Improvisation in United States
Regions
Historical Moments
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). United States. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states
The Improv Archive. "United States." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states.
The Improv Archive. "United States." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.