CATCh Comedy and Theater Company

Founding (2016)

Abigail Head and Kevin Shimko met at Charlotte Comedy Theater before deciding to establish a separate company focused on theatrical, character-driven long-form improv. They co-founded the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte on November 16, 2016, building the organization from rented spaces while developing its class curriculum and ensemble programming.

Permanent Venue (2019)

CATCh opened its first permanent venue at 4200 South Blvd on February 8, 2019, giving the company a dedicated home for performances and classes. During the pandemic, the organization relocated to a larger space at 4128 South Blvd in the same South Boulevard complex, improving the facility while maintaining its position in Charlotte's LoSo arts district.

Transition to Single Ownership (2024)

In December 2023 Kevin Shimko exited ownership; Abigail Head became sole owner and director in January 2024. The organization continues to operate as a for-profit theatre with Head as its primary artistic and operational leader.

CATCh presents long-form improv with a patient, character-driven, theatrical approach that distinguishes it from joke-focused short-form formats. The company's curriculum explicitly develops audience sensitivity and narrative craft over punchline timing. This theatrical orientation reflects the founders' interest in using improvisation as a tool for character-centered storytelling.

Big Laff Friday is a weekly double-header improv comedy show on Friday evenings, presenting two sets of long-form work for audiences seeking the theatrical, character-driven style that defines CATCh. THE END (of the month) is a monthly improv showcase held on the final Saturday of each month. Improv Game Night invites audiences into a participatory short-form format in the tradition of televised improv games, running on Saturday evenings. Class Showcase performances present student work developed in the Unlocking the Self curriculum, giving students a public performance context as part of their training progression.

Abigail Head and Kevin Shimko co-founded Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte on November 16, 2016, with a deliberate focus on the theatrical and narrative dimensions of long-form improvisation rather than joke-centered or game-focused formats. CATCh operated out of rented spaces for several years, opening its first permanent venue at 4200 South Blvd in Charlotte on February 8, 2019, and later relocating to 4128 South Blvd in the LoSo neighborhood. The organization holds certification as an LGBTQ+ Business Enterprise through the NGLCC, reflecting its commitment to building an explicitly open and inclusive performance space. Kevin Shimko exited ownership in December 2023, and Abigail Head became sole owner and director in January 2024.

CATCh's training program, anchored by the introductory course Unlocking the Self: Improv Skills for Life, emphasizes vulnerability, ensemble trust, and the application of improv principles beyond the stage. The company has developed a community of performers committed to patient, character-driven scene work, positioning Charlotte as a home for a style of improv more commonly associated with larger coastal markets. Workshops including Stage Movement and Picture Workshop and Make the DAMN Show expand training into physical and directorial craft, broadening the scope of what CATCh offers to Charlotte's growing improv community.