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