Branded Shows
Explore branded shows, competitive structures, and specialized improv performances that have defined the professional improv landscape.
Austentacious
An improvised Jane Austen novel.
Blind Date
A show concept (created by Rebecca Northan) where a clown or improviser goes on a real-time "blind date" with a random member of the audience.
Cage Match
A competitive "battle of the bands" long-form show where two teams perform back-to-back, and the audience votes for a winner to return the following week.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Style)
Improvised Tennessee Williams drama.
ComedySportz
A family-friendly, sports-themed competitive match where two teams play short-form games overseen by a referee. Operated as a global franchise.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Style)
Shows that mimic the loose outline and dialogue of the HBO series.
Death By Roo Roo
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Director's Commentary
A show where a "bad" or obscure movie is screened, and the improvisers (acting as the director and cast) provide a live, improvised DVD-style commentary.
Felt
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Genre Parodies
Shows dedicated to improvising in the style of a specific author, play, or genre. Examples include:
Gorilla Theatre
A show where improvisers take turns "directing" each other in scenes, with the audience awarding bananas for good direction.
How We First Met
A licensed show format created by Jill Bernard where couples from the audience are interviewed about their history, followed by improvised reenactments.
Improvised Musical
A format where a cast improvises a full-scale musical based on a title provided by the audience. A notable example is **Baby Wants Candy**.
Improvised Shakespeare
A show where the cast creates a brand new play in the style of William Shakespeare based on a single suggestion.
LifeGame
A biographical show (Keith Johnstone) where a guest is interviewed on stage, and their life stories are dramatized by a cast in various styles.
Maestro (Micetro)
An elimination-style competition where individual improvisers are randomly paired for scenes; the audience votes until only one "Maestro" remains.
Oui Be Negroes
An influential African American improv troupe in Chicago that used long-form improvisation to center Black performers and challenge the defaults of the scene around them.
Pimprov
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The Beatbox
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The Improvised Shakespeare Company
A branded improvised Shakespeare show and company that combines long-form improvisation with two-act Shakespearean structure, style, and language.
The Josh and Tamra Show
Est. 1999A puppet-forward long-form improv act created by Josh Cohen and Tamra Malaga that blends puppetry, variety-show energy, and interconnected scene work.
The Set List
A high-pressure concept where performers are given a list of bizarre, never-before-seen "bit titles" on a screen and must improvise a set based on them.
Theatresports
A high-stakes competition format created by Keith Johnstone where teams challenge each other to perform scenes and games under the scrutiny of judges.
WeirDass
A two-person improvised show featuring Stephnie Weir and Bob Dassie, known for vivid characters, nuanced relationships, and meticulous scenework.
Whirled News Tonight
A long-running show (originated at iO Chicago) where the cast uses clippings from current newspapers and magazines to inspire scenes.