Academy of Improvisation Founded in Sydney
Richard Bennett founded the school in Chatswood, Sydney in 2010 as Improv Theatre Company, introducing Chicago long-form improvisation teaching to Australia.
Comedy Store Players Certified as World's Longest-Running Comedy Show
In 2010, on the troupe's 25th anniversary, Guinness World Records certified the Comedy Store Players as the world's longest-running comedy show.
Backline Comedy Founded in Omaha
Dylan Oakes Rohde founded Backline Comedy in Omaha, Nebraska in 2011, launching with a single improv class in the basement of Studio Gallery after years performing at UCB and iO West in Los Angeles. The theater grew into Omaha's primary multi-genre comedy institution.
Nashville Improv Founded
Nashville Improv was founded in 2011 as a collective of actors and comedians building an improv community in Tennessee, growing by 2012 into a formal company with 15 performers, regular shows, classes, and corporate programming. The company appeared at the Chicago Improv Festival and was featured on Comedy Central's "Drunk History."
Station Theater Founded in Houston
Station Theater grew from the Houston chapter of Austin's The New Movement, which began offering improv classes in 2011 under Shyla Ray. The organization rebranded as Station Theater in fall 2012, establishing a Houston-centric identity and growing into the city's primary independent comedy hub.
Alchemy Comedy Theater Founded in Greenville
Harrison Brookie, Ben Burris, Jason Underwood, and Meg Pierson, four Clemson University alumni, founded Alchemy Comedy Theater in fall 2011 in the basement of Coffee Underground in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
Vancouver TheatreSports Opens Dedicated Granville Island Theatre
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week.
Paper Street Theatre Founded in Victoria, BC
Dave Morris founded Paper Street Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia in 2011, creating a company focused on theatrical long-form improvisation that embodies specific playwright styles and theatrical genres.
Big City Improv Festival Founded in Toronto
Adrianne Gagnon founded the Big City Improv Festival in Toronto in 2011, creating Canada's largest annual improv gathering and a multi-venue showcase for national and international companies.
The Improv Centre Opens on Granville Island
Vancouver TheatreSports League opened its purpose-built 186-seat theatre at 1502 Duranleau Street on Granville Island in 2011, naming it The Improv Centre and expanding to 12 shows per week.
Voodoo Comedy Playhouse Opens in Denver
Stephen Wilder opened Voodoo Comedy Playhouse on October 26, 2011, in Denver's Five Points neighborhood, establishing Colorado's primary dedicated improv and comedy venue; the company later rebranded as RISE Comedy.
The Second City Opens a Las Vegas Residency at the Flamingo
In 2012, The Second City opened a residency at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, producing satirical revues for hotel audiences. The Las Vegas engagement brought The Second City's performance brand to the largest entertainment hospitality market in North America, adapting its revue format for a tourist audience. The residency was the company's most prominent hotel entertainment venture alongside its Norwegian Cruise Line partnership.
Laugh Masters Academy Founded in Sydney
Eran Thomson founded Laugh Masters Academy in Surry Hills, Sydney in 2012, establishing what the school describes as Australia's first dedicated Chicago-style long-form improv and sketch comedy school.
Bristol Improv Network Founded in Bristol
The Bristol Improv Network (later Bristol Improv Theatre) was founded in 2012 as a volunteer-led collective to connect Bristol's improv groups, debuting at Bristol Old Vic's Improv Jam.
The Improv Conspiracy Founded in Melbourne
Adam Kangas launched the first public Harold performance and monthly show series in February 2012 in Melbourne, formally founding The Improv Conspiracy after private training sessions began in September 2011.
Compass Improv Founded in St. Louis
Eric Christensen founded Compass Improv as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in St. Louis in October 2012, launching an annual improv festival honoring the city's connection to the original Compass Players (1955) who performed at the Crystal Palace before their Chicago work. The organization developed the CORE Improv school program and detention-center workshops alongside its festival.
The Age of Proliferation
2013–2019A period of global growth, institutional challenges, and diversification as improv expands worldwide while landmark institutions navigate changing cultural and economic landscapes.
Improv HI Founded in Honolulu
Kimee Balmilero founded Improv HI in 2012 in Honolulu, establishing Hawaii's primary improv company after training in Los Angeles and New York.
Providence Improv Guild Founded
Providence Improv Guild was founded in summer 2012 by local improvisers and educators to unify Providence's fragmented improv scene, embedding within the AS220 arts complex at 95 Empire Street.
Finest City Improv Founded in San Diego
Amy Lisewski founded Finest City Improv in September 2012 to provide San Diego with a dedicated long-form improv performance and training space, beginning with classes at the Ocean Beach Playhouse.
Tucson Improv Movement Founded
Justin Lukasewicz founded Tucson Improv Movement on October 25, 2012, in Tucson, Arizona, with the first Improv 101 class on the founding day and the first public performance at Red Barn Theater on December 15, 2012.
Bleach Improv Founded in Las Vegas
On the encouragement of comedian Paul Mattingly, Eric Angell, Neil Corso, Kimberly Faubel, Philip Kotler, and Tommy Todd formed Bleach Improv in Las Vegas in 2013. The ensemble adopted white shirts and black pants as their uniform, giving them their name and establishing a weekly long-form improv presence in the city.
Jackalope Comedy Theater Founded in Tulsa
Jackalope Comedy Theater opened in 2013 in Midtown Tulsa at 3406 South Yale Avenue, establishing a dedicated improv and comedy venue in Oklahoma's second city.
Urban Yeti Improv Founded in Anchorage
John Hanus and Mallory Hanus founded Urban Yeti Improv in 2013 in Anchorage, pioneering long-form improv in Alaska.
Dojo Comedy Founded in Washington, D.C.
Murphy McHugh founded Dojo Comedy in 2013 in Washington, D.C., opening the District's first dedicated improv and sketch venue at 3503 Georgia Avenue NW in May 2015.
Hitchhikers Improv Company Founded in Regina
Andy Parry, Cameron Chomyn, Danny Murphy, and Samantha Gross founded Hitchhikers Improv Company in Regina, Saskatchewan in 2013, beginning in a space above a shoe store and growing into the anchor of the city's improv scene.
"The UCB Comedy Improvisation Manual" Published
Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, and Amy Poehler publish "The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual," the most comprehensive written articulation of the UCB approach to long-form improv. The book covers the structure of the Harold in exceptional detail, addresses the principles of game-based scenework, and provides exercises for developing the skills the UCB curriculum emphasizes. The manual becomes the primary text for UCB training programs worldwide and shapes how long-form improv is taught in the twenty-first century.
Impatient Theatre Co. closes in July 2013
The Impatient Theatre Co. closed in July 2013 after a twelve-year run under Kevin Patrick Robbins. The closure marked the end of one of Toronto's most visible long-form institutions, ended the company's role as Toronto's primary Harold-based training centre, and forced the cancellation of the planned 2013 Toronto International Improv Festival.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Opens a Second Los Angeles Venue on Sunset Boulevard
In 2014, the Upright Citizens Brigade opened a second Los Angeles location at 5419 Sunset Boulevard, a larger facility incorporating a theatre, training centre, production offices, and a performance space called the Inner Sanctum. The Sunset Boulevard venue significantly expanded UCB's West Coast capacity and represented the organisation's peak physical footprint before the pandemic. The Sunset location was sold in December 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Moment Improv Theatre Founded in San Francisco
Marcus Sams founded Moment Improv Theatre in San Francisco in 2014 at 533 Sutter St, establishing one of the first African American-owned improv theatres and training centers in the United States. The organization operates in the San Francisco Harold tradition with an emphasis on authenticity and inclusive community-building.
ImprovBroadway Opens in Provo
ImprovBroadway opened in 2014 in Provo, Utah, as the state's first full-time comedy theater and school, specializing in improvised musical comedy.
Laugh Index Theatre Established as LIT Comedy
Nancy Safavi formalized Laugh Index Theatre as a regular comedy school and performance organization in Washington, D.C. in 2014, building on a performance group and production brand that began in 2010.
Social Capital Theatre Founded in Toronto
Ralph MacLeod, Carmine Lucarelli, and Kerri Griffin founded Social Capital Theatre at 154 Danforth Avenue in Toronto around 2014, creating a multi-form independent performing arts venue above the Black Swan Tavern.
Experimental Farm Theatre Founded in Ottawa
Dani Alon and Chris Hannay began producing shows in Ottawa in summer 2014 under the name Experimental Farm Theatre, the organization that would become The Improv Embassy.
Sour Dog Theatre Founded in Calgary
Ali Froggatt, Sarah Ferguson, and Quinn Contini founded Sour Dog Theatre in Calgary, Alberta in 2014, the company that would later become Tightrope Theatre in Vancouver.
Improv Theatre Sydney Founded by Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos
Carlo Ritchie and Steen Raskopoulos founded Improv Theatre Sydney in 2014, growing from 16 students in their first class to over 200 enrolments and establishing Sydney's primary improv training institution.
Unscrewed Theater Opens Tucson's First Dedicated Improv Venue
Unscrewed Theater opened its first dedicated performance space at 3244 East Speedway Boulevard on January 30, 2014, becoming Tucson's first theatre devoted exclusively to improv comedy.
iO Theater Relocates to Purpose-Built Kingsbury Street Venue
In August 2014, Charna Halpern purchased a building in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighbourhood and relocated iO Theater to 1501 North Kingsbury Street, a purpose-built multi-stage venue designed specifically for improv performance and training. The Kingsbury Street facility was the most significant capital investment in the theatre's history, providing dedicated performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, and a bar. It served as iO's home from 2014 until the pandemic closure announced in June 2020.
Jamie Wyllie, Co-Founder of the Canadian Improv Games, Dies at Age Fifty-Six
Jamie Wyllie, who co-founded the Canadian Improv Games in 1977 alongside Howard Jerome and devoted thirty-seven years to building the organization, died in October 2014 at age 56 after complications from leukemia. Wyllie served as primary organizer and board chair through stretches when institutional support was uncertain, personally securing sponsors and managing matters that sustained the organization’s growth from eight Ottawa high school teams to a national program with fourteen regional chapters.
The Free Association Gives First Show in London
Graham Dickson founded The Free Association with its first show above the De Beauvoir Arms in Haggerston on October 19, 2014, introducing a UCB and iO-style long-form improv school model to the UK.
The Second City Ends Its Las Vegas Flamingo Residency
The Second City ended its Las Vegas residency at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in 2015, concluding a three-year engagement with Caesars Entertainment. The closure returned the company's primary hospitality entertainment focus to its Norwegian Cruise Line partnership. The Las Vegas residency had extended The Second City's commercial performance reach beyond its core Chicago and Toronto home markets and its touring operations.
The Revival Opens in Chicago's Hyde Park Near the Compass Players' Original Stage
John Stoops founded The Revival in 2015 at 1160 E. 55th Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighbourhood, siting the theatre near the corner of 55th Street and University Avenue where the Compass Players had performed in 1955. The location was chosen to connect the new venue to the birthplace of American long-form improvisation and to bring improv performance and training to Chicago's South Side.
Reno Improv Founded
Ben Craig and Aurora Boles co-founded Reno Improv in Reno, Nevada in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, establishing the city's first dedicated improv organization with an explicit mission of inclusion and accessibility. Craig had performed with Second City Las Vegas and found no improv community in Reno after moving there in 2004.
Guild Theater Founded in Lawrence, Kansas
John Robison founded Guild Theater in Lawrence, Kansas in 2015, establishing the Lawrence Improv Guild as a performance and training home for the local improv community.
Big Fork Theatre Founded in Brisbane
Cameron Watson, Rosa Sottile, Taylor Edwards, and Chris Martin founded Big Fork Theatre in Brisbane in 2015, bringing Chicago-trained improv and sketch comedy to Queensland.
Paper Street Theatre Opens Victoria Studio
Paper Street Theatre opened a dedicated studio space in Victoria, BC in March 2015, providing a permanent home for rehearsals, classes, and performances.
Improv Conspiracy Opens Dedicated Theatre at Meyers Place
In March 2015, The Improv Conspiracy opened its own training centre and theatre at 1/19 Meyers Place, Melbourne CBD, consolidating all shows at the new venue from January 2016.
Villain Theater Founded in Miami
Peter Mir and Jeff Quintana founded Villain Theater in August 2015 in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, establishing Chicago-style long-form improv and alternative comedy in South Florida.
ImproQuo Founded in Manchester
Eji Osigwe founded ImproQuo in Manchester in October 2015, introducing structured improv and character-building training to fill a gap in the city's offering.
Vermont Comedy Club Opens in Burlington
Nathan Hartswick and Natalie Miller opened Vermont Comedy Club in November 2015 at 101 Main Street in Burlington, Vermont, creating the state's first dedicated comedy club with an attached school and bar.
Strike Theater Opens in Minneapolis
Strike Theater opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2016 in the North Loop neighborhood, providing a permanent home for improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy in the Twin Cities. The venue developed class programming and house team performances alongside its bar and event space operations.
Improv Cincinnati Founded
Colin Thornton and Jon Ulrich co-founded Improv Cincinnati in 2016, launching with 9 students and growing to over 300 enrolled annually. The organization established its home at 404 Ludlow Ave in Cincinnati's Clifton Gaslight District, operating as the Clifton Comedy Theatre.
The Focus Theater Opens in Rochester
The Focus Theater opened in 2016 in Rochester's South Wedge neighborhood, offering improv and comedy programming and multi-level training to the Rochester area.
Central Kentucky Improv Founded in Lexington
Central Kentucky Improv was established in Lexington, Kentucky in 2016 as a nonprofit organization, providing performance opportunities and training while building toward an annual festival.
Organization Renamed The Improv Embassy and Incorporated as Nonprofit
In 2016 Dani Alon and Chris Hannay renamed the organization The Improv Embassy and incorporated it as a nonprofit, establishing it as Ottawa's dedicated improv school and festival producer.
Haroldfest Launches in Toronto
Martha Stortz founded Haroldfest, Toronto's long-form improv festival, in 2016, preceding the opening of The Assembly Theatre's physical home and signaling the collective's mission to establish a dedicated long-form improv space in the city.
London Improv Theatre Founded in West Hampstead
Jake Lyons founded London Improv Theatre in 2016 at 104 Finchley Road, West Hampstead, establishing a dedicated short-form improv venue in the area.
Glasgow Improv Theatre Founded
Martin James founded Glasgow Improv Theatre in April 2016 with the first Harold Night at The Griffin pub, establishing Scotland's first dedicated improv organisation on the UCB long-form model.
Nest Theatre Founded in Columbus, Ohio
Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto, alumni of iO Theater and The Second City, founded Nest Theatre in Columbus, Ohio in November 2016, bringing Chicago-style long-form training to Central Ohio.
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Founded
Abigail Head and Kevin Shimko co-founded the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte (CATCh) on November 16, 2016, establishing a long-form improv venue focused on theatrical, character-driven performance. The company opened its first permanent venue in February 2019 at 4200 South Blvd in Charlotte.
Baltimore Improv Group Opens Station North Venue
Baltimore Improv Group opened its permanent home at 1727 North Charles Street in Baltimore's Station North Arts District in 2017, gaining its first dedicated performance and training space.
Queen City Improv Founded in Manchester, New Hampshire
Queen City Improv was founded in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2017, bringing short-form improv comedy to the state's largest city.
Stomping Ground Comedy Theater Founded in Dallas
Lindsay Goldapp and Andrea K. Baum founded Stomping Ground Comedy Theater as a nonprofit in the Dallas Design District in 2017, creating a dedicated home for long-form improv and comedy education in the DFW metro.
Vegas Improv Power Founded in Las Vegas
Natalie Sullivan and Ryan Neufeld founded Vegas Improv Power in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017, establishing a dedicated improv performance and training company in a city dominated by large-scale entertainment.
Second Beat Improv Theater Opens in Phoenix
Sam Haldiman opened Second Beat Improv Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on January 7, 2017, drawing on training at iO Theater and Annoyance Theater in Chicago and experience as training director at The Torch Theatre. The theater brought dedicated long-form improv to the Phoenix market.
DSI Comedy Theater Closes
DSI Comedy Theater permanently closed on August 28, 2017, following the resignation of founder Zach Ward amid allegations of misconduct.
MMA Improv Founded in Anchorage, Alaska
Darryl Akins founded MMA Improv in Anchorage, Alaska in September 2017 as a nonprofit focused on representation for performers of color, making it one of the very few improv organizations operating in Alaska.
The Assembly Theatre Opens at 1479 Queen Street West
Geoffrey Cork, Martha Stortz, and Spencer Thompson opened The Assembly Theatre at 1479 Queen Street West, Toronto in September 2017 in partnership with Leroy Street Theatre, establishing Toronto's dedicated long-form improv home.
Improv Falls Founded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Improv Falls was founded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2018, establishing short-form improv comedy performance in one of the few such companies operating in the state.
Improv Incubator Founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Anthony Jensen founded Improv Incubator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2018, establishing long-form improv performance and training in Eastern Iowa.
Rocket Improv Comedy Founded in Maplewood, New Jersey
Lulu French founded Rocket Improv Comedy in Maplewood, New Jersey in 2018, creating a youth-focused improv education program for young performers in Northern New Jersey.
Anubis Improv Founded in New Orleans
David James Hamilton founded Anubis Improv in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2018, establishing long-form improv comedy in a city with limited dedicated comedy infrastructure.
The Improv Pit Begins Regular Collingwood Shows
The ensemble that became The Improv Pit began weekly shows in Collingwood in 2018, transitioning from festival touring to a regular local performance schedule.
iO West Closes Permanently in Los Angeles After Twenty-One Years in Hollywood
On February 24, 2018, iO West closed permanently at 6366 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, ending twenty-one years of West Coast operations. iO West had been founded in 1997 by former iO Chicago student Paul Vaillancourt and grew into one of the most prominent improv training venues in Los Angeles, training thousands of performers over its two decades. The closure consolidated iO Theater's operations entirely to Chicago after years of bicoastal presence.
Rozzie Square Theater Founded in Roslindale, Boston
Courtney Pong founded Rozzie Square Theater in May 2018 in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, combining ComedySportz short-form and Riot Improv long-form into a neighborhood comedy venue.
ComedySportz Las Vegas Founded
Robert Cochrane and Justin Green secured the CSz Worldwide franchise for Las Vegas in June 2018, launching the company's first show in September 2018. Cochrane had first sought the franchise in the early 2000s after performing with Second City Las Vegas; a decade of negotiations preceded the successful launch.
Bandit Theater Founded in Seattle
Annie Barry founded Bandit Theater in Seattle, Washington in August 2018, establishing the city's only female-founded and female-run improv theatre as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization grew to serve over 4,500 audience members annually and enroll 330 students in its training programs.
Belfast Improv Comedy Festival Launched
Paul Mone launched the Belfast Improv Comedy Festival on August 1-5, 2018, the first improv festival in Northern Ireland, featuring companies from Chicago, Shanghai, London, Dublin, Galway, and Detroit.
Logan Square Improv Opens in Chicago's Logan Square Neighbourhood
Alex Prichodko and Andrew Lemna co-founded Logan Square Improv in November 2018, opening a non-profit improv venue in Chicago's Logan Square neighbourhood. Built on an accessibility model: no formal auditions, rotating independent ensembles, shows priced between free and five dollars, the theatre was named Best New Theater Company by the Chicago Reader in 2019 and became one of the city's most active independent improv venues.
Last Best Comedy Founded in Bozeman
Levin and Annie O'Connor and Molly Hannan founded Last Best Comedy in Bozeman, Montana in 2019, connecting with local performers and producing shows before opening a dedicated venue in the historic Bozeman Hotel in September 2021. The venue became self-described as Montana's first comedy club.
The Faculty Lounge Founded in New Mexico
Rachel Michaela and Brian Crane founded The Faculty Lounge in the summer of 2019 as New Mexico's first dedicated long-form improv ensemble, performing at partner venues across Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Improv New Mexico Founded in Santa Fe
Peter and Danette Sills founded Improv New Mexico in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2019 under the Stage Santa Fe name, creating an improv performance and training organization for Northern New Mexico.
Shenanigans Comedy Theatre Founded in Huntsville, Alabama
Kimberly Wilson and Jessica Cotton founded Shenanigans Comedy Theatre as a nonprofit in Huntsville, Alabama in 2019, establishing improv and sketch comedy programming in North Alabama.
Shore Thing Theater Founded in Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Ria Torricelli and Mike O'Keeffe founded Shore Thing Theater in Ocean Grove, New Jersey in 2019 as the ComedySportz Jersey Shore franchise, bringing competitive short-form improv to the coast.
Yes &Co. Improv Founded in Portland, Maine
Yes &Co. Improv was founded in Portland, Maine in 2019, establishing long-form and storytelling-focused improv comedy performance and training in Maine's largest city.
Improv Theatre Sydney Opens Dedicated Redfern Venue
ITS opened its purpose-built venue at 44-54 Botany Road, Redfern in 2019, featuring two classrooms, a bar, and a 50-seat theatre, marking the first purpose-built improv theatre in Sydney.
Flying Pig Improv Founded in Wichita
Jessie Gray founded Flying Pig Improv on April 20, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas, bringing 35+ years of San Francisco Bay Area improv performance and teaching experience back to her hometown. By 2023-2024 the school had hosted over 300 shows for more than 7,000 audience members and graduated 600+ students.
Faraway Theater Founded in Birmingham
Michael Greene, Jacob Simmons, and Tim Casper, the three members of Birmingham long-form improv group Gladys, founded Faraway Theater in Birmingham, Alabama in 2023, establishing the city's only dedicated improv comedy theatre. The founders brought training from the New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles improv traditions to build Alabama's primary improv institution.
Leela Improv Theatre Opens Raleigh Location
Jill Eickmann and Christopher Eickmann opened a Raleigh, North Carolina location of their San Francisco-based Leela improv institution in 2025 at 309 N Boylan Ave in Glenwood South, extending Leela's heart-centered long-form improv curriculum to the Triangle area.
The Free Association Opens Permanent Southwark Venue
The Free Association opened its first permanent home at Arch 26, Old Union Yard Arches, Southwark on October 16, 2025, with a 104-seat theatre, cafe-bar, and classroom on a 10-year lease.
The COVID Aftermath
2020–2022A thematic era covering closures, forced sales, restructurings, and reopenings that were direct or indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Second City Ends Its Norwegian Cruise Line Entertainment Partnership
The Second City's fifteen-year Norwegian Cruise Line entertainment partnership effectively ended in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted global cruise operations and the company underwent its own closure and leadership transition. The partnership, which had placed Second City-trained performers on Norwegian ships since 2005, was not renewed following the company's acquisition by ZMC in February 2021. The cruise programme had been a significant revenue stream and a major employer of Second City Training Centre graduates.
Buffalo Improv House Founded
Dan Reitz, returning to Buffalo from teaching positions at Magnet Theater, the PIT, and Sarah Lawrence College, launched Buffalo Improv House during the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing Western New York's first dedicated long-form improv organization. The company opened a permanent venue at the Pierce Arrow Factory Complex in September 2024.
Dynamic El Dorado Founded in Atlanta
Dynamic El Dorado was founded in early 2020 in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, self-described as "inconveniently founded" at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficult launch conditions, the comedy incubator survived and established itself as a key venue in Atlanta's independent comedy scene.
Big Couch Conceived in New Orleans
Scott Anderson and Carrie Moulder conceived Big Couch in 2020, planning a dedicated improv theater for New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chaotic Good Improv Founded in Birmingham, Alabama
Chaotic Good Improv was founded in Birmingham, Alabama in 2020, performing short-form improv shows at the Sidewalk Film Center in the city's arts district.
Dad Company Improv Founded in Mobile, Alabama
Dad Company Improv was founded in Mobile, Alabama in 2020 by four improv performers who are also fathers, specializing in long-form improvised one-act plays.
Sour Dog Theatre Rebrands as Tightrope Theatre
In 2020 the company rebranded from Sour Dog Theatre to Tightrope Theatre, completing its transition to its Vancouver Mount Pleasant identity.
Willow Creek Theatre Company Founded in Iowa City
Luke Brooks, Lindsay Brooks, and Kaya Schafer founded Willow Creek Theatre Company in January 2020 as Iowa City's first dedicated long-form improv nonprofit, though public performances were delayed until late 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Closes Permanently in New York City
On 21 April 2020, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre permanently closed its Hell's Kitchen theatre and New York training centre, citing COVID-19 disruption and pre-existing financial pressures. The closure ended UCB's twenty-one-year run as New York's primary Harold training institution. UCB NYC reopened at 242 East 14th Street in September 2024 under new ownership.
The Second City Closes Its Stages and Andrew Alexander Resigns as CEO
In June 2020, The Second City closed its Chicago and Toronto stages and co-founder Andrew Alexander resigned as CEO following both the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown and a public reckoning over systemic barriers faced by Black performers and alumni. An open letter signed by hundreds of alumni documented discriminatory treatment within the company across decades. The dual crisis of pandemic closure and institutional reckoning precipitated the most significant leadership and ownership change in the company's history.
iO Chicago Announces Permanent Closure Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
iO Chicago announced it would close permanently, citing financial devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic. The theater, which opened as ImprovOlympic in 1981 and trained thousands of performers across nearly four decades, could not sustain itself through the extended closure required by public health mandates. The closure of iO Chicago marked the end of one of the most significant institutions in improv history and prompted widespread reflection about the fragility of live performance venues.
Impro Montréal Announces Closure Due to COVID-19
Vinny François announced the permanent closure of Impro Montréal in July 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the cause. The organization was subsequently revived under new leadership and relocated to Saint-Henri.
Protea Impro Founded in Hobart
Rowan Harris assembled the ensemble that became Protea Impro in November 2020 for The Burning Desire Festival in Hobart, originally under the name Practitioners of the Ephemeral Arts.
Chaos Bloom Theater Opens in Denver
Chaos Bloom Theater opened at 70 S Broadway in Denver's Baker neighborhood in mid-2021, co-founded by Justin Francin, Amey Goerlich, and Zak Roland. Goerlich had organized outdoor community improv shows during the 2020 pandemic lockdown before the venue opened. The theater won Westword's Best Intimate Improv Club in Denver in 2024.
Crossroads Comedy Theater Established in Indianapolis
Mike Marbach, former Education Director and Artistic Director at Philly Improv Theater (2011-2020), founded Crossroads Comedy Theater and concentrated its operations in Indianapolis in 2021, bringing long-form improv training and performance to the Central Indiana comedy scene.
Dallas Comedy Club Opens in Deep Ellum
Ian and Rosie Caruth, Jamie Hogan, Sarah Tullos, and Claire Daigle opened Dallas Comedy Club in 2021 at 3036 Elm St in Deep Ellum, taking over the space vacated by Dallas Comedy House after its August 2020 pandemic closure. The new venue continued Deep Ellum's multi-genre comedy programming tradition.
Levity Theatre Founded in Coeur d'Alene
Noah Johnson founded Levity Theatre in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 2021, establishing northern Idaho's first dedicated adult improv venue after volunteering and performing at Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, Washington. The company relocated to downtown Coeur d'Alene in June 2025.
Kismet Improv Founded in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Luke and Taylor Bruneaux founded Kismet Improv in Fall 2021 at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, establishing a long-form improv company in the greater Providence area.
Mockingbird Improv Founded in San Diego
Mockingbird Improv was founded in San Diego, California in 2021 as a nonprofit, continuing the improv community of Old Town Improv Company following that organization's closure in 2020.
Rails Comedy Founded in Washington, D.C.
Walker Green founded Rails Comedy in Washington, D.C. in 2021, establishing a sketch and improv comedy company at the DC Arts Center in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Vancouver TheatreSports League Rebrands as The Improv Centre
In 2021 the organization officially changed its name from Vancouver TheatreSports League to The Improv Centre, reflecting its evolution into a multi-format improv training and performance organization.
Vancouver TheatreSports League Renamed The Improv Centre
In 2021 the organization formally adopted The Improv Centre as its official registered name, completing the transition from its founding identity as Vancouver TheatreSports League.
The Second City Is Sold to ZMC
After the pandemic devastated live performance revenue and pushed the company into a sale process, The Second City was acquired in February 2021 by the private equity firm ZMC. The sale marked a major ownership change for the institution during a period of financial and organizational upheaval.
Charna Halpern Sells the iO Brand and Building
In 2021, after iO had closed during the pandemic, Charna Halpern sold the theater building and the iO brand to new owners who intended to reopen the institution. The sale marked the end of Halpern’s direct ownership after decades of shaping iO’s role in long-form improv.
Imposters Theater Founded in Cleveland
Michael Busch founded Imposters Theater in Cleveland, Ohio in August 2021 after returning from 15 years in the Los Angeles comedy scene, establishing what he described as Northeast Ohio's first permanent home of improv. The theater secured a permanent space in Ohio City through a 2022 Kickstarter campaign.
The Bit Theater Opens in Aurora, Illinois
Michael and Kelsey Bradt opened The Bit Theater in September 2021 in Aurora, Illinois, in the former Comedy Shrine space at Fox Valley Center Drive, establishing a multi-genre comedy venue with an equity-access class policy.
Garden City Improv Founded in Victoria, BC
Kevin Matviw and Nash Park founded Garden City Improv in Victoria, BC in September 2021, establishing the city's first professional improv training centre with Second City-trained instruction.
Bird Comedy Theater Opens in Kansas City
The Bird Comedy Theater opened in 2022 in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City, Missouri, co-founded by Bobby Miller Jr. The venue quickly became the city's primary dedicated comedy space.
Anubis Improv Opens Oxford, Mississippi Location
Anubis Improv opened a second location in Oxford, Mississippi in 2022, expanding the organization's long-form improv programming to a university town market.
Boomerang Comedy Theater Founded in Baton Rouge
Angi and Travis Noote founded Boomerang Comedy Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2022, establishing a structured four-level improv curriculum and performance program in the Louisiana capital.
Buffalo Comedy Collective Founded in Buffalo, New York
Meghan Joyce and Scott Wojtanik founded Buffalo Comedy Collective in Buffalo, New York in 2022 as the ComedySportz Buffalo franchise, bringing competitive short-form improv to Western New York.
Handsome Bevel Improv Founded in Regina
Stenberg, Vince Good, and Linden Kohut founded Handsome Bevel Improv in Regina, Saskatchewan in late 2022, establishing an independent improv company in a city with an already active improv scene.
Big Fork Theatre Opens Dedicated Fortitude Valley Venue
Big Fork Theatre opened its own venue at Level 2, 252 St Paul's Terrace, Fortitude Valley in 2022, establishing Brisbane's only dedicated space for improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Is Acquired by New Ownership
In March 2022, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre was acquired by Mike McAvoy, former CEO of The Onion, and Jimmy Miller, co-founder of Mosaic talent management, backed by Elysian Park Ventures. The acquisition transferred ownership of the UCB brand and operations from the founding members to new institutional ownership for the first time in the organisation's history. The transition set the stage for the phased reopening of UCB venues in Los Angeles and New York.
Third Space Tulsa Founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Third Space Tulsa was founded in May 2022 through the Third Space Society nonprofit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, combining improv comedy with mental health and community wellness programming.
Kevin Patrick Robbins Begins Coaching the McMaster Improv Team at McMaster University
Kevin Patrick Robbins began coaching the McMaster Improv Team at McMaster University in Hamilton in September 2022. The move extended his long-form teaching into a new university setting and helped grow the student club from a small group into a larger active ensemble during the 2022-23 school year.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Reopens in New York Under New Ownership
In September 2022, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre reopened a New York City performance venue under new ownership, more than two years after its April 2020 closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening restored UCB Theatre as a fixture of the New York comedy scene, offering shows and classes under the Upright Citizens Brigade name. A Los Angeles location followed in September 2024, completing the organisation's return to full operations.
The Second City Reopens Its Chicago Stage Under ZMC Ownership
The Second City reopened its Chicago and Toronto stages in 2022 under new ZMC ownership, returning to live performance after more than two years of pandemic closure and institutional restructuring. Ed Wells was named CEO in September 2022 to lead the reconstituted organisation. The reopening included programming and operational changes intended to address the equity concerns raised by alumni during the June 2020 reckoning.
Second City Hollywood Closes After 17 Years
Second City Hollywood closed in October 2022 after seventeen years at 6560 Hollywood Boulevard. In June 2023, The Second City announced it would no longer pursue a brick-and-mortar Los Angeles space.
Second City Toronto Opens at One York Street
The Second City Toronto opened its current home at One York Street in November 2022, its third major venue after the Old Firehall and the 1997 theatre district location.
Blah Blah Blah Improv Founded in Gold Coast
Mandy Plumb founded Blah Blah Blah Improv in January 2023 in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, bringing dedicated improv programming to the Queensland-New South Wales border region.
Blanche Improv Founded in London
Lelda founded Blanche Improv in June 2023, establishing a female-led long-form improv company focused on giving underrepresented performers stage time.
Wayward Improvised Theatre Founded in Ottawa
Wayward Improvised Theatre was founded in Ottawa, Ontario in 2024 by an experienced leadership group, presenting short-form, long-form, narrative, and Maestro improv formats at Arts Court.
Big Couch Opens Physical Venue in Bywater
Big Couch opened its physical performance space in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans in January 2024, giving the city a dedicated improv theater after years of planning.
Coast Improv Founded on Sunshine Coast
Alistair Cook founded Coast Improv in March 2024 on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, introducing a free-of-charge community improv program to the region.
Improv North Founded in Manchester
Freya Parker and Paul Foxcroft founded Improv North in Manchester in 2024, launching taster sessions in September 2024 and introducing long-form organic improvisation to the city.
ComedySportz Houston Rebrands as The Good Friend Theater
ComedySportz Houston rebranded as The Good Friend Theater in July 2025 and relocated from EaDo to 8301 Jones Road in Jersey Village, opening to a sold-out crowd on July 22, 2025.
The Contemporary Scene
2023A period of recovery and reimagining following the COVID-19 disruptions, as institutions rebuild, new companies emerge, and the global improv community adapts to changed realities.
Applied Improvisation Network World Conference Centres on Sustainability
The Applied Improvisation Network's 2023 World Conference adopted sustainability as its central theme, connecting applied improv methods to questions of environmental and organizational resilience. The conference demonstrated the network's capacity to engage with substantive challenges beyond performance training and individual skill development, positioning the field within global conversations about systemic change and adaptive response to complex problems. The sustainability focus reflected two decades of growth from a 30-person founding gathering to a community of more than 5,000 practitioners.
Keith Johnstone Dies in Calgary at Age Ninety
Keith Johnstone died on March 11, 2023, at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of ninety. Johnstone created the Theatresports competitive format in the late 1970s and authored Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre (1979) and Impro for Storytellers (1998), two of the most widely read books in improvisational performance. His emphasis on status, spontaneity, and acceptance shaped the pedagogy of improvisation schools across North America, Europe, and Australia.
Home Comedy Theater Established in Chicago's East Lakeview
Cesar Jaime, a twenty-year iO Theater veteran, signed a lease for the Home Comedy Theater at 2843 N. Halsted Street in Chicago's East Lakeview neighbourhood in July 2023, establishing the venue with a founding circle that included Liz Allen, Peter Gwinn, and Susan Messing. The 80-seat theatre with bar and restaurant, oriented around the Harold and the Del Close long-form tradition, began operations in the 2024–2025 season.
The Second City Opens Its First New York City Location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Second City opened its first New York City location at 64 North 9th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on 16 November 2023, launching its inaugural Mainstage revue three days after the Training Center opened for classes on 13 November 2023. The opening represented the organisation's first expansion into New York in its sixty-four-year history.
ImprovBoston Closes After 40+ Years, Citing COVID-Era Financial Losses
ImprovBoston permanently ended its operations on 31 December 2023 after more than forty years in the Cambridge improv and comedy scene. The organisation cited financial pressures that began with the COVID-19 pandemic closure in March 2020 and from which it was unable to recover despite a 2021 revival attempt.
The Revival Opens 150-Seat Theatre in Chicago's South Loop Film Row
On 9 May 2024, The Revival opened at 906 S. Wabash Avenue in Chicago's South Loop, a building historically associated with Chicago's 'Film Row,' which once housed distribution offices for MGM, Paramount, and Warner Bros. The new 150-seat theatre was approximately 50 per cent larger than the Hyde Park venue, marking the end of the Revival's nine-year presence at 55th and University.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Opens New York Venue at 242 East 14th Street
In September 2024, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre opened a new New York City venue at 242 East 14th Street in the East Village, completing the organisation's return to active operations in both cities after the pandemic closure of all its original locations. The East 14th Street venue marked the first permanent Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City under the McAvoy-Miller ownership group, which had reopened the Los Angeles Franklin Avenue location in September 2022.
HUGE Theater Closes Permanently
HUGE Theater closed permanently in October 2024 after fifteen years as the Twin Cities' primary long-form improv venue. Founder Jill Bernard cited financial pressures including rising costs and the lasting impact of the 2020-2021 pandemic closure on the company's audience base.